Benoit Bincaz
It was while having a chat with a young Billy Bolt that I was first made aware of Benoit Bincaz at the 2014 FIM World Trials round at Comblain-au-pont in Belgium. Billy was riding the Ossa and I asked him who else was new in the then-named World Cup class, which would eventually become the T2 class. I knew all the English riders but he told me to look out for the French rider Bincaz or, as Billy would quote “One of them ‘Frogs’ Legs’ riders from France” he joked. Over the next few years Benoit would move to Sherco from Scorpa to mature into a very competent rider, taking WTC wins in his class in 2015 in Japan, America and Spain on his way to 5th overall. In 2016 he was noted as one of the favourites to be in with the opportunity to win the T2 class. He struggled with his form at the start of 2016 before a broken wrist stopped his season after Germany. He made the brave decision to return to the series in Italy but in the Pro class, where he took a superb 11th on day one and finished 16th on day two. For 2017 he will ride in the Pro class with an eye on scoring points at every round.
Welcome to the world of the new TrialGP class. Should you have stayed one more year in T2?
I made the decision to move up into the Pro class because I felt that staying in Trial 2 another year would have limited my riding ability and I wouldn’t have been able to keep up with my rivals Miquel Gelabert, Franz Kadlec etc. The issue was discussed with Scorpa and they agreed with my decision as they wanted a rider in the Pro class. They also thought I was capable of making the big jump into this class of rider.
In the T2 class one of maybe six riders could have pushed for wins on the day in 2016, but were you surprised that Jack Price won?
In 2016, as with every year in the Trial 2 class, there were many riders that were capable of winning on the day. This makes the class extremely hard to win as it’s not just riding ability that comes into play but your mental ability as well. This is an area that Jack Price is very strong in and I believe this is the reason he was successful in the Trial 2 class. I would like to say congratulations to him on a great achievement!
I watched my good friend Miquel Gelabert a lot in 2016 and I saw that he was more than capable of having some amazing results. This gave me confidence to make the hard decision to join the world’s elite riders in 2017.
What are your thoughts on the new changes in the now-named TrialGP class?
The new rules in 2017 are a new challenge for all the riders. Of course, I’m not sure exactly how well the new format will work but I’m keen to keep an open mind and try it out before criticising it, as at the end of the day it’s the same for everyone. The starting position in trials is a very important factor but the difference in trials to many other motorsports is that starting first isn’t always best as many different things such as the weather, terrain and the number of participants comes into play.
With both Alexandre Ferrer and Loris Gubian joining you in the TrialGP class can France become a strong trials nation again?
It’s very good for French trials to have three riders in the Pro class. I think it’s good for the young riders in France to have a new French rider in the Pro class as it might inspire them to one day try and achieve the same goal. It’s good for the Trial des Nations as well because France now has a strong team that is capable of competing against some of the countries that has dominated trials for a long time now. I feel the sport of trials in France is heading in the right direction and one day we may have another rider that is as incredible as Thierry Michaud was. Of course this is no easy challenge but as a young rider along with many others we all aspire to be the best.
Do you train with Alexandre and Loris in France?
Yes, I train a lot with Alex Ferrer, and this is very good for my riding as he is a very experienced rider and is able to pass some of his knowledge on to me. Before last year I trained with Alex in France but now he lives in Spain; I do a lot of training with him over the winter period as well as the other best riders in the world.
I came to England with Miquel Gelabert to compete in the world-famous Scott Trial. After enduring a day of pain I stayed at Emma Bristow’s and I would like to thank her and her family for their very kind hospitality. After this I stayed for two weeks at the Peace household and me, Miquel, Dan and Jack Peace trained together in the very wet, cold and slippy conditions. This did a lot for my riding as I needed to improve my ability in wet and slippy conditions! I would also like to say a big thank you to Jayne and Tim Peace for everything they did for me and Miquel.
What did you think when Billy Bolt moved to Enduro in 2016?
I first met Billy Bolt, he was my Scorpa team-mate in 2015, it took me all of five minutes to realise that he had a screw loose! You could always rely on Billy to bring excitement to whatever obstacle he was attempting; his style of riding was unique to say the least. I can’t say I was surprised when I heard that Billy had made the move to enduro as I feel the sport maybe suits his crazy style of riding a motorcycle better than trials did. I’m sure that one day that he will be a very big name in the sport of enduro. Billy is a great guy and is liked by all the riders and I wish him all the best in his new adventure.
How was your introduction to the trials world, are you from a motorcycle family?
My father rode trials a little bit and I remember watching him after school and thinking how much fun it looked. I’ve always been obsessed with motorcycles and I finally got my first trials machine which was a Gas Gas TXT Boy when I was nine years old. I was French champion in my respective class at ten years old and since then I’ve never wanted to stop riding a trials motorcycle. I’m like a young boy every time I ride my Scorpa. It’s an incredible feeling and I’m lucky enough to have a great family that supports me in every way that they can.
Tell us about your journey into the World Trials Championship.
Ever since I was nine years old I have competed in the French Championship. In 2010, I rode two rounds of the European Championship, winning one of them by finishing ahead of Germanys Franz Kadlec and Spain’s Jamie Busto. For many years I have also competed in the ‘Open Free’ Championship in France. I have won this five times. The French federation has supported me and other French riders a lot in many different ways and I’m extremely grateful for this help.
Why the move from Sherco to Scorpa?
I moved to Scorpa from Sherco because at the time Sherco had produced the ‘new’ Scorpa brand and they wanted a rider to promote the new model, and I was that person.
Do you have a factory contract with Scorpa?
I currently have a factory ride with Scorpa, and I have signed a contract to be with them for another two years. I’m extremely happy about this; not only is it a very good brand, but I also get a lot of support from them and I would like to thank them for allowing me be a part of this great family. Eric Lejeune and his company Distriflac is also a big supporter of mine and I would like to thank him for all that he has done for me. I hope that we can work together for many years to come.
What is the plan for the 2017 season?
In 2017, I will compete in the French Championship and World Championship as well as competing in ‘one-off ’ events such as the indoors in Toulouse, Bordeaux and the famous street trial in Cahors. I’ve done a lot of training over the winter in France, Spain and England. This has allowed me to ride in many different conditions and terrain as well as with many different riders such as Dan Peace. We have trained together now for three months and although Dan will be competing in Trial 2 next year it’s good to have ridden with a rider with similar ambitions as mine for the future. I know I can’t just jump to the top but as Miquel Gelabert proved with hard work and perseverance it is possible to get some top ten results and I hope to be in the points at every round.
History was made at the Scott Trial in Yorkshire in 2016 when you became the first ever French rider to complete the event in the time allowance.
As I’ve said before, the Scott Trial was the start of my trip to England and I now know why it is such a legendary event. The Scott Trial is commonly referred to as the hardest one-day trial in the world and I am very proud to be the first French competitor to have finished it in the time allowance. I arrived on the morning of the event with Miguel Gelabert with our lovely clean riding kit and our beautiful motorcycle as poor innocent kids from the south, which was what we still were at the time. Then we ran into Dan Peace, he had tape around some of his fingers, and we asked him “Why?” with a sly smile he answered “so that my skin doesn’t get torn up on the handlebars during the trial”. This answer confused us both but soon after it was time for the ‘race’ to begin.
Extremely motivated, I went to section one and I was off for a very long day. With very difficult moor crossings I had multiple high-speed falls due to a phenomenal amount of mud. 120 kilometres with no roads or any ‘nice’ trails – it’s crazy! I had often been told about these famous scenes by other British riders at the WTC events, as well as my good friend from Belgium Eric Lejeune. When one is sitting on the motorcycle worn out and five people are in front of you are doing the exactly the same thing the word ‘why’ did cross your mind from time to time! I now know what mud tastes like, after 76 sections which weren’t any easier than the moor crossings.
Up until section 40, I was okay but after section 50 it began to hurt in unlikely places. Beyond section 60 it was an unbelievable challenge. I came across my friend Brad Bullock and I asked him “is it over soon?” His answer: “No, it is just getting started, you hang on or you crack!” Indeed, I lived the longest and hardest hours of my life; my hands were no longer giving signs of life, the pain so intense due to the vibrations of the handlebars.
Each minute is deducted and once section 76 has been passed you pray that there will be no mechanical or physical problems. I crossed the finish line and a special thought went to my loyal companion for the day, my loyal and deserving Scorpa. I would like to thank everyone who makes this amazing trial possibles as well as the crowd that spurs you on when you no longer feel like moving. Maybe I’ll see you this year at the ‘Scott Trial’ again where I’ll be far more prepared this time!
Well you’ll return to the Scott and maybe also ride the Scottish Six Days Trial one year.
The Scottish Six Days Trial is another on my bucket list. Again like the Scott Trial, I’ve heard a lot about it and I’m looking forward to giving it a go. I’m not sure when I will be able to compete in this amazing event due to such a busy schedule but I’m really looking forward to the day when I can.
Before we finish, please give Trial Magazine readers your thoughts on Frogs’ Legs!
Well, I would like to say that the first time I manage to get a top ten in 2017, I will make sure that John Hulme eats frogs’ legs! I’m sure he will love them but I need to warn him they don’t taste like chicken at all!