Bercy beaucoup!
By Alex Hodgkinson on 4th Nov 11
Kyle Chisholm saw off the Geico Hondas of Eli Tomac and Justin Barcia and the factory Kawasaki of Jake Weimer to clinch the King of Bercy title, but the 23 year old from Florida flies back to the States without a deal for the up-coming AMA SX series.
His contract terminated by MotoConcepts, KC had the satisfaction of passing his replacement Mike Alessi on all three nights in Paris as he went 2-1-3 to claim his regal rights. Despite having just three SX practice sessions at short notice, Tommy Searle scorched to 11-7-6 finishes, the first non-Yank to cross the line on the final day, while Maxxis champion Arnaud Tonus claimed the same honour on the opening night and Buildbase newcomer Nico Aubin was eighth both times he made the Main.
Bercy first-timers Tomac and Weimer didn't reckon their chances in the Friday Main as they took up second row start positions in the wake of their early exit during the qualifier, but they ended up 1-3 in an all-American podium together with Chisholm after reigning monarch Barcia went out on lap one.
The US wild child had gone through the race card during the preliminaries, but, as Fabien Izoird, Dylan Ferrandis and Superpole supremo Greg Aranda slithered across the track at turn one, Barcia's front wheel took the brunt: "I didn't go down but I could hear the spokes breaking one after another.”
The incident was also the facesaver for Tomac as a clear run through the inside of turn one opened up as effectively as the Red Sea did for Moses and his crew: "It was a dream debut for me here in Bercy, but I gotta admit I never expected it after starting second row. But the guys in front got tangled up at turn one and the gap just opened up. That puts me in a good position for the stadium title.”
Weimer also charged from sixth on lap one to secure the final podium slot with a dream pass on Alessi, but it was Chisholm who set fastest lap on his way to second. Tonus was best non-American in sixth as he chased home Alessi and Nick Wey, using the race to get used to racing a 450 in SX ready for his home race in Geneva next month.
Tommy Searle, late addition to the show as replacement for Pourcel, was content to ride well within his limits on day one: "I only got the call to come here last week and my three practices are the only time
I've ridden a bike since the Nations. First priority is to leave here in one piece.”
If Friday was an appetiser, Saturday delivered the main course in every respect!
Chisholm put in the decisive pass on holeshot artiste Alessi halfway through the Main to take the win: "It wasn't on purpose. I went for the pass, we touched, and Mike shot off the track.”
But it was the earlier antics of others which will live longer in the memories of those present.
FOR FULL REPORT AND PICTURES SEE T+MX NOVEMBER 4
PARIS BERCY SUPERCROSS
Bercy Stadium, Paris, FRANCE
KING OF BERCY: 1 Kyle Chisholm (USA - Yamaha) 2-1-3, 2 Eli Tomac (USA - Geico Honda) 1-2-5, 3 Jake Weimer (USA - Monster Kawasaki) 3-DNF-2, 4 Mike Alessi (USA - MotoConcepts Suzuki) 4-8-4, 5 Cedric Soubeyras (F - MB Honda) 7-5-9, 6 Fabien Izoird (F - Suzuki Import) 10-6-7, 7 TOMMY SEARLE (GB - CLS PC Kawasaki) DNF-7-6, 8 Nick Wey (USA - Mafia Kawasaki) 5-4-DNF, 9 Justin Barcia (USA - Geico Honda) DNF-DNF-1, 10 Arnaud Tonus (CH - Bike It Cosworth Yamaha) 6-10-DNF, 11 Nico Aubin (F - Buildbase Honda) 8-DNF-8, 12 Greg Aranda (F - Bud Rockstar Kawasaki) DNF-3-DNF.
Friday: 1 Tomac, 2 Chisholm, 3 Weimer, 4 Alessi, 5 Wey, 6 Tonus, 7 Soubeyras, 8 Aubin, 9 Christophe Martin (F - Honda), 10 Izoird.
Saturday: 1 Chisholm, 2 Tomac, 3 Aranda, 4 Wey, 5 Soubeyras, 6 Izoird, 7 SEARLE, 8 Alessi, 9 Cyrille Coulon (F - Suzuki), 10 Tonus.
Sunday: 1 Barcia, 2 Weimer, 3 Chisholm, 4 Alessi, 5 Tomac, 6 SEARLE, 7 Izoird, 8 Aubin, 9 Soubeyras, 10 Coulon.
