Rétromobile dedicating exhibit celebrating the contributions of the motorcycle world's Éric de Seynes

Paris, France – Rétromobile to host a grand exhibition retracing the life and times of a pillar of motorcycle racing and its industry: Éric de Seynes. Renowned for being the first ‘non-Japanese’ CEO of the European subsidiary of Yamaha Motor and sitting on the management committee of the parent company in Japan, this motorcycling enthusiast will be contributing to Rétromobile through a display of more than 25 motorbikes from his collection. This exhibit will be at the centre of a dedicated zone which will once again play host to lovers of collector two-wheelers, offering them a space devoted to manufacturers, specialized traders, travel companies and accessory dealers, and the Ace Café, a compulsory stop-off point for a convivial break.

ERIC DE SEYNES: AN EXHIBITION OF A LIFE BETWEEN PASSION AND INNOVATION

“I have been a faithful visitor to Rétromobile for many years, and I am excited to see motorbikes gradually taking up an ever-larger space at the show. It’s both an honour and a pleasure to share some of the bikes I care the most about with the show’s audience. I believe in the values of passion, since they are based on self-commitment, sincerity, and the sharing of a collective emotional memory that we all need. I will make every effort to be present in the area dedicated to me for the duration of the show, to be sure to share its soul and memory with as many visitors as possible,” comments Eric de Seynes.

Introduced to motorbikes by his father who owned a BMW R69S, Éric grew up in a two-wheeler environment, preferring repairs on the neighborhood’s mopeds to his schoolwork. At the age of 16, he completed a 4,000 km trip around France on a Kawasaki 100 G7T, and at 17, he began a racing career with the Honda 125 challenge, the rally of Tunisia (where he finished third among the amateurs) and the Paris-Dakar.

In his career, Éric crossed paths with Sonauto-Yamaha, where he met Jean-Claude Olivier, whom he replaced in 2010 as CEO of Yamaha Motor France. Following his promotion in 2014 to the position of COO of Yamaha Motor Europe in 2014, in 2016 he became the first non-Japanese person to join the hallowed ranks of Executive Officers at Yamaha Motor Corporation, before being appointed President of Yamaha Motor Europe en 2018. At the end of 2023, he relinquished operational leadership while remaining true to the motorcycle world, a driving force in his life.

Among the bikes on show:

• 1962 BMW R69S
• 1975 Peugeot 103 SV
• 1971 Kawasaki H1R Sidemm – Christian Ravel
• 2015 YZF450 Factory – Romain Febvre
• 1986 YZE750 Dakar – Jean-Claude Olivier
• 1999 Yamaha Virago 125

2000 SQM DEDICATED TO TWO-WHEELERS IN 2025

For the second time at Rétromobile, no less than 2,000 sqm of space will be given over to two-wheelers. Located in the middle of the show, in pavilion 2, visitors will discover here an array of rarely seen motorbikes.

Well-known manufacturers will present their models and tell their stories: names such as Godet Vincent, Honda, Indian Motorcycles, Kawasaki and Royal Enfield.

Visitors will also have the chance to stop off at an unavoidable fixture of the British motorcycling scene: the Ace Cafe. In this venue where enthusiasts can rub shoulders and share their passion and experience, they will also be able to order from a menu in its original version and revel in a festive atmosphere by choosing titles from the juke box, before paying a visit to the official store.

Pavilion 2 will be the place to be starting on February 5, 2025, where attendees will be able to discover the motorcycle zone and exhibit, produced with the support of Axa Passion, a loyal exhibitor at Rétromobile and the insurer of Eris de Seynes’ motorcycle collection.

Rétromobile 2025

WEDNESDAY –  FEBRUARY  5 – SUNDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2025
Paris Expo Porte de Versailles – Pavilions 1, 2.2, 3
Opening hours: Weds 5 & Fri 7 Feb: 10am – 10pm, Thurs 6, Sat 8, Sun 9 February: 10am – 7pm
www.retromobile.com/en

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