David Vuillemin

French motorcycle racer

David Vuillemin (born 18 October 1977) is a French former professional motocross and supercross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1995 to 1999 and won the 1999 supercross world championship. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 2000 and 2008 before returning to the Motocross World Championships for one final season in 2009. Although Vuillemin never won a major championship, he was twice the runner up in the AMA Supercross championships and, was one of the few competitors who could beat both Jeremy McGrath and Ricky Carmichael in their prime.

Born in Berre l'Étang, Bouches du Rhône, Vuillemin began riding motorcycles as a child because his father was a motorcycle road racer but, he preferred to play football. He began motocross racing in 1985 and made his world championship debut riding a Kawasaki in the 1995 125cc motocross world championship, finishing the season ranked 31st. Vuillemin made his first AMA motocross race appearance when he competed in three rounds of the 1996 AMA 125cc Western Supercross championship. In the 1996 125cc motocross world championship, his results improved with a 16th place finish. Vuillemin returned to compete in the 1997 AMA 125cc Western Supercross championship competing as a privateer with assistance from the FMF racing team. He posted first and second place finishes in six races and, was ranked fourth in the championship final overall standings. Vuillemin began the 1998 season in the AMA 125cc Western Supercross championship where, he scored three consecutive victories and finished second to John Dowd in the championship final overall standings. 1998 marked the best year of his 125cc career as, he won three consecutive Grand Prix races as well as a fourth victory later on to end the season ranked second in the 125cc motocross world championship behind the defending champion Alessio Chiodi. Vuillemin moved up to the 250cc class in 1999 appearing in five rounds of the AMA Supercross championship including his best result at the San Diego Supercross where he led the main event for 14 laps ahead of Jeremy McGrath and Ezra Lusk on a mostly unmodified Yamaha YZ 250 and, finished the race in fourth place. In the 1999 250cc world championship, he won two Grand Prix races to end the season ranked third in the championship.

Vuillemin joined the Yamaha USA factory racing team to compete in the 2000 AMA Motocross Championships. He began the 250cc Supercross season with a fifth place in the opening round, followed by a second place before scoring his first victory in the third round in San Diego when McGrath experienced mechanical troubles. At the fourth round in Phoenix, Vuillemin came from behind to pass several top competitors including the previously dominant McGrath to score an impressive victory. His 2001 season was hampered by injuries but, he was able to repeat as winner of the High Point Raceway national race. He scored a third and fourth place results to help the French team win their first Motocross des Nations event since its inception in 1947. Vuillemin raced a limited season in the AMA 250cc outdoor motocross championship after re injuring his shoulder and forcing him to have surgery. He did however earn an overall second place finish at Sacramento. His first race with the team came at the US Open in Las Vegas where, he led Carmichael and Stewart for half the race before falling to third where he would finish. Vuillemin was never able to regain his successful form after his Millville accident.

Vuillemin then reversed course and decided to return to Europe to compete with a Kawasaki in the MX1 Motocross World Championships for one final season in 2009. He then made the decision to retire permanently from professional motocross competition. In the almost 30 year history of the Bercy event, no one has won more times than Vuillemin.

After the 2009 season, Vuillemin spent time training and helping several riders and teams before accepting a job with Motoconcepts Racing as Team Manager.