# Jean-Michel Bayle

Jean-Michel Bayle (born 1 April 1969) is a French former professional motorcycle racer. He was one of the most successful riders of his era, achieving success at the highest levels in both motocross and road racing.

## Biography

Born in Manosque, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Bayle won the FIM 125cc motocross world championship in 1988, and the 250cc motocross world championship a year later. He competed in the United States in 1991, becoming the only rider ever to win all three major AMA motocross championships in the same year (Supercross, 250cc and 500cc). Having won many of the major motocross championships, Bayle became one of the few riders to switch motorcycling disciplines, going from dirt track motocross events to pavement based road race events.
He competed in the 250cc road racing world championship for the Aprilia factory racing team during the 1994 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season, and in 1996 moved up to the 500cc class for the Kenny Roberts-Yamaha team. He scored points once in 1999. He managed one pole position in the 250cc class and 2 poles in the 500cc division but, never managed to finish on the podium. In 2002, he teamed with Sébastien Gimbert and Nicolas Dussauge to win the Bol d'or and the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance races. Bayle suffered serious injuries during the 2002 season and retired from road racing competition.
He still competes in motocross and enduro events and campaigned in the French observed trials national championship. Bayle was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000.

## Career statistics
### Grand Prix motorcycle racing
#### Races by year

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Class | Bike | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Pos. | Pts |
| 1992 | 250cc | Honda | JPN | AUS | MAL | SPA | ITA | EUR | GER | NED | HUN | FRA 24 | GBR | BRA | RSA | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1993 | 250cc | Aprilia | AUS 19 | MAL 16 | JPN 21 | SPA 14 | AUT 17 | GER 14 | NED 16 | EUR 18 | RSM 18 | GBR 8 | CZE Ret | ITA 19 | USA Ret | FIM 12 | | | 22nd | 16 |
| 1994 | 250cc | Aprilia | AUS 10 | MAL 7 | JPN 11 | SPA 8 | AUT 11 | GER 11 | NED 6 | ITA 8 | FRA 5 | GBR 5 | CZE 6 | USA Ret | ARG 7 | EUR 8 | | | 8th | 105 |
| 1995 | 250cc | Aprilia | AUS Ret | MAL 6 | JPN Ret | SPA 9 | GER 6 | ITA Ret | NED Ret | FRA 11 | GBR Ret | CZE 11 | BRA Ret | ARG DNS | EUR Ret | | | | 15th | 37 |
| 1996 | 500cc | Yamaha | MAL 6 | INA 8 | JPN 8 | SPA 7 | ITA 5 | FRA Ret | NED 8 | GER 10 | GBR Ret | AUT 9 | CZE 6 | IMO 4 | CAT Ret | BRA 7 | AUS 5 | | 9th | 110 |
| 1997 | 500cc | Modenas | MAL Ret | JPN 14 | SPA 13 | ITA 8 | AUT 14 | FRA Ret | NED Ret | IMO 8 | GER Ret | BRA 8 | GBR DNS | CZE Ret | CAT Ret | INA Ret | AUS 16 | | 18th | 31 |
| 1998 | 500cc | Yamaha | JPN | MAL | SPA | ITA | FRA | MAD | NED | GBR | GER | CZE 8 | IMO 5 | CAT Ret | AUS | ARG 7 | | | 16th | 28 |
| 1999 | 500cc | Modenas | MAL 12 | JPN Ret | SPA | FRA Ret | ITA Ret | CAT Ret | NED | GBR | GER | CZE | IMO | VAL | AUS | RSA | BRA | ARG | 28th | 4 |
| 2002 | MotoGP | Yamaha | JPN | RSA | SPA | FRA 14 | ITA 13 | CAT | NED | GBR | GER | CZE | POR | BRA | PAC | MAL | AUS | VAL | 24th | 5 |