MX Diary: Charlier Bombshell
By Sean Lawless on 13th Sep 17
Christophe Charlier will be the third man as France go for a fourth consecutive Nations title at Matterley Basin on October 1.
Christophe Charlier will be the third man as France go for a fourth consecutive Nations title at Matterley Basin on October 1.
The French federation dropped the bombshell on Friday last week and even French insiders had not seen it coming.
The 25-year-old, a previous MX2 GP moto winner and still a regular top 10 man in MXGP last year, switched to EWC this summer and was a member of the winning team at the ISDE a fortnight ago.
French management faced a dilemma with both Dylan Ferrandis and Benoit Paturel out, Marvin Musquin not available and the relationship with both Christophe Pourcel and Jordi Tixier at a continued low.
Even riders like Maxime Desprey and EMX250 front-runner Mathy Boisrame had been casually suggested but the choice of Charlier is inspirational.
He already has one of Conrad Mewse's bikes to practice with and will ride out of Jacky Martens' awning as MX2 rider with Romain Febvre and Gautier Paulin on the 450s.
UK fans might even get the chance to view the Corsican one week before Matterley as he has an appointment to ride an enduro at Hawkstone.
Charlier's nomination raises the exciting prospect of a rider winning ISDE and Nations team gold for the first time in 67 years!
Stefan Everts was individual winner at the 2003 ISDE in Brazil and a member of the winning team at Zolder but the Belgians did not win the ISDE team gold - the only riders ever to have achieved that honour were Jim Alves in 1949/1950 and Hugh Viney in 1949
