Frenchman Eric Sorby has seen it all. As a racer, he found himself on the podium in AMA races, both indoors and outdoors. He was also a big favourite at the Bercy supercross, where his on-track battles were as good as his off-track battles. He was also the trainer of James “Bubba” Stewart, when Stewart was the fastest man on the planet.

Now, as an experienced former racer, he is once again in the Grand Prix paddock, working with the 114 Honda team and also with HRC rider Mitch Evans. We caught up with Sorby and asked him about the plans for 2020 and what he expects from his riders.

MXLarge: Eric Sorby, now I remember you well from the 1990s or early 2000s, racing a lot of Bercy events, AMA supercross, but for those who don’t know who you are, can you give a quick rundown of your career?

Sorby: So, I grew up in Europe, and I went to America in 2002 and rode for Pro Circuit Kawasaki. I raced 2002, 2003 and 2004 and had six supercross podiums and the same in motocross. It was really hard to win back in the day when Bubba was behind the starting gate. I stayed in America for 11 years and stopped racing and worked with Bubba as a coach.

MXlarge: How was that working with Bubba, because back then he was the fastest man on the planet?

Sorby: Yes, he was, and I think he still could be, even if he is on the couch now. He has this skill that I have never seen. I learnt a lot from him and when I raced in America in 2002, we became friends straight away. I was with him full-time. Of the 11 years I was in America I was with him. It was crazy to do what he did on a motorcycle; I could do the same, but not the same speed.

MXlarge: Did you ever think of just staying in America, because a lot of guys stay like Albertyn, Reed, Langston did stay?

Sorby: No, I loved being over there, I met a lot of good people and the Stewarts were like my family, but I did miss the European culture and lifestyle.

MXlarge: Tell me, I stopped going to America on a regular basis, because I wouldn’t handle the fakeness of things. Europeans are more down to earth, and you see that with the Grand Prix riders compared to the AMA riders, the GP riders are way more approachable and everyone gets on, and its real. How do you see it?

Sorby: You are correct, the riders in Europe are more friendly, and you don’t see anyone in America until they go riding. They are way more wired in America, but that is the way it is. I enjoyed being in America, but the European culture is so different. You can walk into the pits and all the GP riders like Gajser, Paulin, Evans you can talk to and meet. If you want to talk to Bubba, Dungey, Reed or Carmichael, forget it.

MXlarge: Tell me how you met Mitchell (Evans) and how that all came about working with him?

Sorby: I was doing a riding school with some 65cc and 85cc riders, and I saw this guy on a 250 doing lap after lap and I didn’t know who he was. I just thought it was a local guy, but then I stopped my riding school and started watching this guy on the 250 for like 15 minutes, just watching his style and stuff and I was like, WOW, the position of the rider and his style, it was so good. His lap times were good, and I thought this guy is fast. I went to see him after he did his moto and I introduced myself and he knew who I was from Bubbas World (a television show James Stewart used to have). Mitch is young, he doesn’t know me from my facing, but from Bubbas World. When I was 22 years old, he wasn’t even born. We talked at the track for like 20 or 30 minutes and I had him on Instagram and we got talking again. I knew he was on his own, and while he was with team 114, he didn’t really have anyone with him. No family, just Livia. I know when I went to America, I missed having a friend. It took me 48 hours and I wrote him an e-mail and mentioned that I had worked with Bubba and also Justin Barcia and some other top guys. I told him I don’t wat to change his style, but I wanted to help him as a former rider and racer and think I could help him. I told him I would do it for no money, I would pack my family up in our camper and follow him at the races. I said if you trust me, that is all I ask. Took four or five days and he contacted me and said he would like me to help him. No money, but I felt I could really help him, and I really liked him. James (Stewart) was like a brother to me, as was Barcia and I didn’t tell them how to ride, and I don’t tell Mitch how to ride. I don’t need to tell Mitch to ride, and we are learning from each other and he has a good family behind him. He is always nice to my family, to my little boy, he always brings gifts to my son, and he is a nice person. I help him and he also helps me.

MXLarge: You also work for 114 Honda, right?

Sorby: Yes, this year Livia hired me, and we have the two young Australian riders, Nathan Crawford and Bailey Malkiewicz and we have also a European rider. We spent some time in France and Italy and my main thing is helping.

MXlarge: Tell me about those two young Aussies at 114. I think they might shock some people throughout the season.

Sorby: Crawford, the oldest one, he did a good winter training and he showed in the pre-season at Lacapelle, he battled with Beaton and Geerts. Bailey, he has a lot of talent, but he needs to work harder. In Australia you might just have three guys behind the start with a similar talent, but MX2 isn’t like that, here there are a lot of fast guys. So here, when the gate drops, you got 25 guys and he needs to wake up to that.