Former MotoGP rider Randy de Puniet now competes in the World Endurance Championship with the Elf Marc VDS KM99 team. Also a consultant for Canal+, the Frenchman is making headway on all fronts.
At 45, what still drives you to race motorbikes?
Quite simply, the joy of competition. And above all, the desire to go out and win another endurance race, particularly a 24-hour event. That’s something that still motivates me.
Having experienced MotoGP, what pleasure do you find in racing in endurance events on bikes that are much closer to production models?
Once you’ve come to terms with the fact that you won’t be riding a MotoGP bike again, you’re ultimately left with two options: either you stop completely, or you carry on with Superbike machines or in the World Endurance Championship. Personally, I still enjoy riding. The EWC allows me to continue competing in four races a season whilst also running my consultancy business on the side. It’s a good compromise. It also allows me to phase out motorcycling gradually, rather than cutting it out completely overnight.
What are the team’s current strengths and weaknesses?
We’re still lacking a bit of experience. The team is relatively new, even though it’s already in its third or fourth season. The arrival of Marc VDS has brought a lot to the table, both technically and in terms of budget and prestige. That’s obviously important for moving the project forward. But when you want to compete with the top teams – those that have been established in endurance racing for a very long time and have a wealth of experience – you realise it’s not that easy. You have to pick up all those instincts and gain that experience. We hope to get there quickly.
You also have a long history with Elf. What does it mean to you to be racing under those colours again today?
My history with Elf began in 1998, when I was a Honda France rider competing in the French Championship and the European Championship. After that, I also raced under the Elf colours in Grand Prix racing, notably in MotoGP with LCR. There was also the whole story with Elf and Kawasaki. So it’s a French brand that has been with me and supported me throughout many seasons of my career. Naturally, it’s a pleasure to be back racing under the Elf colours today. And as I reckon this team will probably be the last one of my career, I should be wearing these colours right up until the moment I stop racing for good.
You’re also an Elf ambassador…
Yes, I take part in a few events when my schedule allows.
Last year, for example, I took part in the Sunday Ride Classic. This year, unfortunately, I couldn’t make it because of a clash of dates. We’ll see if I can go back next year.
Your work as a consultant has become an important part of your life. Is it a job you really enjoy these days?
Yes, because there’s a great team and everything is very professional.
I enjoy analysing what I see, trying to anticipate what might happen on the track and providing viewers with as much information as possible. I try to explain things calmly and simply, whilst offering a perspective and providing information they might not otherwise have if I weren’t there. That’s what I try to bring to the role, drawing on my experience as a driver.
Has this job also helped you gradually come to terms with the end of your Grand Prix career?
Absolutely. When I started as a consultant in 2016, I found it a bit difficult to really settle into the role. I’d only just stopped racing in Grand Prix and was still doing test sessions in MotoGP. At that time, I felt I still had a place in the paddock as a rider. So I was still feeling a bit frustrated. At one point, I even considered giving up the consultancy role altogether and staying solely in the studio in Paris. Then, bit by bit, my mindset changed. Once I’d truly understood and accepted in my mind that returning to MotoGP as a rider was no longer an option, that allowed me to fully embrace my new role. From then on, I’ve been able to fully appreciate this job as a consultant.
So you’re still racing in endurance events whilst having already planned for life after your racing career…
Yes, and that’s precisely why this balance suits me so well today. I still have the competition with a few major races in the season and, alongside that, my consultancy work. It allows me to retain the joy of riding and the adrenaline of competition without the burden of a full season as before. And as long as I still have that desire – particularly to try and win a major endurance race – I find it worthwhile to carry on.
As someone who follows MotoGP closely, what do you think of the upcoming rule changes?
It’s hard to predict because there’s a lot of talk going round. What I hope above all is that these new regulations will allow all manufacturers to become competitive again. There’ll be a lot of changes, but for me, the most important one is probably not the reduction in engine capacity. The main change will be the tyres.
Why?
Because the riders are going to have to get completely used to them. Some riders have experienced Bridgestones and then Michelins, with very stiff casings. Pirellis are very different. This will require a significant adjustment in the way they ride and understand the bike. On the other hand, it could benefit young riders coming up from Moto2 because they’re already familiar with this type of tyre. They might have fewer things to get to grips with when they move up to MotoGP.
Do you think the other regulatory changes are also heading in the right direction?
I think so. There’ll be less aerodynamics and fewer on-board systems, particularly those designed to lower the bikes. I find that interesting because the bikes should become a bit more responsive again. We might also see wider gaps in lap times. At the moment, everyone is extremely close. With bikes that are a bit less assisted and perhaps more difficult to handle, the rider might once again be able to make a bit more of a difference. Personally, I find this development interesting.