Interview with Marc Ristori
Hi Marc, here we are, the Rforce8 site is online, how did the project come about?
In 2007 I decided to create my own team in the Motocross World Championship, but at the end of that same year, I seriously injured my back, which left me paraplegic. After that, I stayed a few months in a rehabilitation center and I can tell you that I often wondered about my future… I spent a lot of time surfing the net to see how others before me had overcome this difficult ordeal and I came across videos of David Bailey, Ricky James and Marc Herremans. These guys had a real spirit and showed through their clips and their various interviews that your future depends on what you want to do with it. This helped me take the first step: to get back up mentally. From then on I said to myself: this is the direction Rforce8 must go. I got back on my bike in October 2010, we filmed this moment and the video went viral on the net; The comments following the video all spoke of surpassing oneself... The Rforce8 spirit was born.
Today Rforce8 not only makes videos but has also designed a clothing line, you often talk about the Rforce8 spirit what is the difference with a simple brand?
The important difference is, as I said, the state of mind and not just the sporting result of Rforce8 athletes. A brand tends to shape the image of the athlete a little too much to suit itself and to communicate on the results. At Rforce8, what is important is who you are as a man and what your values are.
The Rforce8 universe has a very broad horizon, what is its goal?
The goal is to get people browsing the site to take an interest in a different world than the one they are used to. Today, Rforce8 athletes come from the motorcycle and BMX fields, but the next athlete will come from a completely different sport.
Will these interviews be filmed?
Yes, this means that by looking at them on the site, you will be able to realize even better that each one has surpassed himself in a different way at one time or another in his life: no matter his sporting field. A rider will perhaps find inspiration in a karateka and a person who has never practiced sport in a rider.
Let’s talk about the clothes: how did you design them?
I didn't want the line to resemble a particular style but the Rforce8 universe. I worked with 2 people, Anne Laure and Diane, who perfectly understood the direction I wanted to go in and they both did a great job.
There are different messages on the t-shirts, what is the aim of your approach?
The messages on the t-shirts make you wonder. If you take the collection "Braves don't cry... really?" I think that quite a few people will immediately answer yes, although...
We feel that you have lots of ideas and that you are very creative, have you always been like that?
I would say above all that I accepted to be myself, especially in my situation, and I decided to give free rein to my creativity without fear of judgment, which is difficult depending on the sponsors and in certain areas.
What were the difficulties in creating Rforce8? It's still a long way from what you were used to doing as an athlete?
There were many difficulties, I started from scratch, I resumed studies in management and communication at the ESM in Geneva. I am also working on the Rforce8 project. I sometimes made bad choices, I came across people who were not very correct but I learned a lot. I also met great people who helped and supported me to complete the project and I would like to thank them particularly.
Thank you and good luck to Rforce8.
Hello Marc, so we're there, the Rforce8 website in online. How did the project come about?
In 2007 I decided to create my own world championship motocross team, but at the end of that year I seriously injured my back, which left me paraplegic. Following this accident I spent several months in a rehabilitation center and I can assure you that I often thought about my future and what lay ahead…. I spent a lot of time browsing the internet to find out how others before me had overcome a similar situation and I came across the videos of David Bailey, Ricky James and Marc Herremans. These guys had a true spirit and through their films and various interviews they showed me that your future depends on what you want to make of it. This helped me to make the first step, to pick myself up mentally. From that moment on I told myself: that's the direction Rforce8 has to take. I got back on my bike in October 2010. We filmed the event and the video quite caused a buzz on the internet; following the release of the video, all the comments talked about going beyond one's limits… The spirit Rforce8 was born.
Today Rforce8 not only makes videos but it has also designed a brand of clothes. You often talk about the Rforce8 spirit, so what is the difference compared to another brand?
As I said, the main difference is to do with the state of mind, the spirit and not just the sport results of Rforce8's athletes. A brand has a tendency to base itself perhaps a little too much on the athlete's image and the communication of results. What is important for Rforce8 is more who you are as a person and what your true values are.
The world of Rforce8 has a broad horizon, what is the purpose?
The purpose is to encourage the people, who browse on our site, to become interested in a different world to the one they are used to. Today Rforce8's athletes come from the bike and Bmx field but the next athlete will come from a completely different field of sport.
Will these interviews be filmed?
Yes, this means that when you watch them on the internet you will be made even more aware that each one went beyond his or her limit in a different way at one time or another in his or her life: regardless of the sport. Perhaps a rider will get inspiration from a karate expert and someone who has never done any sport will get inspiration from a rider.
Let's talk about the clothes. How did you design them?
I didn't really want the line to look like any style in particular but to represent the Rforce8 world. I worked with 2 people, Anne Laure and Diane, who understood perfectly the direction I wanted to take and they both did a great job.
There are different messages on the t-shirts. Why did you do this?
The messages on the t-shirts are there to prompt you to ask yourself questions. If you take the collection “Brave don’t cry… really?” I think that a lot of people will at first give a positive reply, or not…
You seem to have lots of ideas and to be very creative. Have you always been like that?
Above all, I would say that I've accepted to be myself, especially bearing in mind my situation and I've decided to let my creativity run freely without being afraid of how I might be judged, which isn't easy depending on the sponsors and certain areas concerned.
What were the difficulties when creating Rforce8? You've come a long way from what you used to do as an athlete?
There were numerous difficulties to overcome. I started from scratch. I returned to my management and communication studies at the ESM in Geneva. At the same time I'm working in parallel on the Rforce8 project. Sometimes I made the wrong decisions. I came across people who were not always very trustworthy but I've learned a lot. I also met some great people, who supported me and helped me to get to the end of the project. By the way, I would like to make a point here of thanking them particularly for all they have done.
Thank you and good luck for Rforce8's take-off.