Bercy Supercross - what the factory teams had to say
1) Justin Barcia, Honda - USA
Barcia crowned 'King of Bercy' Courtesy of Honda Pro Racing Taking two of the three main events in the International Open class of the 28th annual Bercy Supercross was just enough for GEICO Powersports Honda rider Justin Barcia to earn the coveted title "King of Bercy." Barcia won Friday's opener and Sunday's finale at Palais Omnisports in downtown Paris, which together with a fifth-place finish on Saturday, earned him the overall crown by one point over fellow American Kyle Chisholm. Unlike Friday's victory when he led from start to finish, Barcia had Justin Barcia: "We came here to have fun and fun turned into winning. To leave here as ‘King of Bercy' is unreal. I remember when Jeremy McGrath and Jeff Emig won this deal. James Stewart won it before, so did Chad Reed and my team manager Mike Larocco. It's awesome to have my name alongside those guys in the record books. All weekend long the starts were the difference. Guys were coming at me hard and were trying to take me out in the earlier races and one of them got me. I just had to keep my cool and focus on having the best start I could in the main event. It worked out perfectly.”
KTM on the podium at Paris Bercy with French rider Cedric Subeyras Copy and images courtesy of KTM Racing. Photographer: Ray Archer KTM Sarholz rider Cedric Soubeyras rounded off what he described as a dream weekend at the spectacular Paris Bercy SX, which concluded its 28th edition on Sunday in the French capital's Omni Sports Palace to be the strongest KTM rider at this fantastic annual event that attracts top riders form both sides of the Atlantic. On Saturday the young French rider was equal leader in the overall progressive standings and a sixth place finish in Sunday's final put him on the "King of Bercy" podium with the prestigious position of being the top European rider behind two Americans, the ultimate winner Justin Barcia and second placed Kyle Chisholm. Red Bull KTM's MX2 world champion Marvin Musquin had a positive start to the weekend race activities before his home crowd on Friday, finishing second to eventual "King" winner Barcia. But during Saturday's races he experienced some discomfort in his knee and not wanting to take any risks, decided to sit out the rest of the weekend. Although Marvin was already feeling better on Sunday, he will visit his own doctor on Monday or Tuesday for a complete checkup. Racing at Paris Bercy was again fast and furious on a course that was tough for even the best exponents of this unique sport. Riders delivered, as always, a spectacular three days of high octane competition in front of a sell-out crowd.
Kyle Chisholm so close to Bercy title Copy and image courtesy of Yamaha Racing
Kyle Chisholm claimed his third consecutive top three finish on Sunday evening – the final night of the fantastic Supercross Paris Bercy – and just missed out on the ‘King of Bercy' crown by one point to Justin Barcia. The American drew his YZ450F up to within two seconds of his countryman in the last Main Event of the weekend but was finally unable to clinch his first chequered flag after scoring two third positions in front of a sell-out capacity on Friday and Saturday. The narrow and tricky track inside the stadium was becoming worn and "It's my first time here and I've had a lot of fun,” he said. "The fans are awesome and they definitely get into it. I couldn't catch Justin at the end; each night I was gaining time and positions all the way through the Mains. I'm happy to have taken a result like this and to have come to Paris.” Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Team's Gautier Paulin was seventh in the final classification after scoring 4th and 7th with the YZ450FM on Saturday and Sunday. The Frenchman's battles with Barcia provided some of the action highlights of the meeting. Paulin suffered a freak crash on Friday which caused a DNF and sadly ruled him out of contention for the top step of the podium. Otherwise the 20 year old Frenchman was among the fastest riders and not only took Superpole on Friday but also won the ‘L'Americaine' elimination heat. "This is my third time at Bercy but the first with the Yamaha Monster Energy team and it is special to race here,” said Paulin, who was second the previous week at the SX in Genoa in Italy. "It was easy to see and hear how much the fans appreciate the riders, right from the moment the introduction film begins and then we roll onto the stadium floor. To have your home public behind you like that is something you can't really explain. It is difficult to understand, you just feel it in your heart,” added the MX2-GP factory rider who will now enjoy a ten day holiday in the Dominican Republic. Former AMA MX Champion Grant Langston left Paris with a sore pelvis after briefly dislocating his hip through an accident caused by another rider on Friday. The South African announced that his career as a professional is now over and he hopes to stay in the industry and impart the knowledge that helped obtain titles on both sides of the Atlantic to younger riders.
Bercy firework for Aranda on Saturday night 
Gregory Aranda enjoyed one of the best moment of his young career in Paris last Saturday, when he dominated all his rivals during the Paris Bercy Supercross. For its 28th anniversary the French event was once more a huge success, as the stadium was ‘sold out' during three nights. On the podium last year Gregory Aranda came with high expectations and who came many years to Bercy as a spectator when he was a kid. Greg confirmed on Friday his potential when he posted the third lap time in the Superpole session. His start was not so good in the main event, and Greg was fighting for the seventh spot with Grant Langston when the South African crashed in the whoops section and ruined the chances of his rival. Forced to retire with a damaged bike, Greg came back stronger on Saturday; he got the Superpole and with a fourth place in the ‘American race' he had the first choice for the main event starting position. Coming second behind Musquin after the start he passed promptly the MX2 World Champion, and then secured a five seconds gap over his rivals. Riding strongly during the fifteen laps period he was delighted when the fireworks celebrated his first ever win in the ‘French Supercross Temple”, a stadium where he came watching his heroes when he was only eight years old! The third and last night of racing could have been similar, with another Superpole win and then a third place in the ‘American race', but a bad start ruined all his chances. Last after a few corners, Greg got later a pack of mud in his rear brake and couldn't finish higher than ninth. Fourth in the overall classification, he confirmed anyway with his win his great potential and celebrated another significant performance after his European title. For Max Anstie, who did his first appearance aboard the CLS Pro Circuit Kawasaki Bercy hasn't been successful as the young British rider retired on Friday after a serious crash in the main event; fifth and best MX2 rider in the Superpole session, Max was recovering from a bad start when he went over the track protections in the tunnel. With a knee injury and a painful wrist he didn't enter the other nights, and is now focusing on his recovery. Gregory Aranda: "Bercy is different than all the other Supercross, because 
you need to be consistent during three nights. There's also an incredible atmosphere in the stadium, for a French rider that's alwa
ys amazing. Friday night I was so upset when Langston crashed in the whoops, l was just behind him and couldn't do anything to avoid the collision. My mechanic had to work late in the night to repair the bike, we change some settings and for Saturday night I was confident; I nearly got the holeshot in the main, and took the lead. Then I had to keep focus during fifteen laps, it was long but I pushed hard at the beginning to make the gap with the Americans. The track was demanding, but I got the win and was so happy! Sunday was not as good, I had a bad start in the main and then got mud in my rear brake pedal so during a couple of laps I had no brake…. I was disappointed in Genova, here I go back home happy: last year I was on the podium but winnin
g one night means more for me! I have a couple of other supercross now, and then I will make a short break and then we start preparing for the 2011 MXGP season.”
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to work a little harder Sunday. Following an unpopular tangle with a French rider in an earlier heat that put him back in the pack, Barcia had the eighth gate pick in the main event, a marked disadvantage compared to the other top contenders. But when the gate dropped he powered to the front and took the first turn by a wheel. From there he simply rode a strong and error-free race, maintaining a two-second gap on Chisholm for all 15 circuits.
slippery by the final night of racing but Motoconcepts rider Chisholm, on his first visit to Bercy, made his speed and condition count at the crucial moment. He was the only rider among an impressive entry list to have reached the podium on all three occasions.