Quand il s'agit de prendre une moto vintage ou spéciale et de passer une journée entière à faire des tours sur un circuit atypique, on peut dire qu'on est plutôt doués. Et comme ça faisait longtemps qu'on n'avait pas fait quelque chose de vraiment marquant en hiver, on a décidé qu'il était temps de relancer le Deus Swank Rally On Ice, cette fois-ci organisé par le Circuit de Glace GTR de Chamrousse.

Pour ceux qui n'ont jamais entendu parler du Deus Swank Rally, c'est simple : c'est une course de gentlemen, donc chaque pilote a dû chronométrer ses performances, et nous pensons qu'aucun n'a triché. Mais malgré tout, le classement n'est pas l'objectif principal de cet événement. Le Deus Swank Rally est avant tout synonyme de plaisir et de coolitude. Et nous avons eu beaucoup de ces deux qualités. Nous avons eu la chance de réunir des pilotes parmi les plus cool et les plus sympathiques, ainsi que des motos vintage emblématiques et uniques.

Due to the crazy weather we experienced this winter, we decided that the best time to ride was in the morning and at night when the track was colder. Despite our plan, the ice didn’t last long, and in less than a few hours, the track became a slippery, wet-snow circuit that challenged everyone. Luckily, this didn’t affect the mood of the event; it made it even more fun. Both amateurs and pros had to tame their bikes while sliding on the bends, sinking in the snow, or getting stuck on the climb. So, the first half of the day left riders with a determined will to cope with this nasty (but fun) condition and finish a lap without falling or getting stuck.

After battling ice and snow all morning, we thought the best way to warm up our bones would be with a bottomless lunch of raclette, which took place in a private chalet. Fattened up with melted cheese, it was time for the second pleasant surprise that entertained everyone until it was time to get back on track.

For motorcycle riders, there’s only one thing that has almost the same appeal as riding bikes on the ice, and that's riding snowmobiles. Needless to say, once on the snowmobiles, some riders started hitting the gas a bit too much, resulting in a couple of rollovers and a lot of laughs from the skiers on the chairlift passing overhead.

As darkness approached, followed by a thick mist, it was time for the second chapter on the track. Maybe it was the raclette, maybe it was the experience from the morning — but for this second part, everyone understood how to manage the snow, and one lap at a time, everyone challenged the stopwatch to achieve their best time. Throughout the night, the valley resonated with the rumble of Triumphs from the 60s, the screams of YZs from the 90s, and the cheers of the spectators watching a sidecar speeding through the thick darkness. We saw our riders sharing the same true, strong enthusiasm that gripped us while attending all this, a feeling akin to being a kid in a candy shop. And it was fantastic

Special thanks to Yamaha Europe for supporting the event and joining us on the track and GTR Mountain for hosting us in their amazing place.

ph. @taubalex
Video @agencemareemontante