FIM World Motocross Championships heading to France

Ernée - Geoff Meyer image

Built in a valley just a few hours from the beautiful city of Paris, the circuit of Ernée has a 23 years relationship with the FIM World Motocross Championships. The first ever round of the series was run in 1990 when American racer Donny Schmit won the French round of the World 125cc Championships.

Although Ernée only ran a handful of GPs until the year 2000, since Youthstream arrived on the scene in 2004 the French circuit has been a major stop in the series. There have been some moments though that stand out in the circuit's history.

Back eight years ago in September of 2005 Team USA of Ricky Carmichael, Kevin Windham and Ivan Tedesco put Team USA on top of the podium as they battled with Team France and Team Belgium. In what will go down as one of the best Motocross of Nations in the sports history Carmichael showed the World what a talent he is with his 1-1 results, although it was also the performance of a young New Zealander Ben Townley that caught the imagination of the huge crowd in attendance.

"I was a little surprised by Townley," Carmichael would say at the time. "He rode well, and I couldn't get too far ahead of him. I love racing at the Motocross of Nations and this circuit has really made it difficult, and the crowd were very supportive."

Another race weekend that stood out in the history of the Ernée circuit was the day legendary Belgian Stefan Everts won three classes in one day, taking the MX1, MX2 and 650cc classes in the 2003 Grand Prix of France. It would be the only time in the history of the sport that a ride would win three classes in a single day.

Another moment for Everts was when he ended his brilliant Grand Prix career at the circuit in 2006, winning his 101st GP and ending with the huge crowd screaming his name and the press saying goodbye to their hero. A special circuit for a special moment.

2006 also saw a battle royal between home track rider Christophe Pourcel and defending World MX2 Champion Antonio Cairoli. Cairoli would win the Grand Prix from fellow Italian David Philippaerts, although Pourcel with 40 points would score enough to win the 2006 FIM World MX2 Championship.

What the 2013 version will bring we won't know until June 9, and for sure riders like Antonio Cairoli, Jeffrey Herlings, Gautier Paulin and Clement Desalle will enjoy their visit to the wonderful circuit of Ernée.

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Gautier Paulin - Home Town Favourite   (Geoff Meyer reports for Youthsteam)

Going into the 8th round of the FIM World Motocross Championships Frenchman Gautier Paulin will be looking to make up some lost ground on MX1 series leader Antonio Cairoli. Paulin has until now ridden the best season of his career with two GP wins and he holds down the second place in the MX1 points.

Paulin who is 52 points away from Cairoli needs to start wining again, just as he did in Bulgaria and Portugal. The little Italian rider (Cairoli) is known for doing just enough when the going gets tough and until now Cairoli's worst moto result is a fourth place in Bulgaria, his other 13 motos have given him 3-1-1-1-2-1-1-1-3-1-1-1, and while Paulin has finished with seven top three finishes in motos this year, he has also finished with a very disappointing 5-7 result in Valkenswaard, then 4-4 in the last round in Brazil.

"I always want to improve," Paulin told us earlier in the year. "I know Antonio is a very good rider and he isn't somebody who loses a lot of points in a Grand Prix. I have learnt a lot and this year I am riding with a lot of confidence and commitment to winning. I always go to a race to win, and I feel comfortable with my ability."

Gautier Paulin - Ray Archer image

Of course in Ernée, France, on June 8 and 9 he will have a lot of support from his home crowd and in recent years we have seen that Paulin enjoys his home Grand Prix a lot.

Back in 2008 Paulin missed the French Grand Prix due to injury, but then finished in 4th place in the MX2 class in 2009, 8th in 2010, and followed that with third in 2011 (all in the MX2 class) and third in 2012 (MX1).

On both occasions Paulin finished in third overall, he was actually equal second on points, but missed out on the second place on the podium due to a poorer second moto, first to Zach Osborne in the MX2 class in 2010 and Clement Desalle in the MX1 class in 2011.

"I think every rider wants to do well in his home Grand Prix," Paulin said. "You have friends and family there and the crowd is also very supportive. I know when we raced the Motocross of Nations at St Jean d'Angely it was a huge race for the riders and I remember how good it felt to hear your countrymen supporting you."

In a little over a week's time Paulin will arrive at the Ernée circuit with a lot on his shoulders. Not only does he need to start pulling back the points deficit that Cairoli holds over him, but he also needs to concentrate as the whole of French Motocross will be looking for a home rider victory. 

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French World Champions - Eight Champs  (Geoff Meyer reports for Youthsteam)

With the Grand Prix of France as the next stop in the FIM World Motocross Championships we thought it might be a good time to take a little look at the men who have won World Motocross Championships for France.

Of course it all started with Jacky Vimond 1986 when he won the World 250cc Championship. Vimond was one of the Grand Prix riders who was capable of matching the almighty Team USA riders when the Americans would come to Europe and was also a big favourite at the Bercy Supercross.

After Vimond came the rider many say is the best French Motocrosser of all time, J.M.Bayle. Bayle won World titles in 1988 in the 125cc class and 1989 in the 250cc class, and then quickly turned his attention to America where he also won AMA titles. Many will never forget his ride in the 1988 Motocross of Nations when on a 125cc machine he battled the bigger 500cc and 250cc riders.

France didn't have another World Motocross Champion until 1996 when a young teenager by the name of Sebastien Tortelli totally dominated the 125cc class, beating home British rider Paul Malin and a host of competitors. Tortelli would add title number two in 1998 when he won a final round, final race battle with Stefan Everts.

With Tortelli also heading to America and Stefan Everts in a two year period of major injury another young Frenchman by the name of Frederic Bolley arrived on the scene. Bolley would clinch World 250cc titles in 1999 and 2000, giving France three 250cc titles in a row (following on from the success of Tortelli in 1998).

The run of victories by French riders would not stop there as Mickael Pichon returned from racing in America to win the 250cc Championship in 2001 and 2002, on both occasions the Suzuki factory rider totally dominated his rivals and looked headed for legendary status until Stefan Everts would stop the run of Pichon in 2003.

Mickael Maschio joined Pichon as a World Champion in 2002 when the Kawasaki factory rider won a close battle with young Belgian Steve Ramon. Maschio was consistent all season long and picked up enough points in the Grand Prix of Russia to clinch France their second 125cc/MX2 Championship.

Again France had a period of waiting as four years after the victories by Maschio and Pichon another young rider arrived on the scene. Christophe Pourcel who along with his older brother joined the GP ranks won the World MX2 Championship from defending Champion Antonio Cairoli. Pourcel and Cairoli battled all season long, banging bars and really putting on a great show for the sport.

And the last Frenchman to win a FIM World Motocross Championship was the crafty Marvin Musquin. Musquin did brilliantly in the 2009 season, coming from a privateer team to join the Red Bull KTM Factory team mid-season. Being in the strongest team in the GP paddock Musquin rose to new heights, winning the FIM World MX2 Championship in 2009 and 2010. 

Photo: Marvin Musquin - Geoff Meyer image