The Teutschenthal MXDN will put an end to an exciting MX season and, after a few weeks of break, some of its high-profile racers will find themselves competing again on European soil, but this time in “SX mode”, and three nights in a row, for the classic Paris-Bercy Supercross (Nov. 8/9/10th).
International Stars…
Justin BARCIA will represent Team USA both in Germany and France, with nothing but victory in mind. “Bam-Bam” won two 2013 World SX races and finished a remarkable 4th for his rookie season. He is a former King of Bercy, a crowd favourite and probably the rider most expected to win this 31st edition at the Palais Omnisports.
No-one will draw more attention this week-end in Teutschenthal than Ken ROCZEN. Watching the German superstar race Bercy for his first time promises to be quite an excitement as well! The 2013 AMA 250 West Coast Champion is a fantastic SX rider and his expectations for the 450 class next season are high.
Testing himself against the likes of Barcia and his American Honda teammate Trey CANARD, or (his good friend) BTO Sports KTM’s Andrew SHORT, all World SX race winners (Short being also a former two-time King of Bercy in 2005/6, when Paris was running a 250 format) will be a very important step for the Red Bull KTM champ, as he will face all the 450 “big boys” as soon as January 4th, in Anaheim.
Factory Bikes…
Pit Beirer has confirmed that he will send a bike from the factory for Kenny, who will also have parts shipped from the KTM USA team.
American Honda’s team manager Dan Betley is having two full factory bikes for Justin and Trey (who is tying the not with Hannah this week-end, congratulations to both!) shipped to Paris as well.
So all these contenders will have their best equipment!
French heroes…
So will Gautier PAULIN, arguably France’s current top rider, both for the MXDN and Bercy. Team Kawasaki KRT’s boss, Thierry Chizat-Suzzoni, has planned several weeks of specific testing and gotten some technical exchange with the Kawasaki USA factory team to prepare for it.
Gautier is not afraid to mix it up with superstars, he proved it to Cairoli in MX1 and to the whole world (including the Americans!) through his previous MXDN wins! Paulin loves SX and will give his best shot at this Bercy edition…
His Team France teammate in Teutschenthal, and 2013 MX2 world vice-champion, Red Bull KTM’s Jordi TIXIER, shares Paulin’s attraction to SX, and Paris. The Red Bull KTM racer is actually from the Paris district and he has won the Junior class a few years ago inside the Palais Omnisports, but he has not raced SX much since. Jordi’s coach, Stefan Everts, gave him special permission (and a bigger bike, probably a 350) to race in front of his home crowd and conclude his very promising 2013 season on a high note.
Valentin TEILLET, who showed his skills but injured himself again this MX2 season, is planning to race some US SX’s next year for Kawasaki Bud Racing, so Paris will be an important challenge for him too.
But France can also count on several “SX specialists” to shoot for the Bercy podium. Rockstar Kawasaki Bud Racing’s Greg ARANDA, “the Superpole specialist”, has beaten the Americans and won one night before, and made several main event podiums. Honda HDI’s Cedric SOUBEYRAS, is the current European SX and French SX Tour champion. His predecessor, Suzuki SR’s Fabien IZOIRD, is coming back strong this season. Cyrille COULON (Suzuki) is always a threat in Bercy as well. Nicolas AUBIN (Honda) and Italia’s Matteo BONINI (Kawasaki), currently 3rd in the French SX Tour standings, will be ones to watch as well.
Exclusive format…
The unique Bercy format will offer the best line-up the event has seen in years a chance to display a wide variety of talent: pure speed (during the Superpole), start/first-laps explosion (during the 2-lap Elimination sprints), ability to last the 15-laps Main Events and, of course, to pursue the 3-night, “mini-championship”, prestigious King of Bercy title chase…
For the Main Event, a Joker lane will even be incorporated to the always challenging track (including the famous Bercy tunnels), to reinforce late-race suspense.
The best 3 finishers for France, USA and “Rest of the World” will also add their scores each night, to determine which “Nation” will have its name put on the 2013 plate of the massive OCD trophy.
Junior 125 two-strokes…
There will be a Junior France SX Tour support class, which will see 2013 European 125 vice-champion Nicolas DERCOURT (Yamaha MJC) challenge the current leader of the series, Dan HOUZET (KTM TMX).
And FMX stars…
Bercy is also a major FMX show and starring in this segment will be none other than the 2013 “X-Fighters” champion (and French hero), Tom PAGES (Yamaha), the best and most creative FMX rider of our time ! Japan’s “Taka” HIGASHINO was Pagès’ main competitor along the season and his signature, exclusive “rock solid backflip” was a judge-favourite, as were Tom’s infamous “Volt” and “Special Flip” tricks.
Legendary Monster Energy freestylers, Spain’s Edgar TORRONTERAS and Norway’s André VILLA, along with France’s Jey ROUANET, will join Tom and Taka to get the parisian crowd on its feet, as they always do !
That’s the Paris Supercross !
For the 31st time, on the second wee-end of November, the City of Lights will be the place to be for the Euro SX fans (including a solid German contingent of Roczen’s fans!).
Every ticket gives access to practise and the outside paddock, featuring vendor’s row, race bike expos and autograph sessions.
The Gold Passes pushes the experience a good step further with first row seat, permanent pits access, Monster bar and even track walk, guided by French riders Soubeyras, Izoird, Aranda, etc !
Saturday is already sold out, Friday & Sunday should be soon, 33 000 fans are expected to fill-in the grass-covered stadium from the shores of the Seine river.
International TV and/or internet stream availabilty may be announced soon.
31st PARIS-BERCY SUPERCROSS INFO
Dates: November 8/9/10th
Timing: Practise starts at 2PM on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th.
Show starts at 8PM and finishes at 11.45PM.
On Sunday 10th, practise stars at 11AM, show at 3PM, ends at 6.45PM.
Official website: http://www.supercrossbercy.com/accueil/supercross-de-bercy-113.html
Tickets / Gold pass: http://www.supercrossbercy.com/billetterie/billetterie-2013-238.html