When the gate drops in the World Supercross Championship, each fraction of a second counts - and behind every bike is a mechanic who has poured hours of precision and passion into making sure nothing is left to chance.

For Steewen Bleu, Chief Mechanic and Engine Technician for Team Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki, that passion has been years in the making. His journey began back in 2019, when he joined the team as a young intern while still in school.

Now, six years later, he leads the team’s mechanical program, overseeing everything from race preparation to engine performance.

“I was first dreaming of being a motocross mechanic because supercross isn’t that big in France,” he said. “When Bud Racing entered the World Supercross program, I was immediately motivated – I love this sport. It’s my fourth World Supercross season now, and I still enjoy it like the first year. Now I am chief mechanic and engine technician for the same team after six years with them.”

Having cut his teeth in European Motocross, Bleu now has the responsibility of preparing the motorcycles for star riders. While there are plenty of similarities in looking after bikes in motocross and World Supercross, the latter throws up more of a challenge for mechanics up and down the field.

“In World Supercross, we prepare the bikes at home before putting them in the road cases,” Bleu explains. Everything is ready in July when the season is calmer. After that, it’s just check-ups and repairs – the big part of the job is done before leaving for the race.

“We arrive on Wednesday night to be ready for the stadium opening on Thursday. Then we open the road cases and rebuild the bikes – handlebars, wheels, everything. We don’t leave the stadium before we’re done.”

The pressures that come with ensuring the safety of the machinery being handed over to a rider is not lost on Bleu, who knows how important a strong relationship is between racer and mechanic.

“When race day comes, we check again, change any parts if needed, and once the racing starts, we’re 100% focused. A mechanic cannot make any mistake,” he adds. “My order of checks is always the same – fuel first, then spokes, deflate the air from the forks, check the clutch between races, and finish by checking everything again.

“Sometimes you have great chemistry, sometimes you’re very different, it depends on the rider – but whatever happens, the rider must believe in you 100% because their life is in our hands. If the rider isn’t confident in his bike, he won’t ride 100%. I’ve worked with many riders and always had a really good relationship. I’m young, they are too, and that helps. It’s better when you like the rider you work for.”

From rebuilding machines out of road cases to performing high-pressure repairs in minutes, Bleu represents the heart of the World Supercross paddock – dedicated, detailed, and always chasing perfection.

“Once, we had back-to-back races and we had less than five minutes in between, Bleu recalls. “Both our riders crashed and broke the same parts – the throttle and lever. We had to fix both bikes at the same time with the same tools. It was stressful, but with adrenaline and experience, we made it and they were both on the start line for race two.”

While riders might soar through the stadium lights, it’s the mechanics like Bleu who keep them flying.

WSX story