Maurice Maingret - 2013 Pont De Vaux Interview
By: Bill Lanphier

During race week, the busiest guy getting the least sleep in Pont de Vaux could very well be Maurice Maingret, Technical Director of the 12 Hours. Also, he probably has the best attendance record in the 27-year history of the event: the only PDV he missed was when recovering from a crash that almost killed him.

We cornered Maurice to ask him a few questions about PDV. Maingret brother Michel, also a long-time major player in not only the race organization but also the town of PDV, helped with translation and observations. 

ATVriders.com: How did the 12 Hours start?
Maurice Maingret: The first race was in 1986. That one was very small, and just for amateurs. With my brothers Dominique, Bernard and Christian we decided to feature trikes because they were new and a vehicle many people could relate to. The 12 Hour part came from the 24 Hours of Lemans and motorcycle endurance racing. The site started out as nothing more than a corn field and it grew from there.

ATVriders.com: What are some of your best memories over the years? Turning points in the event?
Maurice Maingret:: Twenty years ago the first Americans won at PDV and that's what really brought world-class  recognition to the race. Bringing in big companies like Philip Charles Racing, H-Bomb, and Monster Energy gave us a huge boost. Getting the public involved and getting media attention is also very important.

ATVriders.com: What's your strategy for getting support from the town of Pont de Vaux?
Maurice Maingret: That just came naturally. They had no choice! When the race comes to town, it's a big boost for the local economy. We get no financial support from the town, and we need to pay the FIM [Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme] $9500 for allowing us to put on the race.

ATVriders.com: What differences do you see in riders from different parts of the world?
Maurice Maingret: Americans are typically fastest. They brought over big advancements in technology, like with PEP and Elka suspension, which in turn played a part in the Americans and then other riders being able to do the biggest jumps. European teams are really good with race strategy, and that includes things like maintaining consistent lap times and fast pit stops.

ATVriders.com: What does the future hold for PDV?
Maurice Maingret: The 2014 race will be a big challenge. The lease of land will be up for renewal, which means we'll probably convert part of the infield, which is still mostly corn, into public parking and a supercross style track which could be incorporated into the 12 hour track. There's always something new happening at PDV!