G
ERALD SANFILIPPO
STARTED RIDING
FMX in 1999 and
was a pro rider
from 2003 to 2008.
In 2009 he decided he just
wanted to ride for fun, without
the pressures associated with
professional freestyle motocross.
That’s when Gerald met Nicolas
and Franck. Right off the bat the
group had a good connection and
would regularly ride together at
Gerald’s park in Mimizan (G-Spot).
In 2010 Gerald made the decision
to create the Rage ‘N Respect
crew with Nico and Franck. The
goal was to help these guys
progress and make things easier
for the up-and-comers, sharing
his past experiences with them
and allowing them to benefit from
his business partners. So in the
beginning they were three, before
David Rinaldo, Julien Mannon and
Jean Bilusis joined the crew.
In the same year, the former FMX
rider Cyril Porte (from Gerald’s
generation) created a unique
freestyle motocross event in
France called ‘FMX Cup’, in
partnership with the FFM (the
official French federation for
motorsport). “I was the riders’
representative for the competition,
so I convinced Jean, Nico, Julien
and Franck to ride it,” remembers
Gerald. “Unfortunately Jean
crashed on a sketchy landing,
but Nicolas, Julien and Franck all
killed it. Nicolas won, Julien was
2nd and Franck finished 5th.”
Following this event, Gerald got
talking to Julien Chat, who had
already directed some edits for
Gerald, and asked him to make
a video introducing the Rage ‘N
Respect crew to the world. Rage
‘N Respect was officially born!
Today, the crew consists of
Nicolas Texier, Franck Bataille,
Corentin Corbet and Guillaume
Faurie (ATV). “Jean Bilusis is still
part of the family, even though
he’s taken a step back from FMX
for now; he opened a bar and
doesn’t really have enough time to
ride anymore. Sometimes we u