The French supporting team TEAM OF PARIS, associated with HALFEN, triumphed in Macau Moto GP.

“We couldn’t believe it” Team owner Olivier PIERSON declares “With the pole position on Friday Qualification of Conor CUMMINS, our team was No1 on the starting grid, a premiere for France in the history of Macau Moto GP, and with Gerald on the podium in SPP category – the 1st podium ever for a French team - we achieved results over our expectation. We have to thanks HALFEN and all our previous and current sponsors for this and we dedicate our victory to our team members who worked hard since 2005 to get those results”.

With 4 French nationals and 1 native of Ile Of Man champion racers, the target of TEAM OF PARIS was to bring the biggest team ever in Macau Moto GP. And the mission was achieved before the opening of the event.
It was also the No1 team in terms of Media coverage in South Asia, China, Hong Kong, Macau and Europe, with more than 80 supporters and innovative VIP events.

Created in 2005 by a group of enthusiasts to support late racer Bruno BONHUIL, the world champion of Endurance 2000, TEAM OF PARIS is now one of the leading team in Macau with bikes painted in a unique Blue/White/Red combination, bringing France flavors and Paris’s life-style in the booming Macau Grand Prix.

“Racing in Macau is not easy, and definitively, one of the hardest competitions in the world for the racers, for the team and the organization” PIERSON say ”In 2006, Gerald MUTEAU ended-up 11th for its 1st participation in SBK and he’s now 2nd in SPP category, probably the most demanding one in Macau. We can’t be happier as he finished just behind King Keith AMOR who raced the best available bike for Macau GP, and ahead our friend, local Joao FERNADES, for whom it was the 9th participation”

Fabrice MIGUET ended-up 14th for his 1st participation in the Superbike category, while WEC-STK racer, Amaury BARATIN finished 15th for his 1st appearance in Macau Moto GP.
Pierre CHAPUIS’ target was to confirm his 2007 position – 21th – but he decided to be one of the top speed challenger; unfortunately, he fell in the Lisboa curve due to the slippery track during the race after a braking at 279 km/h. However he’s the 2nd top speed racer 2008.

“Surprising Conor CUMMINS from Ile Of Man – 22 years old – offered the pole position to TEAM OF PARIS and we were all extremely proud to get a French supported bike ahead the British armada and ahead the best teams in the world – Champagne!” PIERSON continues “The competition was incredibly hard this year: there were 14 British racers, most of them racing the T/T in Isle of Man, and the best Road racers from USA, Germany, Australia, Austria as well as all the experienced local racers.
So, we are simply proud to be the only French team invited to this competition, with 5 top racers from France and Europe”

“Part of our success belongs to the quality of our mechanics” said Malik BOURAS, Quality Director of TOP “the strong experience of their bikes and the excellent communication between them and their racers have been instrumental to this success”. “The seriousness and the motivation of each team members were really impressive this year”, BOURAS continues “the difference in languages and culture was not a problem at all. On the contrary, this situation pushed everyone to be more focused and attentive to each request”.

“The result on the track was a big satisfaction to each of us (racers, mechanics and organizers), said Soko GONZALEZ VICENTE, Team Manager of TOP, and unconsciously hoped, after 4 years on competition. But this success was also inside and around the “paddock”, with more than 80 supporters and guests, invited by the sponsors or who came individually to support our team. This enthusiasm around our Team increases every year and pushes us to be more competitive in welcoming our supporters”, GONZALEZ continues, “a welcome gathering to the racers, the day before the race, and a cocktail after the race to celebrate the performance of our racers and our beautiful and amazing “first class” umbrella girls, brought the necessary “European touch” which makes the difference with others teams. Since the beginning, we want this week-end competition to be also an opportunity for our sponsors guests and supporters to discover this exciting motorbike world and is unique atmosphere. It provides an extraordinary exposure to our sponsors and an unforgettable “French souvenir”.

What’s next for TEAM OF PARIS?

Olivier recalls: “We started TOP as a bet in the Gecko Lounge in Hong Kong when the owner, Christophe Bonno, waiting to close the bar at 4am, came to our table after hours talking about Macau GP, saying “meme pas cap”! which stands in French for a challenging: “hey Big mouth… you just can’t do it!”.
Years later, after our 2008 podium, a few racers from UK, Portugal and even US came to me asking to join our French team for 2009. This shows a deep respect to us.
So we will worked out a bigger team, targeting again the podium and bringing 6 or 7 French colored bikes on the grid!!! All the other team managers think we are crazy, but they also reckon “only French can do that” with a big laugh, meaning they are happy we are there; that again is a mark of respect.

Regarding new challenges, I’m a bit scared for I made 2 other crazy bets for 2009:

• 1st participation to NW 200 Motorbike race in Ireland, the fastest race in the world (over 131mph average)
• racing Macau 2009 in Formula 3 with young French drivers