With a guiding passion, things go well. Thierry Maurin, an amateur rider, has managed to transmit his passion to his son, Axel and since then, student has done better than teacher: at age 24, he is already quadruple vice-champion of France in 50, 125, and 600 Junior and, in 2012, 600 Supersport. A fine list of achievements for a private team whose means remain modest and which symbolises magnificently its state of mind based on energy and optimism!
Axel was born on 18 February 1988 in Sens (France). His father owns the dealership Cheroy Motos - Ducati (partnered by Motul), so he has been in the motorcycle world since he was a toddler. Rather the sports motorcycle world, since Thierry participated at the time in various events of the French endurance championship and took his son to all the circuits. Axel also has a liking for sport: a judo practiser, he was crowned Champion of Burgundy in 2003. That's a discipline that forges your tenacity and endurance, and which today encourages him to keep to regular physical training: swimming, body building, mountain biking... But Axel doesn't neglect his professional life. He passed a motorcycle sports coach diploma and is today a coach at the famous De Radiguès Rider School.
Where does racing fit in? Racing is also a family affair. Thierry has the role of team manager, his wife Annie looks after the purse and Solène, Axel's younger sister, and Jessica, his girl friend, are on the pit signalling wall. In the pits, Jean-Luc and Tonio, professional mechanics and friends of the family, take care of maintenance and Franck plays the role of the suspensions and ignition chart engineer. At Cheroy Motos, Denis, who has been present for 25 years, oversees the workshop, assisted by Benoit and Thibault. And to get its promising youngster to race, this little team leaves no stone unturned! Thanks to a press-book prepared during the winter break, it starts looking for the essential partners providing their support with equipment, products or funding, bearing in mind that the budget of a French supersport championship season amounts to approximately 45,000 euros, which sum covers eight meets and the training.
After this 2nd place in 600 Supersport, the young rider will take a weighty decision in 2013 by heading to the Superbike 1000 cc category, in the French Championship on a Kawasaki ZX10-R, a brand on which he did his first 600 cc laps. He will continue to work at the family business CMS (Chéroy Motos Sports) where the team is becoming professional with in particular the arrival of riders participating in the Pirelli Junior 600 championship. Thierry will therefore have four riders under his wing, who he wants to get to the top of the leaderbaord! 'Life on the tracks is quite extraordinary', concluded Axel. 'It's one big family where you always have momentous experiences, whether winning or losing. I feel that what's important is to always move forward and question myself to reach the best level.'
Good luck for next season!
Photo credits: Team Cheroy Motos Sport
