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HALL OF FAME
Yves DEMARIA, The Enigma
Born in Marseille on January 22nd 1972 – the youngest of two children, Yves Demaria was introduced to the world of motocross from an early age. His father, Guy, a carpenter, was a good amateur rider but was never able to make the transition to pro-racer due to a succession of injuries, but continued to work hard in the hope that one day either of his two sons might. He did, however, win the world amateur race, the Coupe de L’Avenir in Belgium as a Team France member.
Patrick, the eldest son was born four years earlier than Yves and was the first to take to riding a dirt bike but as for Yves, his first motocross bike didn’t arrive until Christmas Day, a Yamaha 80cc, aged ten. The early days were all about riding for fun, riding in the mountains close to his home, but the day eventually came when he would take to the
race track for the first time, aged eleven, something Demaria fondly remembers.
det Championship, which he followed up with the 125cc Junior title one year later. By now Demaria was never in ‘My first race was in 1983 at doubt that one day he would the track of Vitrolles … (Note: go on to compete on the Eric Geboers won the 125cc world stage, and at fifteen GP there that same year for years-old Demaria was alSuzuki; a race that Demaria ready classed as a semi-prowitnessed as an eleven year- fessional rider with the old). ‘The track went up, then Sonauto Yamaha Team. down and then up again and then normally it would go Now riding for Yamaha down again. But I stopped on France, Yves entered his first the top. I couldn’t go down, it 125cc GP in 1989, just over was too steep. I was scared. four years after starting out Those hills were too big, as an amateur at the circuit bigger than where I learned of Faenza where another futo ride. I didn’t ride for one ture star was making his GP month after this,’ reflectdebut, a rider by the name ed the rider who ironically, of Stefan Everts. The winner learnt to ride in the mounthat day was the American tains. Trampas Parker, who would go on to win the title that Despite his initial fears of year, but more impressive the racetrack it wasn’t long was perhaps Demaria’s own before Yves was racing regperformance, placing 6th ularly, and the following year overall. His first two years in 1984 entered the amateur saw him place regularly inFrench national championside the top ten but it was in ship. Two years later he won 1991 at the French GP where the 1986 80cc French Cahe scored his maiden race
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