Defiant Lariviere run Paris-Lille SX
By TMX Archives on 18th Nov 15
Late into the morning on Saturday there was debate over whether Supercross Paris-Lille should go ahead in light of the shocking atrocities that had taken place the previous evening in the capital.
"When we started to see the news on Friday night we did not know the impact it would have on the event," said Sophie Casanovas, President of organisers Lariviere, "and we received an email from the [Lille] town hall ordering us to increase the security so we had to find extra numbers throughout the night.
"Of course, many people were asking for the same and some of the security we had already booked decided to cancel. It was a bit of a panic and we had to present a new plan to the town hall and they agreed to it at a conference at 11am. We couldn't give any answers to anybody before that."
The decision was made to press ahead and security was ramped up with thorough bag checks and body searches for those entering the stadium. Subdued
The question of whether there was a moral obligation to cancel - all significant sporting fixtures in the Paris region had been called off amid an official three-day period of mourning - was answered by a subdued opening ceremony, a minute's silence and a letter from the President of the French Motorcycling Federation insisting that ‘sport and life must go on'.
"It was strange to manage this kind of atmosphere...and everybody was very shocked, even the American riders," Casanovas continued. "We had to deal with trying to present a show to the spectators that is normally like a big party but in respect of what happened we had to find a different level.
"We usually spend much more time on the opening ceremony but I thought it was good to start each day in the respectful and sincere way that we did. After that we wanted to get on with the supercross in the way that we know how."
MXGP world champion and arguably the fans' favourite rider inside the Stade Pierre Mauroy, Rmain Febvre revealed the background to the build-up within the pits.
"All the riders and the organiser met to talk about whether we should stop the show or not," the 23-year-old said. "After a few minutes we agreed that the world needs to continue. If everything is closed and stopped then they [terrorists] have won. We have to show that we are not scared and get on with our lives.
"The French crowd are always amazing but with what happened yesterday I think most
of the world is looking and praying for Paris.
I don't have any words for it. I hope something happens, something changes. It is a very difficult time here."
