Aspiring journalist Renaud Lacroix reports on the Bridgestone-backed MotoGP Championship in Barcelona22/06/2009

Bridgestone, exclusive tyre supplier to the MotoGP Championship, announced the eleven finalists of the 2009 pan-European Bridgestone e-reporter young journalists’ competition at the beginning of May, with three finalists due to attend MotoGP race weekends. French finalist Renaud Lacroix, a student studying Engineering, was offered the chance to attend the sixth round of the MotoGP Championship (12 – 14 June), in Barcelona, as part of the e-reporter initiative.

Renaud (aged 22) was the second e-reporter of the year to attend a MotoGP event for Bridgestone, and to write race reports and features on the two-wheeled series for the Bridgestone website, www.bridgestone.eu/e-reporter. Interviewing a host of riders for his reports, including French MotoGP rider Randy de Puniet and French 250cc competitor Mike di Meglio, Renaud gained invaluable journalistic experience and had the opportunity to practice his interviewing skills.

Commenting on his e-reporter experience, Renaud said;
"There’s nothing better than being an ‘insider’ to fully understand what journalism is like and this is the experience that e-reporter has given me. I am no driver or rider but I raced all weekend long in the paddock getting to meet riders and wander in the garages for interviews. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a driver. If I can be a journalist, I will have no regret at all."

Entrants for this year’s Bridgestone e-reporter competition were asked to demonstrate their ability to write topical interview questions and a newsworthy story when applying for the competition. Entry levels for the 2009 contest have been higher than ever before, with students also being able to enter in seven different languages.

The next Bridgestone e-reporter finalist to attend a MotoGP race weekend will be Lukasz Lesniewski (from Poland), who will be attending the seventh round of the Bridgestone-backed MotoGP Championship, in Assen, on 25-27 June. The overall winner of this year’s e-reporter competition, chosen for their ability to represent the Bridgestone brand and demonstrate their natural flair for journalism, will be announced in September 2009.
For further information on the 2009 Bridgestone e-reporter competition, and to view race reports throughout the season from this year’s finalists, visit www.bridgestone.eu/e-reporter.