Pierre-Alexandre Renet has long been a respected figure in the off-road racing world, first as a rider and now as a team manager guiding some of Europe’s brightest young talents in the EMX250 class. This season, Renet is at the helm of the newly named VRT-VHR Yamaha squad, working closely with rising stars Janis Reisulis and Ivano van Erp. We caught up with the Frenchman to discuss the transition from VRT to VRT-VHR, his evolving role within the team, and the development of his riders—including Reisulis’ impressive comeback from injury and Van Erp’s return to form. Renet also shares his thoughts on the demanding EMX250 calendar, and gives insight into Yamaha’s development structure and the future of the sport.
GateDrop: Before we touch on this season, let’s just go back to the off-season. There was a little bit of change in the team. It went from VRT to VRT-VHR and it seemed to happen pretty late. What was the winter like and is there much changes in the team this year compared to last year?
Renet: The most change we had was to move the workshop because the base was in the west of France and we moved now close to Paris where is the company of the new team owner, Bruno Verhaeghe. So this was the biggest change because all the rest, okay the staff changed a little bit but we keep working with the same engine guy, same suspension guy, same riders also. So it was not so many changes on this side but it was more about the logistics side.
GateDrop: Going back to a few years ago, I think you were initially a coach/trainer but it seems now you are more of a team manager. Has your role changed that much compared to a few years ago?
Renet: Yeah, when I finished my career, I was already still involved in rally in KTM group as team manager and when I came back to motocross with Mickeal Vrignon and VRT, I was trainer but also taking care about all the technical sponsors and the technical side. I still continue the same with Yamaha, managing the EMX250 team and to deal with the relationship with the sponsor, technical sponsor. This is my task.
GateDrop: Has there been much to learn and do you enjoy this task opposed to just focusing on the training/coaching side?
Renet: I have to focus on different sides so when I am in training with riders I really focus on this side, I have to focus on this part. But actually the biggest challenge is during the winter because you have to manage in one side all the training sides but also all the partners, technical partners, the orders and all these things. So the winter is quite busy and when the season starts it’s a little bit easier. Okay, there is a lot of travel but it’s a little bit more rolling.
GateDrop: Last year you had an opportunity to draft in Gavin Towers… What was it like working with him? Obviously with him coming from America everything was completely different for him so you were probably able to help him more than maybe the other guys that already know how tracks develop and stuff?
Renet: No, it was not easy for him because he arrived, the season had already started. He missed all the winter training in Europe so it was not easy for him. Coming from the US to Europe, living full time close to my place I think was a big challenge but he did quite some good results and managed some good races.
I think he could achieve much better with the full winter training before the season but for sure it was a lot of work because he was full time close to my place. But it was a good moment because he is a really nice rider and it was really cool to spend some time with him.
GateDrop: You guys usually have a three rider team but for this year it was two riders. Firstly, what was the reason for that? And secondly, was there an option for Towers to stay or did he just want to go back to America?
Renet: He decided to go back to America because it was difficult to be far from US and I understand also he wanted to do Supercross so he had the opportunity to go back to US. With all the changes between VRT and VRT, Yamaha decided that two riders would be easier for everyone to organise.
GateDrop: Janis Reisulis, well you sort of started working with him last year but then the injury came. Firstly, what’s it like to work with him? He’s known as killer, what’s his personality like? Talking to him he seems a cool guy but maybe that doesn’t come across on the TV, he just always wants to win…
Renet: He’s a really nice kid, determined. Of course still a lot of work technically to improve and to continue to cross the last step to achieve. I think his goal and what he wants is MX2 but he’s a determined kid and that’s really important.
GateDrop: It’s not easy to miss a full season with injury and he’s came back this year and it’s pretty much like he’s never been away. Impressive in terms of his talent, very very talented.
Renet: Last year he missed all season so when he did his first race this year it was 10 months without racing so it’s really long. But he made a really good rehabilitation for his knee and we had a good winter training so he was showing a good speed and quite consistency also improving compared to the winter before with less mistakes which was super positive. He showed that he’s one of the fastest in the EMX250 class but as I said the step to go in MX2 is still quite a big step so you still need to continue to work on many things.
GateDrop: Just on the future, do you think he has the talent to be a future world champion and what do you think he still needs to work on or is it just more bike time because he missed so much?
Renet: I think he really has the talent and the potential to become a world champion. After you know how it is, there is only one world champion every season so you need to put everything together to achieve the goal. But for me he has the determination to do so this is already a big fact. He’s also mentally really strong for a kid because he’s still quite young so this is a really positive point.
GateDrop: On Ivano Van Erp, I would say a difficult start to the season. What was it like over winter? Did he have a good winter or a tough winter? What was it like working with him over the winter?
Renet: Yeah, he had a good winter but it’s true on the first races I think he can’t handle really good the pressure. There was maybe too much pressure for him and he struggled on the first race. I think it affected him a little bit mentally. He then got an injury but since he’s back he showed last weekend that he’s able to win some races. I think he will do some really good races this year.
GateDrop: He had a big injury at Arnhem a few years ago, I think it was a big hip injury. Just how much did that affect him?
Renet: I think yes because it was quite a long injury, 4-5 months so it was really long. But I think now it’s an old memory and he’s really going on. Since he’s back on the bike after his injury he’s doing really good and showing good things in training.
GateDrop: What did you expect from him last week in Ernee? It was his first EMX250 round back and it was his best one. It’s not normal for a rider to get injured and actually come back better. What would you put that down to?
Renet: He started to ride again just the week before and directly in training what I saw was really positive. Because he had the speed and he was quite strong on the bike. I thought that he could be back directly in front and this is what he showed in second moto. So that was really good for him.
GateDrop: What was it like to see him riding like himself again? It’s been a while, it must have been nice for you, for the team just to see him ride like himself, never mind win… It’s always nice to see him win, he loves to celebrate (laughs)
Renet: This was good because since the beginning of the season he was not riding in races like he does in training. In Ernee I saw him really free on the bike and riding as he can do in training. So I was super happy for the team, for the mechanic, but especially for him because he can ride to his real level.
GateDrop: Goals for the rest of the season? I guess from Janis’ point of view, are you expecting him to win the title or do you just want him to be in the hunt? And then for Ivano, just to keep getting better and riding like last week?
Renet: Yeah, for sure the goal of Janis is to get the title and for the team also. The season is still long, there are many races and different kind of terrains. So you need to stay focused to continue to train and until the last race is finished, it’s still long. With Ivano, the goal now is to win and to do the best results as possible. We also do with the kids two GP’s, we do this weekend Teutschenthal and we will also do Lommel. Also for them to see where they are in the MX2 field. It’s good also for them to see the work they still have to do to be in front. Also they do some good races, so it’s kind of present to do some MX2 World Championship races.
GateDrop: Do you enjoy just working with the two riders? And do you think for the future you’ll stay with two riders? Or maybe next year would you be open to running three riders again? Or maybe that’s not your decision?
Renet: This is more a decision with Yamaha. So on this I’m not close. For sure with two riders it’s a little bit easier because you can spend more time on each one. But last year was three at the beginning of the season and it was also going good. So we will see.
GateDrop: Yamaha have a structure, the pyramid structure, you know the EMX125, EMX250. So are you looking at some of their MX125 riders? Do you always keep an eye on them? Because I think the idea is to come up through the system… So, maybe next year we could see some of those guys under your awning?
Renet: We are looking of course at the EMX125 Yamaha riders. But also I’m looking at every young rider because the goal is to find the next MX2 World Championship. So this is the goal and we are looking at every kid to see the potential to try to find the next champ.
GateDrop: Just how has the paddock changed since you were a rider? I mean now you’ve got this pyramid system, it’s probably easier for youth riders nowadays. But at the same time the industry is struggling this year a little bit in terms of the factory guys…
Renet: Yeah, it’s changed quite a lot. Now the structures are much more professional than before. What’s difficult now is to really perform in MX2. There are not many guys behind the gate sometimes but the level is really good and really close. You see to enter the top 15 in MX2 is quite tough. You can see also it’s difficult when you are not a factory rider. So I think the material is really important in MX2. MXGP is maybe different because the 450cc is really powerful. But on the 250cc for sure you need a really good structure to perform.
GateDrop: This year initially I think there was only going to be 11 rounds of the EMX250 but then two got added to the calendar, I mean to get the budget and stuff last minute logistically it must be challenging. Do you think 13 rounds might be a little bit too much? I mean back in the day there used to be only 12 GPs and now there’s more EMX rounds than them guys used to get. Maybe a little bit less and then they’ve got more time to do MX2 wildcard?
Renet: Less races. For sure, for me the EMX250 series with 13 races is really crazy. Because okay we have a good support from Yamaha as a team. But if you’re not in a team and you are with your parents how is it possible to do 13 races everywhere in Europe? In terms of the budget, in terms of time because for sure your parents need to work. So, for me 13 races is really crazy. You could see before the European Championship had 6-7 races and it was enough. I think 10 races is really the maximum we should have for EMX Championship.
