Christophe Pourcel to the West Region?

It appears the West Region now has a bonafide favorite. Racer X has learned that defending East Region #1 Christophe Pourcel has signed up for the West Region Lites of the 2010 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. Pourcel, the French-born Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider, winner of five East Region rounds in 2009 as well as the East-West Shootout winner in Las Vegas, was expected to ride the East again -- he recently bought a house in Florida and built a private track there (check out this YouTube video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY6kBjOJzns&feature=related) -- but is now slotted for the West. The speculation is that injuries to teammates Tyla Rattray and Dean Wilson could be the reason for the decision, or it could be that he wants to experience more West Region tracks in anticipation of moving up to 450s in 2011. No matter, Pourcel must now be slotted in as the favorite, just ahead of his teammate Jake Weimer, last year's West Region runner-up.