by Adam Wheeler
Between the Motos: Christophe Pourcel
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 | 9:50 AM
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PrintRunning his own CP377 Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki team Christophe Pourcel is firmly in the process of rebuilding. Throughout 2011 his mind and priorities seemed to be hovering somewhere over the Atlantic, trying to work out where home and life could be. In 2012 the decision to attack the FIM Grand Prix Championship and complete the set (he took the MX2 crown in 2006) is the first phase in filling those remaining CV “blanks”. The freest of spirits, Pourcel is surrounded by people he trusts, machinery he trusts and now has the onus to push-on and again become one of the leading lights of the global game. MX1 glory in 2012 and an attack at that missing Outdoors crown shortly after…it’s a clear path after a period of uncertainty since 2010 that saw his name and reputation muddied. Above the personality and misconceptions, Pourcel is simply a very gifted racer and he reminded all watching the Grand Prix in Bulgaria and Italy of that fact over the past two weeks.
Racer X: The public has seen a rider in Bulgaria and Italy that was totally different to the one they saw in Holland for the championship opener. How do you explain that?
Christophe Pourcel: Like I said in Valkenswaard, I found the track pretty dangerous with all the rain and because this is a new team it would have been stupid to get hurt in the first race. I wasn’t going to push if I couldn’t. I didn’t do anything there. I tried my best in the second moto and it wasn’t too bad [he took ninth] until a lapper pushed me out of the track…some guys are crazy sometimes! We found the hard pack again and this is the stuff for me. We made a good set-up in Bulgaria that also worked here [Italy] and the bike is pretty much like last year. We make little improvements every week, whether on the suspension or engine and it’s all good.
How did you find Fermo compared to Sevlievo?
It was pretty much the same except the speed was crazy-fast in Bulgaria. Everyone was wide-open. This track was more technical in sections but a little dangerous because of how it wore in the second moto with some kickers on the jumps.
Pourcel won the overall in Italy, his first GP overall since 2007.
Ray Archer photo
How do you find racing with Gautier Paulin? It is two races now that you’ve both being going for the win.
Right now he’s been OK. He’s made a few mistakes already and I know that when you get tired on the 450 it can bite you. It is his first year and I don’t know how he will manage it through the year. Every time we ride together he is pretty smooth and it is surprising for the championship to get a new guy like this.
You hit good speed and form in the last few GPs of 2011 and you’ve found that groove again.
I feel like last year was pretty good for me to get back to Europe and feel-out the GPs. I made a few mistakes; I would win a moto and then crash in the other one but I was faster than everybody. All that was good for the approach to this season. Right now, if I am on the podium at the end of the weekend then that’s OK and we’ll see what we can do at the French GP [round six of sixteen] and onwards.
How is the sport for you and how does it fit in your life now?
It’s fun. I don’t think any other rider has my life…in the week between Bulgaria and Italy I called my team manager Yann and said, “let’s go ride enduro”. He thought it was a great idea because he knew I was ready for the GP and working on my fitness. I cycle everyday and even my doctor said I am on the limit of what I can do physically, so I needed to calm down. Enduro was super-fun and I don’t think many guys can just get away and do that. I’m enjoying life, that’s for sure.
For people who see the team name from the outside and don’t know the story behind the set-up, what’s the structure and idea behind it?
It was a deal in which I was able to use my name to put it together and Monster Energy helped us. It was a big step for me coming back from the U.S. to Europe and we built a team around my racing. There is a lot going on and we have to pay all the guys working here. It is not easy to make it happen.
Could we see Pourcel return for the Monster Energy Cup?
Ray Archer photo
Is it similar to what Chad Reed has assembled?
Yeah, pretty much the same. I don’t really know how Chad has it set-up but I’ve known the guys here with me since I was World Champion in 2006. It is something super-important because you know they are going to be at the podium and going to be happy even if you haven’t managed to win that day. At Valkenswaard we had a bad weekend and we worked to find the way.
The build-up to the Monster Energy Cup in Vegas is beginning. Is this an event that you’d be interested in doing?
I could go. I don’t really know how it works but the whole supercross-motocross thing is really my style. I think supercross can be pretty dangerous if you just go out to do one race. I also have Genoa and Bercy over here and can treat them like one-off events and not take any risks. The Monster Cup could be good for me because it’s a "motocross thing" and you don’t have to take maximum risk to win.
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Looks like a different guy than the last time I saw him here in the Good old USA!!!!
People will make disparaging remarks very quickly but I have a very different take on Pourcel. He is an amazing rider with an ability to find new lines in a track that is a marvel. Go back and watch the SX events in which he raced. The guy has incredible talent and found fast lines no other 250 or 450 rider was finding. I was disappointed when things fell apart here.
I asked the other day where all the CP will never win again, CP is done tards went??
.Is that a Cricket I hear??
Man it's too bad Pourcel won't be racing in America this summer. It would be great to see him against Dungey on 450s.
I saw that guy ride in Europe,He is lightning fast also here in the US. I think had had a bad rap here if he had more of a let say Sabastian Tortelli way about him we would all be singing a different tune. They do need to shave and bathe once in a while though!! He may come back
I wonder, with the passage of time, I wonder if he has healed more and/or learned better to deal with his GI paralysis. He wasn't able to re-hydrate and eat between motos the first couple of years (when he was in the USA), and bit him often in second motos then. Otherwise, he was clearly in a different class than the other 250 riders.
If I read right, the weather was cool at the last two GPs. The first couple hot races will be very telling about the rest of this year and possibly the shape of US racing in the future.
I just want to see him race here. Literally "see." SO smooth and light on the track, it is surreal. Interesting and kind of odd to see.
I don't think that anyone every questioned his talent, it's his heart that gets questioned. Would he have gone out and pulled a Deeno riding with a bum wing? Probably not. He's got incredible talent, just not the heart to go with it. I wish him no ill and am glad that he's doing well in Europe. That seems to be a good fit for him and I hope he has a great career there. The United States just doesn't seem to be his thing, and that's cool. It's not for everyone.
I will still always remember him going to Canard's trailer after Pala to congratulate him on the championship. That was major class all the way.
Good to see Pourcell feeling good about himself. I think he is smarter than we, the people in the USA, think. He often talks about riding whin his limits and what is safe or dangerous. With his history and coming back from that injury. He understands what is at stake.I liked it that he wanted to go ride/race an enduro for a change of pace.I have suggested several times here some of you moto guys should ride a Cross Country or a GNCC race. You will have fun and get back to your roots and also learn how to ride different stuff.
I hope he makes it back accross the pond to race here again.
He is an enigma. Much like Bayle in skill and attitude. His meltdown in the US was unfortunate, for a lot of people.
Go CP377 !! Come back to America in 2013 !!
Great comments from all but I especially like what @ElsinoreRacer said. He mentioned that watching Pourcel was surreal. I agree - he would almost float around the track. His riding seemed to defy the laws of physics. As a guy that races and rides regularly, I could not figure out how Pourcel did that. It wasn’t because he was light given Windham does something similar. I think it has to do with conservation of movement. I wish.......
amazing what a super fast small guy can do when he is not on a bike he feels sketchy on.....just saying. its obvious he isn't going to put himself in a position that feels unsafe now, in the future or in the past. glad to see him winning
@BillC... what the hell are you trying to say? Yuor post was absolute nonsense.
He is still a tool.
I was fixin to log off then read the post again. good to have positive post on Pourcell! Yes as ElosinoreRacer said he is poetry in motion. It is not really fair to compair riders then the only two that I could say I have say they are like CP377 were Bayle and Bailey all looked smooth as silk when they were on.
Its not often you hear a rider talk about not taking risks. I guess if you have your own team and have no one to answer to you can do that. That doesnt fly over here. If you backed it down you'd be labeled a wuss in two seconds. I really dont know if you'll win a championship here if you dont risk it all from the drop of the gate.
I'm glad he's happy and doing well, but I'll never confuse him with Bayle. That Frenchy was smooth!
I have a theory and ties CP, James Stewart, and the YZF450. Indulge me, it might come to something....
You know how they always say that when it comes to bike settings, the practice track is just not a race full-race situation? That things come out regarding behavior of the bike that don't in pre-season? In other words, only at the absolute limit will a bike reveal it's true self.
My theory is that the YZF is fine under practice or test conditions for as far as JS or CP push it. Even in a race, it's fine for fast guys like Millsaps, etc, that do 99% of what is possible on the bike during a race. But for a for just a few, who work the bike like no-one else can, they are finding the bike bites 'em back.
ON the revised Yamaha, Stewart went through a whole thing where he was happy with his settings, then the 1st SX he wasn't and never was. It was easy to figure it was the team because when he tried the JGR bike, it probably felt a little different, but fine (practice track...). But come full race conditions, same old fangs. CP tried the YZF before signing last year and liked it. His first race he WAS leading, but was NOT smooth, if you saw it. CP is always smooth. He pulled over and began his unhappy divorce from the whole affair. Poorly handled, true.
I am just SUGGESTING, re JS and the Yamaha, that maybe it IS the bike. But only for the 2-3 riders who could ever push it that far. To say Millsaps or Y or Y do fine on it is not disqualifying. It is only when the freaky few push it that they are finding something quirky or worse.
@xxktm... you are a disgrace to KTMs. He did not say that he would not take risks, he said he went as fast as he could under the circumstances. Every rider out there takes risks, period. Dont forget that this guy crashed so hard that the doctors said he may not walk again. To imply that he is a wuss makes you sound like an idiot.
@ Jroc85... I guess you must be a little kid who rides an 85 so will not judge you for calling CP a tool. I talked to CP in the crowd at hangtown and he was totally cool.
Great rider , some bad breaks and some sketchy decisions have given him a bad rap. I for one don't blame a guy who was injured as badly as he was for using some caution especially when mounting ole whirlwind...maybe a lack of such is the reason for so SO many injurys here this year... glad hes coming around and hope he returns to the US someday ...we may have to import riders if the bad injury mojo continues...a couple of the Euros can haul....the more the merrier...
The most unfairly hated rider in a long time.
What makes me mad the most is how people judge him solely on a poorly put together run with Motoconcepts Yamaha that failed. Do they just forget the 2 previous years of Pourcel kicking ass? What about when he went to the CLS team? He started winning again. I'm not saying he handled it well, but that bike looked like crap at every race IMO and he was scared to push on it because of how unpredictable the front end was. It also didn't help that loud mouth team manager david vuillemin was so quick to run his mouth about him on twitter and to everyone who would listen in the pits. How would you feel if your team manager just talked a bunch of crap about you when he's supposed to be helping?
The guy is a winner. He's overcome more that almost any rider out there and people still complain about how he has no heart. Factory bikes are for winners. It is in the best interest of us fans for him to be on a factory bike in America very soon
Pourcell in golf is considered Ground Under Repair:
"Ground under repair" is any part of the course so marked by order of the Committee or so declared by its authorized representative. All ground and any grass, bush, tree or other growing thing within the ground under repair are part of the ground under repair. Ground under repair includes material piled for removal and a hole made by a greenkeeper, even if not so marked. Grass cuttings and other material left on the course that have been abandoned and are not intended to be removed are not ground under repair unless so marked.
@ CJNunes426..... I agree 100%.
Mr_Mx.. Your golf analogy is as bad as Bill C's posts except for the fact that you seem to be more articulate.
CJNunes426.....
I tried you Thank for the Props !!!!!! Surely CJNUNES46 You cant dispute my MotoConcept argument!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hokTZGO0xCE
SWEET
WHAT WAS THE QUESTION??????
Scrub-This;
I have a SWEE D. Bradshaw story,You and CJnunes426 would like::
I put in PulpMx ( Steve Mathes ) a few days back here is the link:
http://www.pulpmx.com/stories/tell-us-another-story-damon-bradshaw
@Adam Wheeler; I was watching this past weeks race in Fermo when you were in the booth with Paul Malin. It was the first MX1 race and Chris & Gautier had put some space between them and the rest of the field. The moto was winding down, you and Paul were trying to determine the soon to be winner. I just had to laugh! Because to try to predict what Christophe Pourcel is going to do in the next 5 sec when he is (not) racing is an impossibility. And now you are attempting to crystal ball your way to for-see the unpredictable outcome of a FIM 450 Italian GP at the 3 headed monster that Firmo can be. Just at that point, Pourcel stalled his bike in a tight left-hander and Paulin passed him and sped away and the betting was over. But wait, Paulin goes wide, and Pourcel takes him on the inside and goes on to win. Great Racing, and a Great Race to a well deserved GP win for Christophe Pourcel.
What I am saying is, Christophe' Pourcel's photo is directly adjacent to the definition of, "Enigma" in my Funk & Wagnalls.
Everybody can say what they want about Chris but, I will stand by my determination that he is the most finesse, efficient, effortless person that I can ever remember seeing to have thrown a leg over a bike. And when he decides to bring his "A" game to the track that day, it is an absolute thing of beauty to see him ride. And I for one, will always be looking for that "A" game from the enigmatic Frenchman. And on those other days, "C'est la Vie"
I truly hope for the best in this years campaign for that other missing link to complete his GP chain of Championships.
Nice interview/article, Adam. ;~}
caseypons wrote:
You obviously have never witnesed in action Brock Glover or David Bailey in the day, I have!!!! I have been around MX since its inception. I've seen them all..
The next big thing coming is a kid that I have ties to,not to be bia is.
Adam Cianciarulo YOU wait and see, He is the real deal..........
@Mr_Mx: I bought and devoured the first copy of Gary Baileys, "How to Win Motocross" when David was 11 years old. And to take nothing away from he or Brock, I stand by what I see in Christophe.
You have your opinion, I have mine...
Peace my friend he is fresno smoooooth
Doesn't quite fit.... That was something else!!!!!!!!!!!! No names mentioned
Bad news on the football front heard on the radio
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/report-nfl-legend-junior-seau-dead-182120394.html
Mr_Mx... I think we have crossed paths before.
@Mr_Mx; All due respect to you and your opinion. The Golden Boy, David Bailey, Marty Tripes and others through-out the history of the sport, all have this natural ability to be, one with the bike, something that I could only dream about but, that wasn't happening. I don't want to get into a urination contest, (which unfortunately happens on these boards) I am just saying he is one of those natural ability riders, that is what makes this two wheeled sport one of my passions in life.
It's all good, my friend.
PS I was just watching some early footage of Adam Cianciarulo, a half dozen years ago, and yes he fits the same mold, just another generation coming up.
Roman - You can't win a GP and not have heart! I can understand questioning his priorities.......but his heart? come on!
Agreed!! @ caseypons
As I'm heading back to my home- land today Canton, Ohio { aka Pro Football Hall of Fame territory } for a visit and listening to the radio this story of bad news in football really disturbs me to the core.
Junior Seau who I had a pleasure to meet in person at some functions in San Diego and later in Florida when he was with Miami was a very fierce and electric person, self-less was an understatement of this individual. This man was a great ambassador for the game of football. For all of you out there that always come back with the blanket statement about suicide in general, that you are selfish or a coward or take the easy way out. I would caution you that unless you are in the same position,or have walked in there shoes I wouldn't judge. The mind and mental illness will never be fully understood. . My condolences go out to Gina and the 3 children. bless you all.
motodog197 Yer Just mad because Pourcel ran away from all your favorite riders. Denial is not just a river. When his gastro-paralysis was in check, he was GONE. He toyed with them. He used to slow down so they could dice, or don't you remember? Yeah.
I saw Brock, I saw Bailey, I saw JMB. Heck, I saw Mary Smith (pretty dang smooth), but JMB was the absolute smoothest. Think Pourcel a close second, maybe Bailey. Bailey was a different kind of smooth.
"How To Win At Motocross", I still have it. Dragging the toe behind you to hold in the rear...... tried that and I think that was bad advice. Was the first place I ever heard of pre-jumping, though.
Like someone said above, I don't think it's a question of talent, he is one of the most smooth and precise riders i have ever seen. But they also said people questioned his heart or will to win, I think he has a big will to win because he came back from a injury most people would not be able and won two titles. I do however think his attitude toward bad thing could be in question.
I would like to see him teamed up with Team22 in the US next year.I wish he would of done something like he's doing in the US.I knew this guy still had it.Maybe it really is the bike(Yamaha) that was the problem.Hummmm.
yzfsean........Where do I start...... Well I will make it quick.
.For someone who can't spell YOUR I am not surprised that you are confused.
@ tonewall :
Just caus I'm a chesse and sausage you dont think I have the onions to get all up in your face!!!! You want a peice of me!! YOU WANT A PEICE OF ME..
Enjoy
Mr MX ...i don't want anything to do with you or scrubnuts .Period. Your IDIOTS .Learn to spell , write a decent take on motocross racing and someday maybe you'll be more than just a little boys making a bad jokes and obsessing on stirring s*&t. I don't read scrubnuts stuff and now i'll gladly skip yours ...its easy. You should try it. @jonr290 thanks for reminding me what a decent comment used to be like on here.
@tonewall
People will make disparaging remarks very quickly but, I have a very different take on tonewall . He is an amazing person with an ability to find new words that will marvel the likes of men like me ..
I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.
Mr_MX
Ummm, he won both SX Lites seasons he ever raced. Well, cept for 07 when he came ofer for a couple races bfr the GPs started and traded wins with 'Poto. And, 'cept for when his intestinal problems slowed him down, usually 2nd motos outdoors, we killed everyone outdoors. Except for the facts, you have a point.
enigma is a interesting word and I like it's se for not just CP. I Think it may apply to some others, JS, J-law, Davi even?.
This inexplicable ability to put it together one wekend, then in another be far of the pace.
I do not think this was to unusual back in the day, but with the "dominent" riders in both Europe and the US the last couple of decades, it emphasizes the point.
Now maybe there are other facts for some of the riders identified and even unidentified, but that is another discussion.
So what I realized is that I do like to see a full gate of the most talented riders, I just do not want some of them on the brand(s) or team that are my favorite.
Like some of the individual riders themselves (RV, RD, KW, CR a little, TC, DW, JW), there is brand (Kawasaki), and teams (Kawi, PC, H&H)
So, as a guy who wants not just certain riders to do well on any given wekend, I want my favorite brand and or team to win the championship.
That does not put the enigmas on the top of the draft list! Fun to watch, just not bankable for the title.
Honda can have them all and it would e ok with me :-)
Honda is like the Yankees to me. No development, just through money at it and try to buy the championships.
Hey guys, I am surprized this coment board is still going on Pourcell! A lot of interesting insights.
@ BillC.... That is the best you can come up with? I know where you can start; how about punctuation. Maybe you should include a question mark after a question and who starts a sentence with a period? It's funny that you're pointing our spelling errors when it seems obvious that you only have a 6th grade education.
he is a very talented and clean racer..i dont remember any time that we was aggressive..he is a wiinner of life..afrer his catastrofic injury he made a new start and now is in the top level(this is abig win)..with all his big opponents he has a good relationship..carioli,paulin,canard..only dungey had said bad things about him but who cares..dungey was lucky in 09..chris was faster but dungey won the championship because christophes mechanichal issues..i wish he will be a legend because he deserves it..
@ yzfsean if you are who I think you are I suggest you get off of Billc's case, Let me know? I wont call you out unless you have the guts to tell me? Ya its me!
I am glad to See CP has found he niche racing in Europe. He is a very smooth and talented rider. I thought he had no heart but I was wrong, I should have known better. Good luck to his success in Europe and hopefully we will see him here for 2013.
@pizzacorner, you are a tool. Reed won his title in 2008 against everyone who lined up.. Didnt Stewart win A1 in 2008?? I think so, so Stewart was there when they started, its not Reeds fault he wasnt there when it was over. So I guess you think Stewart bacled into his titles too?? He NEVER won a title until RC was gone...
On Pourcel, which is what this article was about, I only have one word--QUITTER
@BillC--It takes alot of balls for you to question a guys spelling, your sucks badly.. And I couldnt make sense of your last sentence in your post either..
Not a "Good" racer, CP is a "GREAT" racer!
We need him to come here and light the fire again. International competition is one of those things that makes this sport so awesome.
The bonus is that whenever you bring him up, it helps to separate the wheat from the chaff, I mean it lets us know who are the jealous immature noobs and who are the real sports fans.
I've even hear that some people don't like him because he is not from around here. Tell me it's not true.
It would make sense that CP should be riding for PC ....... Get it?
@Welker…. We do not know each other. You are probably thinking of yzsean. He was such goof ball the way he had a bromance for Dungey. My name "yzfsean" is a parody of his. It is easy to remember so I continue to use it. Remember when he posted, he would always end with “Dungey Rules!!!” I started to end my posts with “Dungey Rules!!! Except when Villopoto, Stewart, Reed or Canard are racing.”