Seventh in the Paris-Dakar in mid-January, David Casteu came this Saturday to meet with his fans and motorsport enthusiasts. For an hour at the Sports Museum, he recounted his career, explained his struggles, fears, but above all, his titles. A focus on a successful man from Nice.
His Youth
“My parents were farmers, and my father used a small motorcycle for work. Around 7-8 years old, I would sneak it away, and I quickly took hold of the handlebars. I immediately fell in love with mechanics. My father gave me the first pieces of advice, a real foundational work around motorcycles. I studied agriculture, which is why I have a special connection with the land. It’s this passion for motorcycles combined with this farming profession that gave me this perspective.”
His City, His Roots
“My family is from Nice. I’m proud to carry the city’s colors. When I arrive at Nice airport, I realize how lucky I am. Nice is beauty. I love leaving, but I even love coming back to my city more. Having my flag at the start, at the finish, is a great pride. Life is made of chance, encounters, that’s what happened with Christian Estrosi. One day, we crossed paths on a street in Paris, and he said to me: ‘We’re going to do something together. I’ll follow you.’”
His Year 2010
“It was truly a special year. During this Dakar, I was in harmony with my motorcycle. I spent 5 stages leading the general classification, but I wanted to keep pushing and had a serious accident. I ‘burned a joker in my life’. I spent a month and a half in the hospital, but I couldn’t wait to get back into competition. I won the world champion title, and I received my trophy next to stars like Valentino Rossi. It was a magical moment. It’s an immense pride to have given a helmet from this very special year to the Sports Museum and another to Christian Estrosi.”
His Ascension
“I started as an amateur with the Paris-Dakar editions 2003-2004-2005 in this category. I was spotted by the Team Gauloises-KTM in 2005, and it was a real chance to be in such a structure. In 2007, I saved the life of my teammate Isidre Esteve Pujol, then I stood on the podium (2nd), and received my first trophy. These are great moments of adrenaline. One returns different from a Dakar.”
A Memory
“I stopped for gas at the Peruvian border. An elderly lady handed me a painting where I posed with her son and asked me to sign it. When I think about her adventure: developing the photo, framing it, waiting a year, taking the bus to this place, and making the return journey. These are moments that go beyond sports. It’s magical!”
The Construction of His Team
“I was frustrated with the end of the adventure with the KTM structure. In 2010, I decided to create my own team. From the start, I’ve managed my career like a business owner. There, I wanted to bring people together around my passion. I knew we had to build a solid foundation. Today, I’m nothing without the people around me. There’s camaraderie, even love, with the mechanics. I’m all about sharing, and I experience exceptional things every day.”
Photo credit: Team David Casteu
