Look for Vuillemin aboard the #12 Boo-Koo Honda in 2006.

The Reality of Speed takes viewers behind the scenes of Holigan Racing's Team BooKoo, with riders; Steve Boniface, Justin Keeney and David Vuillemin, as they compete in the 2006 Amp'd Mobile Supercross series. Each of the thirteen episodes gives you an inside look at the team as they live, ride and train together during the week; then pulls back the curtain and lets you see what really happened every Saturday at the race. You can catch the third season of The Reality of Speed starting February 2006 on Speed Channel.

ew Thor rider David Vuillemin, formerly of Factory Yamaha, is taking on a new challenge in 2006, as he turned down a return gig with Team Yamaha in order to race for the BooKoo Honda team owned by Michael Holigan. Eager to see how he can do on a privateer two-stroke versus the factory 450s, Vuillemin has got his work cut out for him.
But he doesn't mind. Parts Magazine's Steve "MXWordNerd" Cox caught up with David prior to the Vancouver Supercross, and here's what he had to say:

Parts Mag: Are you sticking it out with the two-stroke?
David Vuillemin: "I hope so. I hope it's what I'm going to race. I'm happy to be on the two-stroke, and I don't really like four-strokes. I don't really like bikes that pop and miss and that. I like a bike that's really crisp and responsive. The bike is not known as being the best 250 out there, if you see all the shootouts and stuff, but the team did good work, and we're getting closer. The bike is a little different from my Yamaha - that had a little more bottom end, but less top. But we weighed the bike, and it was like 217, and the limit is 216, so we are right there. The bike will be at the limit, which is good, but we just need to work a little more on the suspension and more on the engine."

PM: You recently moved to the Lone Star State. How did that go?
DV:"We moved old-school. We did everything ourselves. We rented a big U-Haul and drove my SUV, my pickup and my U-Haul to Dallas. It was kind of fun. The only thing is that the gas prices were so high, we spent so much money in gas (laughs). It's going smooth. We've got a good setup there, the track's not too far from my house, the shop either, and the team owner [Michael Holigan] is doing things right. He hired a suspension guy, an engine guy, I got the mechanic I wanted, so it's going pretty good. Today's going to be a great race to see where we're at starting and racing against 450s."

PM: So are you using Vancouver basically as a yardstick for the AMA Series?
DV: "I wish I went to Toronto, but I signed up to do that race in Geneva, which is pretty fun, and you can actually make a bunch of money. It's too bad because I can't get in the privateer fund. But I'm still a privateer, but I have a factory salary, so it's a good thing. I don't really need that money anyway. It's better to the other guys that struggle all year long. Things are going good. It's been cold in Texas the last couple days, but that's it. I feel more free and more in control about my racing program, and I'm more relaxed, and we're going to do our best to race with the factory 450s. That's our goal. It's kind of weird to see those guys on the 450s now, from one year to the other, it's a few 450s to everybody on 450s."

PM: Tell us about your new gear company for 2006.
DV: "Actually, this was a team-deal. I signed with Holigan and the gear - pants and jersey - were included in my deal. They worked out something with Thor, and I'm pumped to be with them. It's a good company, the gear is good, they have great service, so it's good."

PM: How about this black bike, huh?
DV: "Sometimes I dream about being Deegan, so I'm riding a black bike in my dreams. But when I wake up, I still have a blue or red bike. So this is my first "official" day with the black bike."

PM: So now you are Brian Deegan...
DV: "Maybe, yeah. I'm sure I can hook up and go ride with them now. It's cool, though. You have to understand that the Boo-Koo can is black, and when you see the other companies, they use the color of the can."

PM: Isn't it cool that somebody's coloring the bike the color of the sponsor, rather than coloring the sponsor the color of the bike?
DV: "It's because we don't sell bikes. We want to sell drinks. That's a big difference. Yamaha wants to sell Yamahas, and we want to sell Boo-Koo."

PM: Ultimately, though, the motorcycle buyers will know you are on a Honda anyway...
DV: "Yeah, the hardcore fans, they know. But it's good, and we don't have a lot of factory support, which is pretty much zero, but they give us all the bikes and parts we need, so it's good."

Vuillemin went on to finish 6th at the Vancouver Supercross. Look for David aboard the #12 BooKoo Honda in 2006. 

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Newly Thor-clad Vuillemin finished a strong 6th at the Vancouver Supercross.

Vuillemin and the rest of the BooKoo Honda Team will be featured on the third season of The Reality of Speed, airing this February on Speed Channel.

BooKoo HondaÕs David Vuillemin turned down a return contract with Factory Yamaha in 2006 to take on the factory 450s on a privateer CR250R.