Team France: No Vuillemin, No Tortelli

Looks like the French have announced their line-up for the 2006 Motocross des Nations in Matterly Basin, England, and it's an "all Grand Prix" team this time. MX2 World Championship points leader Christophe Pourcel will ride the 250F, his older brother Sebastien on the 450, and MX3 FIM World Champion on another 450 KTM. This marks a departure from last year's runner-up squad that included U.S.-based David Vuillemin (who finished second on Sunday at Millville), the recently-returned but injured-again Sebastien Tortelli, and former 250cc World Champion Mickael Pichon, who basically announced his retirement from major international competition. 
     Both of the Pourcel brothers, who ride Kawasakis and are ultimately destined for America, will be making their MXdN debut. But the veteran DeMaria, who has been on the GP circuit since 1989, has appeared many times for France, most memorably when he won the first moto from Mike LaRocco and Kurt Nicoll at the '94 MXdN at Roggenburg, Switzerland.