Christophe Pourcel and CLS Part Ways
Tuesday, September 25, 2012 | 4:05 PM
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PrintBelow is a rough translation of a French press release that was released stating that Christophe Pourcel and his current team have parted ways. This was first reported by Moto Verte.
Last round of the 2012 Motocross World Championship, the GP of Germany was the last one for team CP377. Christophe Pourcel and Jean Jacques Luisetti, the boss of CLS, parts away but will keep a friendly relationship.
The contract between Christophe and Jean Jacques came to an end last weekend, after a strong season as Christophe won two Grand Prix and was a podium contender during the GP campaign. Coming back racing in Europe last season, Christophe had fun again on a bike and enjoyed fighting with Cairoli, Desalle and the others. He is now free of any contract and will have time to think about his future. “Unfortunately we had some issues in the last GP’s with the starts, and it affected our results; the bike was wheeling too much, and we would have continued working if the season was not finished. With bad starts it was not easy to battle with Cairoli in Italy, and in Germany it was even worse as the start was so important there. Anyway I’m happy with our results; the team didn’t exist one year ago and we won heats and GP’s in the most competitive series, with a Kawasaki that was nearly a production one against many factory bikes. Our goal was a top five results and we reached it, and with our experience I’m sure that in 2013 we would have been racing for the title. But we’ll never now as team CP377 stops racing activities, as we didn’t accumulate enough budget for next season; with Jean Jacques we’ve decided to stop our strong cooperation, and since now I’m not anymore contracted with anybody. I will for sure continue riding motocross bikes but at the moment it will be just for fun and only for fun, during the Charity Days that I will continue to organize as well as during some testing sessions or the next Supercross of Paris Bercy. It will offer me great opportunities to talk with people and friends, to enjoy riding a bike without the racing pressure. But be sure that I will prepare seriously for Bercy, as I don’t want to miss my comeback in Supercross in front of my fans” said Christophe after the German GP.
For Jean Jacques Luisetti who offered to Christophe this opportunity to comeback in GP’s, this experience will stay forever as a very good one. “We built this program with Christophe at the end of 2012, and we got great results with Christophe and Sébastien, with GP success and podiums for Christophe but also a French Elite title with Seb. Unfortunately we cant’ continue next season, for financial reasons, and it’s a shame because we have proved that we can race with the factory teams. I’m disappointed, but I’m also happy and proud to have been able to help Christophe to race the GP’s during nearly two seasons. My goal was to continue with him, but the crisis is there and we couldn’t find the solutions to go on; so we’ve decided to officialise our decision early. It will help Christophe, who has now no more contracts with us, to decide about his future. On a personal point of view, this experience will stay as one of the strongest for Jean Jacques Luisetti in his racing career” ended the French manager, who will focus next season in the MX1 class with Tommy Searle, but also on the MX2 with two GP riders and one European contender.
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hes a punk
I fully agree with Green-59.
@ Green-59 Learn to spell
This guy is coming back here !!!!
how old is he ?
Ohhhh Watch out everyone, the grammar police are intown. Retard.
CP377 is blaming the bike again I see.
what is the deal with this guy?? Gobs of talent, but for reasons only really known to those close to him, can't stay with it.
"bike had a tendency to pitch and if the season was not over, it would still work to fix this"?? there are bumps on an mx track, correct??
NOT hating, and I know there are things lost in translation, but c'mon!! Good to see they have someone in Searle for next year - although I wish he was in the USA racing......
24 years old
He does not have the great personality of Marvin Musquin or Marvin's skills and therefore has no fans...
Looks like CP will be here again? Any guess on what and who he will ride for?
Never mind, I see Pro Circuit is accepting applications.
Pourcel is one of my favorites to watch, but the rest of the drama is just too much. Almost as much BS as Stewart has had throughout his career. Oh well. His personality not withstanding, I would love to see him riding in the states again just to mix things up but what team would take him with his history? They may have better luck hiring J-Law.
Cleveland beats Baltimore refs call TD at end
Anyone have a guess on the Frenchman's Future? I never saw him race live so I have no say. What were his options last year?
Was Chad Reed talking to cp377 last year? Too bad Ben Townley bit the bullet before coming to the states. Then there was Deano the "Dean" Wilson attempt for CR22's team. I got to give Reed Credit for trying to get Villopoto.
Has CP377 turned into a rusty C3PO? I wonder if R2D2 has a thought.
Holy Translator Batman!
@ WFOoldtimer: Agreed. Try an English speaking French student that needs extra credit next time. Whomever translated that was French or a robot, or both.
CP deserves more. So what if his personality is different than others. Would be great if he came back to the US and raced again.
Paul Pitzel = But Hole
Yeah you know I dont have to wanna date the guy to recognize he's a serious badass on a motorcycle. All you women seem to care about is his personality. Why? God only knows. Maybe you watch too much tv.
When I think of Pourcel I think of when I watched him school everybody at the Daytona supercross a few years back. There was this huge triple-step-over thing and he was the only 250 rider that was hitting it so hard, he would wheel tap over the center jump and land past the landing into the sand section afterwards. It was really spectacular and I don't think anybody else did it in the class.
You ladies jump at any chance to hate on great riders and that's a real shame.
Pourcel will be joining Dean Wilson at Jeff Ward Racing.
@Spotted Marley, well said and my sentiments exactly. I have always found it interesting the few that come on here and spew hate and insults toward a rider for his “behavior” all the while appearing to miss the point they in what they are posting make them far bigger jerks than the rider whom they are criticizing. Obviously, they have no mirrors in their glass houses.
I hope he does good but what do I know not as much as all you know it alls
@ factory1, I highly doubt CP will be ridin for Jeff Ward! I agree with comments above, Pourcel blaming the bike again, Pourcel you need to finish the job if you
want any recognition, cause you have'nt been able to, CP would get whipped in the US on a 450 or 250 take ur pick!
Fans tend to dislike lame-ass excuses from professionals in any sport. At one time (when winning with ease) Pourcel didn't complain, but since that time he priced himself off anyone's wish list and then has had many a reason why he couldn't beat guys he used to beat. I think he screwed himself badly when he set his price so high and ever since his stock has plummeted. Ending the season with a ho-hum 8-9 or whatever it was didn't do much to impress. Imagine if someone had bit the bullet at that $2 million price tag? Would have been THE most disastrous signing ever. From the sound of the translation, it seems like he is calling it quits.
Mitch wants him back after Mookie and Musquin turn him down. If not CR22 is gonna get him. Think bout it both Chad and CP are known for whining so they will get along fine.
Really thought he was past it until his ride in Italy. He was fantastic to watch, even if he couldn´t find a way past Tony. In Germany he looked really unmotivated and was a totally different rider. He´s a hard one to work out, but when he´s on his game he can run with the best. He´ll never win another championship because he´s inconsistent, but with the right team he could still have a few wins in him, either here or in the US.
Whatever he decides to do, I hope his heart is in it, then we might just see the real CP out there again. I really wish him the best of luck.
His bike wasn't competitive in that series. his team did testing on tracks in France so he did good in races that had similar terrain.
Do you guys really think that a stock bike with Pro Circuit valved suspension is comparable with the full works bikes that his competition rode all year? Especially KTM
As I read through these few paragraphs above I could not help but think back to his last few GP's that he rode, the on again, off again MXdN French team, and especially the the last German GP where he was just as well as (not) there. Then in reading the press release, it is like, there is more that they are not saying, than that they are saying.
Something has been stirring in the CP377 camp pot for sometime. He was doing a lot of PR/image work trying to get back over here and smooth some of the obvious ruffled feathers that were left blowing in the wind, and I thought he almost had the ground-work laid. Now I just don't know about young Chris. He has to be a miserable dude about now. I think it's too bad for the enigmatic one, just too damn bad...
It was rumored that he was to join Jeff Ward racing along with Dean Wilson.
But, of course, I read that he had some stipulations that needed to be sorted out first. If Jeff Ward was smart, stay away from the French GIRL. Has a lot of talent,
but even more excuses. Great 250 boy, but could never bang bars with our
top 450 guys.
I agree w/ euromike, can't figure him out. Is he coming back to race SX? Is he staying to race G.P's? Does he still have his Florida compound to live / test / train at?
I think his 250F (SX) eligibility is past so, he is of limited use to Mitch Payton. JWR sounds promising but, why fire Josh Grant just to pick up another enigmatic rider? My big question is money. Is he worth what he's asking for? Without solid #'s, what I seem to detect is that he's pricing himself out of range.
With the number of newbies moving up, CP needs to decide if he's gonna make a go of it or not, money being a secondary concern. Everybody knows about his injuries and struggles, it is a tough decision but, he is a talent that would probably have an impact on the sport wherever he competed.
@ euromoke, that was the nicest post I've ever seen from you, great job! "You can do it!"
@ CJNunes426, it is my understanding that the CLS (the Pro Circuit importer)Kawis are full-on Pro Circuit race bikes, not OEM's with revalves. If I'm mistaken, say so. A Pro Circuit race bike is a serious thing. No, not factory but, there aren't many that can use what a full-on PC race bike can't give.
@carlsbad- I beleive you are correct on on both accounts. Those Cls bikes are Pro Circuit and that is the 2nd post I have seen from Euromike that had some heart in it, what happened?
what the hell are u idiots talking about. Pourcels never been whooped on any bike his whole career. I hope he gets another ride in the states. Maybe for wardy, Hart, MC, or even for TwoTwo. this kid can ride. they dont call him superman for nothing. I hope he gets a good ride for 13 so you keyboard racers can shut up already and watch superman school bam bam
I really don't see CP schooling Barcia in SX. Maybe outdoors. He rocked over here but that was then. These guys are on a different level right now. I can see CP and Alessi in the same ballpark. Except Alessi doesn't give up.
the bike cp rode was almost stock....standard revalved forks n shock...pc cam and pipe....and stickers!! he tryed the full pc bike and found it to much!!....
goes to show how good the stock kawie is!!
as 4 cp himself!!! who the hell knows!! i think even the haters have to admit that when his on his ON!! but there seems to be a lack of commitment.....(i dont like this track its dirty!!) thing is its his job!!! the kid is payed to go out there and try!!!
i think it would be a shame if the sport lost him but apart of me feels he hasnt done enough to get a good ride...anywhere!!!
HuH @BritishArmPump?????? He hasn't done enough to get a good ride? Are you on Glue guy??? How about 2 supercross lites championships and an outdoor title lost only to bike failure and another lost due to a crash at the final round. And winning 2 gp's in 12. Thats way more he's done than Wilson, Tomac, Canard, bam bam, brayton, metty, and a whole slew of riders with good rides. your a bozo
organdoner....stop the name calling.....to be brave behind a laptop isnt brave lol
this yr he hasnt proved commited enough to earn a good ride....well payed factory riders will race hard no matter the track wet dry sand hardpack...he dont thats y his done so little this yr....thats why his lost his ride!!! there are othere riders cheaper that will try harder!!!
I think it would be cool to see CP on a Pro Circuit 450 riding for Mitch Payton and gang. I think CP has enough respect for Mitch to keep the BS to a minimum, and Mitch won't put up with it anyway. The dude is fast, but a little lost right now.