Bercy SX 30th Anniversary Edition, fueled by Monster Energy:

Top Americans to attend:

Bercy 30th Anniversary Edition, fueled by Monster Energy: shaping up nicely!

Yes, it has been already twenty-nine editions of the classic Paris-Bercy Supercross! Eighty-six nights of SX racing (a world-record) have crowned twenty “Kings of Bercy” in the wild atmosphere of the Palais Omnisports, in the middle of the City of Lights! And the thirtieth anniversary edition of Bercy, fuelled by Monster Energy, is shaping up nicely for the November 9/10/11th week-end…


American contingent
The natural leader of the traditionally strong American contingent will be Geico Honda’s Eli Tomac, who had an impressive season, with his 250 West title and his exciting charge to the finish during the Nationals! Many think that Eli will be even stronger on a 450 machine and Bercy will be a good test of that prediction (although last year Eli won a night and came close to become King, already on a 450)…

Justin Brayton and Jake Weimer are no strangers to the 450 class, as they have both finished at a career-high top 5 in the 2012 World Championship (Weimer adding a strong final podium in the Nationals)! Justin is a former King of Bercy and he will be riding his new JGR Yamaha. Jake won a night last year and will ride his Factory Monster Kawasaki.

“We can’t thank enough Geico-Honda, JGR-Yamaha and Monster-Kawasaki, who are all shipping works bikes to Paris, for supporting their riders so good for this event”, says Xavier Audouard, Bercy’s sports director. “Bercy is the most prestigious SX outside America, we have a big legacy here, so getting those Factory riders on their US equipment is very important to us, and very much appreciated !”.

Completing the American team will be Geico Honda’s Wil Hahn, who is a 250 rider but has scored a couple of 450 top-10 on the East coast and will ride a 450 again for Bercy. The fifth US 450 rider should be no other than the reigning King, Kyle Chisholm, who had an up-and-down season and his currently working on his future ride. If Kyle does not sign with a team before Bercy, he should be on a privateer Yamaha (which worked very well for him last year)…

Can Pourcel win?
Facing those American riders will be France’s most famous Supercross rider (2009/2010 East Coast 250 Champion), Monster Kawasaki’s Christophe Pourcel. As often, the enigmatic Frenchman will be a question mark. His SX ability is proven. His “Bercy” ability too (he was the youngest King ever, in 2006)… and his 450 ability as well (4th in the 2012 MX1 final standings, with 3 motos / 1 GP wins and eight podiums)! But Pourcel has not raced a SX since May of 2010 and also never raced a 450 in SX. Will his technical skills, smooth riding style and SX record –and also his strong motivation to prove himself in 2012, against a very strong American field, in front of his home crowd- be enough to put Pourcel on the podiums, or even to see him becoming again King of Bercy? Pourcel’s questionable stamina –a consequence of his dramatic 2007 GP crash- should not be a factor indoors. Still, this kind of performance would be a big upset, although most observers are reluctant to bet against Pourcel in Supercross. The French fans sure hope he can do it and do not want to miss it (Saturday was sold out ten weeks before the event)!

If Pourcel does not deliver, the local crowd can rely on some serious “tricolore” talent to give the Americans a run for their money. “Superpole” artist Greg Aranda has won a night in Bercy before. Cedric Soubeyras, Fabien Izoird and Cyrille Coulon all have US experience, excellent European SX credentials and even podium experience in Bercy. For them, this is the most important race of the season, and a personal test against the Americans!


250 Class, presented by 100%
Another American rider will compete in the 250 support class, presented by 100%, and his name is among the most famous in the sport: Tyler Villopoto will ride a Monster-Kawasaki Pro Circuit for the CLS team, which carried Tommy Searle to the runner-up position in the 2012 MX2 championship. Ryan’s younger brother has style and speed – the genes factor!- international experience (he raced the Canadian outdoors), but lacks SX racing experience, so it will be very interesting to see how he adapts to Bercy’s specific environment…

He will face France’s 250 contingent leader -and MX2 top rider- Valentin Teillet, riding for Rockstar Kawasaki Bud Racing. Valentin has great SX style but has not competed in previous Bercy, due to injuries. He is definitely a favourite to claim the “Prince of Bercy” title though.

The European 125 Champion (winner in great fashion), Silver Action KTM’s Tim Gajser, will be the third wild card in the class (which is also a “French SX Tour” 250 class round, featuring the best French 250 SX riders, currently lead by SR Honda’s Josse Sallefranque, who is from Paris). Gajser is a 16-y-old sensation, considered by many as Europe’s “next” major talent. Tim practises in supercross at home in Slovenia, he expressed the wish to ride in America in the future, but Bercy will be his first major SX experience. We he be able to compete with Teillet, Villopoto and the top French guys, and make a first statement on the international SX scene? It will be very interesting to find out.

Ipone FMX Show
Bercy’s “motto” is “100% SX, 100% FMX, 200% SHOW!”. Ever since the original “jump contests” which saw the McGrath’s, Lamson’s and Metzger’s executing whips, clickers and nac-nacs for the delight of the fans, Bercy has also been the home and major scene of French Freestyle !

For the first time in history, a French Freestyler is currently in a position to reach the top of his sport : Tom Pagès will challenge New-Zealand’s Levi Sherwood for the “X-Fighters” 2012 title in Sydney, on October 6th ! Whoever loses in Sydney will meet again the winner in Bercy, as Levi will make his first appearance at the Event that Tom “would not want to miss for anything!”. Bercy’s Ipone SX Show has a more relaxed format, as there will be no contest, but three intense – collective and individual – expression sessions…

“Taka” Higashino, 2012 X-Games gold medalist and Bercy regular, will join the fiesta. As will Norwegian artist André Villa and Spanish Legend Edgar Torronteras.

Once again, Bercy, fuelled by Monster Energy, will be the epidome of the European SX season, talent-wise, in both SX and FMX, as well as the biggest show, including some special “30th anniversary” extravaganza!

Related Posts:

Add a Comment

By submitting a comment you grant Motocross.com a perpetual license to reproduce your words, name and web site in attribution.
Comments may be removed at an administrators discretion. Your email is used for verification purposes only and will never be shared.

Fantasy Corner