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Open Mic: Bercy

Monday, November 12, 2012 | 12:00 PM

Eli Tomac, GEICO Honda, 2nd Overall

Racer X: Hey, really close last year, really close this year, but you ended up second. But Weimer had a scary moment there at the end!
Eli Tomac: [Laughs] I know! And I was in the other lane so I was actually able to see it! I saw Justin scoot by him there, and then it was the last lap and he was still ahead of him, and I was like, "Maybe, maybe." I saw they were battling, and obviously Jake got him in the end.

You rode great, though. Different rhythm through one section. Did you feel like, all bets are off, I'm going to go for it?
Pretty much. Earlier this morning I walked it, and I could see they put a lip on that one spot, where you triple on. It sent you pretty close, so I decided I might as well just jump over the whole thing.

Second year here, you a little more used to it?
Oh yeah. Last year at this time I was just like, "I need to get home." But I'm used to the whole thing now. It's a lot of riding, and it's good for starts and just everything, really.

Talk about the bike, Justin Barcia's 450, which you raced last weekend and this weekend. You looked at home.
I am! I wish I could bring that thing to Anaheim 1!

Yeah you might never let that bike go.
Yeah I'm totally comfortable on the 450, I'm not afraid to let 'er hang.

What are your thoughts overall?
It was good, I won some main events so it wasn't like I got smoked the whole time.

And I don't think there's any money for winning King of Bercy, you guys just get your show up money. But you did win $3000 for winning the Superpole competitions. So you actually came out ahead of Weimer, money-wise!
[Laughs] I did!

Was there anything different about your approach? Last night was your fastest lap, a 41. Can you not do that in the mains? Is it too close to the edge?
Yeah in Superpole, I was just pinning it all the way around. If you rode like that in the race, you'd blow up by like, lap eight. I was just giving it in the corners and blowing up the berms. Race time, you have to be a little smoother.

 

Justin Brayton, JGR Toyota Yamaha, 3rd Overall


Don't punch me in the face for saying this, but, a lot of thirds this weekend.
I did get a lot of thirds, so why I would have a reason to punch you, Matthes? You're just being truthful.

So, frustrating or no?
No I don't think there's a reason to be frustrated. I've still not been on this bike for that long, and we came here to race and we came here to learn. And, I remember coming here a few years ago and beating a lot of good guys at this race, and then coming to Anaheim, and…JG won Anaheim, K-Dub did awesome….so you never know. And here, Weimer and Tomac were fast, they were on it, so it wasn't like I got beat by guys who were going slow.

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"It wasn't like I got beat by guys who were going slow." -- Justin Brayton
Cudby photo

Track was tough tonight?
Yeah, it was so slick, as soon as the race ended, Weimer turned to me and said "Can you believe the track?" It was one of the toughest tracks I've ever raced on, it was so slick.

Did you know what was going on when Weimer fell?
I did know what was going on. I knew about the points. Tomac was flying in that last race, he was flying all weekend, but I think Weimer deserves it, he won some mains and some match races.

Do you learn anything about your bike for Anaheim at a race like this?
I think you do. Whoops are whoops, jumps are jumps, and dirt is dirt. The track got rutted, too. You know how it is in California, there's just one line around the track. North Carolina is a little better, the dirt is softer, but every year you think you have it totally dialed and you show up to Anaheim and realize you need to go softer or stiffer. But I enjoy racing. You can only do so many laps during the week, I like coming over here.

Where were those guys getting you?
I thought my whoop speed was good, but there were two spots on the track I was struggling with. If not for those two spots, I think I could have been really close or maybe have even won a night. The two table section, and the very last tunnel turn. That turn swallowed me up every lap.

Wil Hahn, GEICO Honda, 5th Overall
First time in Europe for you. Let's talk about that, first.
Well, more than anything this is an experience for us. It's great to see new cultures. I've never left the United States, except for Toronto, and that doesn't count. I can't thank Eric Peronarrd for getting me over here, and my mechanic Shawn [Irwin] and everyone else that helped out.

What did you think of the races?
I loved it. The practices are just like home, that's normal, but the elimination races are different. You have to get good starts every time, and I proved that when I didn't get them the first two nights. Every race I would be "Okay I think I have a good start" and then I wouldn't. You've got to be ready or you'll end up in the wall. For me it's just learning about the bike, and the schedule is just bang bang bang, you're going the whole time. I felt good at the end of the races, I just need to work on the beginning, it's something that I've been struggling with for a little while.


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"I've never left the United States, except for Toronto, and that doesn't count." -- Wil Hahn
Cudby photo

Eric Sorby, 15th Overall
How did it go?
I'm really happy. I made the main events on the first and second nights. I had some good speed and some good technique, still. It was good for me.

And Superpole, exciting times. You went over the banners and cut the track in the first one, got disqualified, second one, you didn't care, you did it again.
Yeah that's right, I did it again. I can't compete with the American riders all weekend, like I said, I still have some speed, but not like those guys. But I wanted to show everyone that I was here, so I cut the track to get the fastest time.

You told me before the race, you've done four or five races now getting back into it after retirement. You going to keep doing this?
I don't know. Four years ago I raced Bercy and said it was my last race here. Now I'm back. It's different, I am doing it for fun, I'm enjoying every lap. It's hard to stop, this is what I've been doing since age five. So I think I might do some more. Maybe A1.

I think you've just dropped a bomb there. Hey do you make money doing a race like this? The American guys get their start money. But what about the other guys, guys like you, from France?
Hey, I don't know about those guys, but Sorby gets something! When Sorby is here, even when he doesn't win, something is always happening. So I make good money.


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The Conversation

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canadianmxfan wrote: 5:36pm November 12, 2012

bercy sounds as good a track as any american supercross track....apparently the tracks in the us are one lined tracks that are hard to pass on,lame.

and one thing about supercross is the races are too short!!!! so many complained about bercy being like an arenacross track....well so are the american tracks...look at the lap times...not much difference..

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pizzacorner wrote: 5:42pm November 12, 2012

Sorby is saying he is paid to cut the track and cause a scene. Time for Americans to stop going over to this circus crap.

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MX Bob wrote: 6:14pm November 12, 2012

Sorby might have one good lap in him to make the 40-rider cut, but no way he would make it into a AMA SX Main.

He is the answer to the trivia question "Who lead the first three laps of the last SX RC won? http://www.mxbob.com/musings/stlouis07.htm

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BigUglyManiac wrote: 12:41am November 13, 2012

Why did Eric talk about himself in the third person? You gotta love his attitude - makin noise and talking smack - we taught him good how ta getta done here in 'Merica! Our boy ridin wide and flippin the bird and all! Hooyah homie! Word.

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tonewall wrote: 12:48am November 13, 2012

"even Sorby think Sorby funky" signed Sorby..........Tomac is just gonna get better...what a shame to not be on the 4fity.......

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BigUglyManiac wrote: 12:54am November 13, 2012

Betcha Tomac has had a couple-ten talks with The Rock and had his people check over his contract a few dozen times about movin up to the fow-fiddys and going from 250 royalty to 450 top fiver, maybe mixing into the box on a couple Saturdays. While I am all over that alpha-dog attitude and brass balled confidence, he might as well do more wax-on, wax off work on the mini-bikes so that the bidding war will be *epic* when contract time is up. When the bank is full and the career is in the rear view window, he can head into a legendary MB cycling career without any outside pressures - on his own terms. Who wouldn't want this kid under the tent for any sport? If he can share the tent with vintage 2011 Barcia, you can pretty much share the tent with anyone, IMO.

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Dilhat wrote: 6:04am November 13, 2012

Sorby is fatter than chips (well, so am I, I guess), but he is still able to make a good start and ride with decent spee for 2 laps. No way he's gonna show up for A1 though.

Tomac has proven he has already what it takes to make it to the 450 class. He was faster than Weimer all week-end, but Jake was more consistant and got better start.

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Please don't hate us. wrote: 9:49am November 13, 2012

Anyone know why Marvin Musquin wasn't there to defend his home turf? It makes me sad to see U.S. riders take all the limelight.

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carlsbad wrote: 2:09pm November 13, 2012

I don't see Tomac getting out of the 250F commitment. That is Factory Connection (GEICO) Honda's job description: "Represent Team Honda in the 250F class".

We all know the guy is wasting time in the class but, he is also a virtual shoe-in for another 250F SX title. That's what Ziggy, Rock & Co. are contracted to do.

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Hammerhead251 wrote: 9:47pm November 13, 2012

@dilhat, excellent screen name!

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jammer wrote: 6:22am November 14, 2012

Pizzacorner you really are a pompous humourless small minded twit; Sorby was joking; he paid you Americans a compliment. Bercy isnt a circus and it isnt part of the AMA/FIM supercross series, it doesnt claim to be. Its just a race. We dont have any other Supercross in Europe, primarily because We dont have the Stadiums or the Real Estate to build stadiums anywhere near big enough. Supercross is an American sport and is becoming increasingly specialised with complimentary but diferent skill sets. There is constant debate over amongst race fans about how Euro and rest of world riders can catch up in this discipline , but the only real answer is to go to the US and grind out the experience a la Chad Reed / Wilson / Pourcel etc. Why do you have such a patronising attitude to an event you have no experience of and can only serve to introduce American Talent to the rest of the world? You will notice that those with more talent and experience of the world than you come over and enjoy the experience for what it is. a supercross race in France that is done in a very obviously French way

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MotoSquirrel wrote: 9:55am November 14, 2012

Congrats to Weimer, good to see him get a W after the past couple of tough seasons for him....me, im thankful the French put on this longstanding international Supercross race...its a long off season and iI think its a great idea for riders of all origins to have an option to do some off season racing...it good publicity for everyone whether you like the format or not.(alot of people critisized the MEC but still better than,no racing at all)..as far as ET17...do you think American Honda sent a factory bike to France for shits n giggles?? iI think that mite be an investment in the upcomin SX season...move Tomac to east coast and he mite not have to give up that 4fiddy for A1...call me a dreamer...but it is def a real possibilty we will see him mixing it up in Dallas or Daytona on that factory missile.

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