Thanks estebangc I appreciate it. My googling hadn't been that fruitful. I am quite interested in understanding the story. We kinda got ourselves a little involved in the story, hearing what Sergei wanted to do actually led us to give him my 950 so he could repair it and sell to go towards his own dream trip.

The guys from Svobodny are going to France next year to try to find his family, hopefully we can meet up with them when they do.

They had a pile of documents, mostly in French and Russian though.

My hope was to find either the guy who placed the plaque or someone who the knew the story. I would like if the story can go to its conclusion with Sergei finishing the trip that was started 18 years ago.

Here is a little background from this site:ДОРОГА НА ВОСТОК
Sorry, it's in Russian but I'm at work and can't spend much time on this right now. It sounds like he was a reporter Paris Match and the American was his friend (unnamed). Jerome's name comes up quite a bit when googled in Russian, but I have not had time to sort through it all.

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И вечером за кружечкой пива рассказал про того самого француза, Жерома Кателуана, разбившегося здесь 10 лет назад... Летом 1994 года ехал себе французский журналист – из журнала «Пари Мач» (вроде) – по России на небольшом эндурике «Кавасаки». Ехал в Японию к своему другу – американцу, снимал видео, писал заметки... Они с тем американцем собирались сделать фильм о России... Жером своим ходом прошёл федералку, точнее её отсутствие (а сделать это 10 лет назад – это просто героический подвиг))). И после Шимановска, где началось некое подобие асфальта, разогнался до приличной скорости, видимо устав тащиться по бездорожью. Перед самым Свободным дорога делает зигзаг - 90º налево и тут же 90º направо... Там вылететь с дороги – как два пальца об асфальт... А он, как шёл по прямой, так со всего маху и воткнулся в бок КАМАЗу(((. Приехал его друг американец, отправил тело во Францию - родителям, а на том месте поставил памятник... Мотик Жерома забрала местная администрация с целью продажи его с аукциона, надеясь обогатиться на этом несказанно... Но всеми правдами и неправдами Сереге удалось забрать его «для нужд мотосекции». Говорит, что аппарат просто узлом был завязан... Но Сергей его восстановил и даже съездил на нём в Якутию. Теперь мечтает доехать на нём до Франции и передать его родителям Жерома... У них, кстати было два сына, и оба разбились на мотоциклах...
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I'd be up for helping with this trip.

[EDIT: I've looked at most of the other references to Jerome found by google, but all of them seem to just quote his epitath.

Hats off

Motoreiter, you brought it to another level with your Russian knowledge!

Google translate:

And in the evening for a glass of told me about the very Frenchman Jerome Kateluana crashed here 10 years ago ... In summer 1994, a French journalist was driving himself - from the magazine 'Paris Much "(sort of) - in Russia in a small endurike" Kawasaki ". Went to Japan with his friend - an American, shot the video, writing notes ... They are so going to make an American movie about Russia ... Jerome was federalku its course, or rather its absence (and to make it 10 years ago - it's just a heroic feat))). And after Szymanowski, where he began a kind of asphalt, speeding up to a decent speed, probably trudge on the road. Just prior to the open road makes a zigzag - 90 º to the left and then 90 º to the right ... Fly there from the road - as two fingers on the asphalt ... And he is going in a straight line, as with all the fluff and stuck to the side KAMAZ (((. Came his friend American, sent the body to France - the parents, and the place to put a monument ... Motik Jerome took the local administration in order to sell it at an auction, hoping to get rich on this incredibly ... But crook Seryoga managed to take it "to the needs of motosektsii." He says that the device is a simple knot was tied Sergei ... But it was restored and even went on it in Yakutia. Now it wants to get to France and give it to the parents of Jerome ... They have, by the way had two sons, and both died in a motorcycle ...

(last sentence, ouch!)

hmmm I was on the trans-siberian in late August 1994 ... but only from Ulan Ude westwards.

Didnt hear anything before now.

__________________

Touching souls deeply..will get in touch with all french biker friends now..

Here is the translation by marvellous friend (Also your friend you ve met this spring)
https://www.facebook.com/anton.larin.79
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this is where the knight Gerome Catelione (not sure of the correct name spelling, assuming its French name) finished his journey on August 27, 1994. In his honour please remember his character of justice, sincereness and loyalty.
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Sure he will do all he can as we are always beside each other..

As soon as I get more information, will write down here.

Best Regards
mehmet zeki avar

Thanks all the picture is starting to come together. Article was good, apart from called Sergei a crook - he is anything but (actually translate.ru says by hook or by crook), they mentioned another son had also died when we there, but I wasn't too sure. Sometimes these things get lost in translation.

Hi , This post started in 2008 it is 2014 nevertheless maybe I can give some more information regarding Jerome Cataloin. We met in 1988 and dated for a short time . He was a adventurous soul and often told me he would not be here in this lifetime very long. His brother was a troubled soul who always loved racing bikes and getting into all sorts of trouble. Later after he became a father , he became a ambulance driver ( this vocation Jerome helped him to chose ) and died not shortly after due to riding his motorbike at high speed into a tree.

When I met Jerome he had driven all across the US by bike of which he told me quite exciting heroic stories. He always carried a old rifle strapped to the side of his bike which at one occasion he used to scare some simple americans .
In 1989 he drove Paris Dakar and then continued to drive by himself to Cape Town .He told me it was quite a journey and he was very disturbed by the stupidity of the bureaucracy he encountered at the borders. Several time he was seen as a spy and this delayed his trip significantly.

There is a possibility that He drove paris dakar before but I cannot remember the details clearly . Before I met him he had travelled the silk route (by bus) with his then swiss girlfriend .

Over time we stayed in touch and in 1993 we met for the last time . He was writing a book on the crusades and the Order of the Templars . From what I understood it was very near to being finished .From what I understood from him France was and is the centre of the world . Which is so very french ( sorry ) . Yet these days so much peculiar information can be found about this specific order that I wonder sometimes what he did come across in his research?
A year after his passing I met with his mother and they ( his mom and dad) searched for the manuscript . When they came in his apartment the place was a big mess and the manuscript was not there .

This last time we met he was in full preparation for his trip from Paris to Tokyo.

In 1995 I dreamed of Jerome very strongly and I tried to call him . I did not know he had passed . I went to paris and found one telephone number with Cataloin . Jerome always told me they were the only ones in Paris . I called and got his mother who told me he had died the previous year .

She told me he was hit by a truck getting near to final track of his journey . She was still having a very difficult time with his passing . During my visit she gave me a photocopy a picture taken when jerome left from paris . He looked determined and serious. Small and stocky all clad in black motor gear .
A year later I called and her husband had also passed.
We never spoke after this.
I know Jerome also had a sister who is married and she lived just outside of Paris.
Maybe his mom lives with her now ?

Jerome also helped to make photo illustrations for a book called "Caracteres de Pierre".
It is kind of sad that the book he wrote about the order of the Templars has never been found or published .
He was quite obsessed with this subject and researched it for years.

I am not sure if this is of any help .Maybe I am just happy to be able to share what I know about the short and intense live of my friend .

Nicola