Whether he’s carving corners for a photoshoot, guiding journalists along mountain roads, or racing vintage bikes across continents, Hubert brings a rare combination of skill, calm, and charisma to every role he plays. As a lead rider for Bridgestone events, he’s not just responsible for smooth logistics – he helps bring the brand’s tyres to life on the road, in front of the camera, and through every twist and turn. We spoke with Hubert at the T33 launch in Croatia to learn more about his journey, his mindset, and what it really takes to stay out front.
Can you tell us about your role at a Bridgestone event?
“I actually do three different things here,” Hubert began. “First, I help out with the bikes – cleaning, checking, removing wheels. I’m not the one mounting the tyres, that’s done by the Bridgestone techs, but I take care of the prep work.”
Then comes the riding. “Before the journalists arrive, I do all the pre-shoots. We spend days capturing photo and video material, riding for the camera, over and over. And when the journalists are here, I guide them on the road. That means leading every ride, making sure they’re safe, comfortable, and able to test the tyres properly.”
How did you get into the motorcycle world?
“I grew up in Paris, right in the center, but I always dreamed of riding. I finally got my first bike when I was 19 and immediately started racing.”
From there, Hubert went all in. “I wanted to try every kind of competition – motocross, enduro, flat track, rally, ice racing. I traveled across Europe to compete. For me, the racing was important, but so was the travel and the experience.”
His professional work began through a friend. “About 10 years ago, a photographer friend who worked for Ant Productions told me they were looking for a precision rider for Yamaha. That’s how I started, and I’ve now been working with Bridgestone since around 2017 or 2018.”
(flat track in Spain)
Are you still racing today?
“Absolutely,” he smiled. “Last weekend, I was at a beach race in England. I still race regularly, mostly vintage bikes now.”
(beach day racing in the UK on the E50)
How do you prepare for an event like this?
“I don’t!” he laughed. “I just show up. They give me the bike, the gloves, the helmet, even the clothing. Everyone else arrives with lots of luggage, I come with almost nothing.”
Preparation on-site, however, is critical. “We always check the roads before the event starts. Even if Ant Productions did the scouting months ago, we go back out and confirm everything. We make sure the GPS works, that the conditions are still good.”
What’s your role as a guide rider?
“It’s part riding, part psychology,” he explained. “I’m like a human GPS, but I’m also monitoring everything. I constantly check my mirrors to see how the journalists are doing – are they tired, jetlagged, pushing hard, holding back?”
Adapting on the fly is key. “Some riders want to go fast, others need to take it easy. I count heads every few minutes – one, two, three, four, five – and if I’ve still got them all, I know I can keep going. If someone’s falling behind, I adjust.”
(Bulgaria on AX41S)
How do you communicate while riding?
“With hand signals,” Hubert said. “Thumbs up, thumbs down, peace signs – everyone understands. If there’s a problem, they honk, and we stop. We also do a lot of regular stops so they can swap bikes, take photos, drink water. It’s part of the rhythm.”
What do you enjoy most about being a guide?
“The roads,” he said instantly. “We’re always in amazing places, Croatia, Morocco, the mountains. The scenery is beautiful, the food is good, the weather’s better than Paris,” he added with a laugh. “It honestly feels like a holiday sometimes.”
(Senegal on moped)
How do you deal with unexpected situations like bad weather?
“We don’t stress,” he shrugged. “Everyone here is experienced. We know things can change. If it rains? Even better – now you can test the tyre in the wet. Everyone’s got rain gear, and we just keep going.”
(track day in Belgium on S22)
You also ride in the pre-shoots. What’s important when filming or photographing tyres?
“There’s actually a lot of rules,” he said. “You have to look fast, but follow the road laws. No crossing white lines, fingers always on the levers, toes in, back straight. It’s not how you’d ride naturally, but it looks good on camera.”
He also adapts based on the camera. “With drones, you ride slower. For action shots, you lean more. On tracking cars, you exaggerate your body position to make it look faster – but you’re always safe and in control.”
Do you collaborate closely with other riders and the team?
“Yes. I’ve worked with Barbara a lot, she’s super fast and used to race professionally. She’s also French, like me, and we’re the only two French riders in the team,” he said with a grin. “We’ve done multiple launches and video shoots together, and she even teaches me a thing or two.”
The wider team is tight-knit as well. “Our first big event together was in Morocco back in 2018, and we’ve worked together ever since. Now it feels like a family.”
What’s the biggest challenge in your role?
“Don’t crash,” he said bluntly. “And more importantly, don’t create a situation where a journalist could crash. That’s always in the back of my mind. My job is to make them feel safe, confident, and help them get the most from the tyre.”
Do you have a favorite Bridgestone event or memory?
He didn’t hesitate. “Two events stand out. First, the Gibraltar Race in 2019. It was off-road, 7,000 kilometers over two weeks. For me, it was one of the best experiences of my life.”
“The second was the BT46 launch, right here in Croatia, during COVID. Bridgestone brought in the 20 most iconic bikes from the 1970s. Vintage bikes are my passion, so riding all of those was a dream. I couldn’t believe it.”
(road racing in Spain on BT46)
(ice racing on studded X31)
And your favorite Bridgestone tyre?
“The E50,” he said proudly. “It’s a soft enduro tyre. I race on it, I train on it, and even though it’s not designed for road use, it actually grips surprisingly well on asphalt. It’s not the most famous tyre, but I love it.”
Finally, how would you describe what it’s like working with Bridgestone?
He grinned. “Don’t be jealous,” he said. “Because I have the best job in the world.”
A few more highlights
(off road in Peru)
(racing as a crab in the UK)
(riding through Hanoi)
(Hubert finding himself on a wall in Portugal)
