Paris-Lille Supercross In Three Weeks!

The countdown is on to the grandaddy of European Supercrosses. Normally held in Paris, this time it moves north to Lille, France (due to construction at the Palais Onmisports stadium). That should make this more like a regular Supercross, and the field looks stellar. Check out the info (including the track map) below. We'll be there providing full coverage, and we're looking forward to this year's edition. - Vital MX.

After the MXDN, the Red Bull Straight Rhythm and the Monster Cup, the next big international meeting from the 2014/2015 “off-season” is the legendary Paris-Bercy SX classic, which will happen on November 15 & 16th, and it looks like it’s going to be an exciting 32nd edition!

For the first time since it started in March of 1984, “Bercy” will actually not happen in Paris (due to construction in the Palais Omnisports) but in Lille, some 200km up north, by the Belgian border, closer to the “heart” of Europe’s business and institutions (and to the UK, Netherlands and Germany).

New, bigger stadium

Lille’s Pierre Mauroy stadium is a beautiful, brand new, modern, roofed stadium that is home of the 3rd ranked France’s Soccer Ligue 1 team, the LOSC. In SX configuration, the stadium is divided in half by a large black curtain and offers a 22K seats capacity.

The infield area available for the track is 60% larger than it was at the Paris-Bercy stadium, while spectators remain close from all the action and won’t miss any. There will be six lanes of obstacles for a track that will be more conventional and more “American style” than it was in the Palais Omnisports.

Strongest USA team in a decade!

The line-up is the strongest than fans can get to see for a SX outside the US and it will consist of a “USA vs France” confrontation, that could be a revenge of the recent MXDN in Latvia for the American squad ! Justin BARCIA and Justin BRAYTON, both former Kings of Bercy, will be joined by Eli TOMAC (all racing their factory equipment, shipped for the occasion), Josh HILL, Weston PEICK and Malcolm STEWART. They all have been showing great form this off-season and will constitute the strongest US team lined-up in Bercy for more than a decade!

Half of these riders have new rides (Barcia / Peick – JGR Yamaha, Brayton-BTO Sports KTM) and will also want to get used to them as early as possible, six weeks before Anaheim 1… Hill and Stewart have not yet secured 2015 rides for the US, so Lille will be a great opportunity for them to display their skills (Josh on a Bud Racing Monster Kawasaki, Malcolm on a Honda France / Seven - backed CRF450).

France looking really strong, though

France is in a roll at the moment, after the Kegums flamboyant win. It is also widely recognized as the second-best nation, as far as producing good SX racers goes. Christophe POURCEL is the only current French champion to have SX titles under his belt. He is training in Florida at the former Villopoto camp and will have a good bike for Lille. His goal is to carry to 450 SX the blazing speed that was his all summer on a 250 MX bike. Dylan FERRANDIS, member of Kegum’s Team FRANCE, has also showed very interesting speed at the Monster Cup.

Jordi TIXIER, 250 MX2 World Champion, also loves SX and is excited to debut his CLS Monster Kawasaki ride in Lille. Cedric SOUBEYRAS and Fabien IZOIRD dominate the current French SX Tour championship, Valentin TEILLET being a close contender.  Milko POTISEK is a local hero in the whole North of France and will have a cohort of fans to push him. Nicolas AUBIN will debut his Suzuki France-backed, Team OB1 ride.

When you speak about Supercross, USA’s got to be the favourite but this France squadron does have some serious potential!

Exclusive race format

All these riders will compete against each other during the whole Saturday night and Sunday afternoon racing, under the exclusive Bercy format. The first-ever King of Lille will have to score the lowest points out of the MXGP-like, 2-motos format that will be raced each day.
Between these two motos, the same 15 riders will give their best shot at the Bud Racing-prized Superpole, then race the Elimination races (three consecutive, 2-lap sprints) for their gate position in the last moto of the day. There will be a Joker Lane for the SX1 class motos.

Epic IPONE FMX Show

Freestyle is always a big part of the show at “Bercy” and this time will be no exception as 2014 Red Bull X-Fighters Champion Josh SHEEHAN, 2013 FIM FMX Champion David RINALDO, Monster Energy’s “Bilko” WILLIAMS and Edgar TORRONTERAS will take the stage and work their magic. Levi SHERWOOD (ankle injury) will be replaced by Swiss legend Mat REBEAUD. This exciting group of Freestyle Masters will perform three expression sessions each day, one of them being “best trick” oriented, for the IPONE FMX show.

The 250 support class, presented by YCF pit-bikes and Bud Racing, will be a round of the French SX Tour, the top 12 from this championship being joined by two wild cards, Maxime DESPREY and UK’s sensation Ben WATSON.

The 2014 Bercy-Lille Supercross is shaping-up as a unique, spectacular, top-notch edition!

Briefly:
-   Saturday night will be sold out within days;
-   Every ticket gives access to the pit area (with autograph sessions along the day) and to the stadium for the practice sessions
-   Outside pits open both days at 10AM;
-   Practices from 12.45 to 2.55PM Saturday, from 11.15 to 11.50AM Sunday
-   Shows start at 7PM on Saturday, 3PM on Sunday;
-   Shows end at 10.35PM on Saturday, 6.35PM on Sunday;
-   SX Paris-Lille will be televised (Saturday night) on France’s L’Equipe 21 network, that can be viewed in streaming at : http://www.lequipe21.fr/direct/
-   And on Motors TV both days;
-   More info on the official website:  www.supercrossbercy.com
-   Facebook: www.facebook.com/supercrossparisbercy
-   Twitter: https://twitter.com/supercrossbercy
-   Saturday tickets: http://amcf.trium.fr/index.php/27/manifestation/7561
-   Sunday tickets: http://amcf.trium.fr/index.php/27/manifestation/7561/17833#grid