For the French selection, the stakes are high since the best technician will be able to defend their French and then European title against the rest of the world in Iwata in Japan, at the brand's headquarters.
This year, it is Philippe Terral who wins the French final of the NTGP 2024 (National Technician Grand Prix) against 5 other finalists from the dealer network in Argenteuil in the Yamaha France training center.
The aim of this national and then international event is to promote technical professions in the Motorcycle industry in professions essential to the maintenance of our two-wheelers. As such, it is carried out in partnership with Garac (National School of Automotive Professions) and the INCM (National Institute of Cycle and Motorcycle) which provide training in these professions.
One year from the first selections to Japan
To participate, you must first be a technician in the Yamaha network. There are 3 qualifying rounds in the form of online questionnaires on your Yamaha Motor Academy account. From the moment you are on this platform and you have level 2 (Silver), the questionnaires are offered to you and you are free to participate.
All European distributors have the same. Then, you have 10 minutes flat to answer each questionnaire with a bonus depending on your time spent.
The opening takes place in May, the second in June and the last in July before the annual closures of the concessions. Of the 450 network technicians present on the Yamaha Motor Academy platform, 280 were eligible and 100 participated.
Practical tests
Once the qualifications have been completed, the practical workshop tests are contested during the final, always with a stopwatch. This year, there were 6: 1000 km service on an R1, electrical diagnosis on an R7, adjustment of the Y-AMT system (the robotic gearbox) on an MT-09 Y-AMT, maintenance of the electronic fork on a Tracer 9 GT, metrology of the engine cylinder head on the 3-cylinder CP3 engine, calibration of the MRR radar on the Tracer 9 GT+ and to decide between everyone, a surprise bonus test which consisted of going back and adjust a Yamaha Moro 07 bicycle derailleur.
Philippe Terral wins and flies to Amsterdam
Philippe Terral from the Yam 34 West concession will not go to Amsterdam next March to relax for a weekend but to face the finalists from the other participating European countries, obviously hoping to win his ticket to go to Japan to compete in the grand finale in 2025.
He will be able to relax afterwards as he wins an invitation to a VIP weekend in the Yamaha team box during a European round of the World Superbike.
On the podium, he was ahead of Arnaud Eberhardt (Yam 34 dealership) who finished second and Jean-Joël Pichon (Moto Revolution dealership). The three other finalists who did not stand out during 48 hours of this competition are Ludwig Vaugeois (Yamaha Castellan), Jérémy Castin (Espace Motos 02) and Alessandro Viale (Motos Joly).
Restore machines
Philippe Terral: “I worked with my father restoring old motorcycles, it gave me a passion for motorcycles, I wanted to continue. I went to a vocational high school to do a Baccalaureate and a BTS in motorcycles. Already during my Bac internships it was with Yamaha, then the BTS alternately with them, it was the logical continuation. Winning the National Technician Grand Prix at the base I didn't believe it much, I had done the qualifications one evening at home and then being qualified, I revised the courses and reviewed certain technicalities and a priori it paid off. »
See you in 2025 to find out if Philippe is going to represent France in Japan. In the meantime, if these professions in a sector which is recruiting tempt you, you can obtain information from Garac (National School of Automotive Professions), the INCM (National Institute of Cycle and Motorcycle) and YMA (Yamaha Motor Academy).
France
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