Vital MX Forum QNA: Christophe Pourcel

Question wrote:

Christmas time for me, I am usually not asking questions in Q&As but here I am ! To recap, I am big fan, I have been...

Christmas time for me, I am usually not asking questions in Q&As but here I am !

To recap, I am big fan, I have been supporting you since a long time here especially during the search for a 450 ride, I have been an immediate fan because of 3 things:
I stopped MX and to follow MX a long time, I re started watching in 07, thanks to you (Phoenix!) and JS7.
I like the style on and off the track, a strong personality with a jmb riding style.
I liked when you supported Fredo (Sandouly) when he lost a spleen, an old friend from Auvergne (Ris, Néris )

So here are some questions, feel free to pick up the ones you like

1. It is still early to talk about it but what would you like to do after your career as a rider? Can you settle, do you want to do a school or to become a coach, or with your smooth style and such a margin, can you physically and would you consider a future in enduro then rallye with Husky like Pela?

2. Next year is the MXDN at Glen Helen: if not selected by the FFM, would you consider for fun to lead a team
Andorre like we did in 88 and like the US are doing with Puerto Rico?

3. Do you consider having a training partner for next season? Emulation is a key (possibly the key now of the Baker factory), it is my personal opinion but I am sure you would benefit from having a riding partner. Is it not the best for you (example, it improves the partners more than you), or would you consider training with a young fresh guy like Bloss or Ferrandis, plus a rider like Kroc or Wilson?

In all cases, Happy Birthday ! Thanks for stoping by and welcome to VitalMX !

TeamGreen wrote:

How do you manage to ride very few laps, namely very few complete laps, on a Supercross track and then BAM! Fastest Lap! At times, it...

How do you manage to ride very few laps, namely very few complete laps, on a Supercross track and then BAM!

Fastest Lap!

At times, it seems like you casually look at the track & throw down a heater; again, how the heck do you do that?

slipdog wrote:

JMB or Jacky Vimond?

Steely Dan wrote:

Is it true that part of the condition after your back injury is your body having difficulty regulating its own temperature?

Steely Dan wrote:

Is it true that part of the condition after your back injury is your body having difficulty regulating its own temperature?

CP377 wrote:

No, i don't think this is true. A lot of you are asking so i will put it in one post. My injury in 2007, I...

No, i don't think this is true. A lot of you are asking so i will put it in one post. My injury in 2007, I broke my sacrum and had the syndrome de la queue de cheval, or cauda equina in english. It means being paralyzed from waist down to upper legs, or like the saddle area. I had a big edema on the nerve where I broke the sacrum and some damage on the nerve, they opened me up and cleaned up the edema as much as they could and hope for the best. There was 80% chance that i would not regain feeling, use the restroom without help, or be able to have children. 3 month later after being laying on a bed flat, they started to teach me how to walk again, i lost all my balances. Nerve pain is one of the worst and the pain medecine were very strong. I lost about 40 pounds. I had some stomach problem because i couldnt go to the restroom so i couldnt eat much, my stomach was in pain everyday and that was hard to deal with, everyday throwin up is not a good feeling.

My parents sent me to the best rehab center in France at capbreton. They have doctors, therapists, and other athletes, it was a good place for me to recover. It was a painful experience physically, but mentally also. The pain meds were so strong it makes you go crazy, i would argue with my parents and have dark days. Im really thankful for them tho, they stuck with me and helped me through it. Its an experience that makes you never forget how lucky you are to be healthy.

Once I felt better, about a year after the crash, they let me out. I slowly started to regain function to use the restroom and my balance got better and better. I remember my first time bike on the bike still using a catheter, it was crazy. but I'm thankful to have got back as much function as i have, its not 100%, but its very close. I have to eat very healthy, lots of fiber and still take a daily laxative. I also have more lower back pain and less flexibility, or the pain comes quicker from certain activities.

Question wrote:

Christmas time for me, I am usually not asking questions in Q&As but here I am ! To recap, I am big fan, I have been...

Christmas time for me, I am usually not asking questions in Q&As but here I am !

To recap, I am big fan, I have been supporting you since a long time here especially during the search for a 450 ride, I have been an immediate fan because of 3 things:
I stopped MX and to follow MX a long time, I re started watching in 07, thanks to you (Phoenix!) and JS7.
I like the style on and off the track, a strong personality with a jmb riding style.
I liked when you supported Fredo (Sandouly) when he lost a spleen, an old friend from Auvergne (Ris, Néris )

So here are some questions, feel free to pick up the ones you like

1. It is still early to talk about it but what would you like to do after your career as a rider? Can you settle, do you want to do a school or to become a coach, or with your smooth style and such a margin, can you physically and would you consider a future in enduro then rallye with Husky like Pela?

2. Next year is the MXDN at Glen Helen: if not selected by the FFM, would you consider for fun to lead a team
Andorre like we did in 88 and like the US are doing with Puerto Rico?

3. Do you consider having a training partner for next season? Emulation is a key (possibly the key now of the Baker factory), it is my personal opinion but I am sure you would benefit from having a riding partner. Is it not the best for you (example, it improves the partners more than you), or would you consider training with a young fresh guy like Bloss or Ferrandis, plus a rider like Kroc or Wilson?

In all cases, Happy Birthday ! Thanks for stoping by and welcome to VitalMX !

CP377 wrote:

hey thanks, i think i answered some of these already, but ill pick one 2. yes for sure its something i have thought about, i am...

hey thanks, i think i answered some of these already, but ill pick one


2. yes for sure its something i have thought about, i am hoping to be a US Citizen soon and would like to do something for puerto rico like they have done in the past maybe with Zach and a local rider from there.

Steely Dan wrote:

Is it true that part of the condition after your back injury is your body having difficulty regulating its own temperature?

CP377 wrote:

No, i don't think this is true. A lot of you are asking so i will put it in one post. My injury in 2007, I...

No, i don't think this is true. A lot of you are asking so i will put it in one post. My injury in 2007, I broke my sacrum and had the syndrome de la queue de cheval, or cauda equina in english. It means being paralyzed from waist down to upper legs, or like the saddle area. I had a big edema on the nerve where I broke the sacrum and some damage on the nerve, they opened me up and cleaned up the edema as much as they could and hope for the best. There was 80% chance that i would not regain feeling, use the restroom without help, or be able to have children. 3 month later after being laying on a bed flat, they started to teach me how to walk again, i lost all my balances. Nerve pain is one of the worst and the pain medecine were very strong. I lost about 40 pounds. I had some stomach problem because i couldnt go to the restroom so i couldnt eat much, my stomach was in pain everyday and that was hard to deal with, everyday throwin up is not a good feeling.

My parents sent me to the best rehab center in France at capbreton. They have doctors, therapists, and other athletes, it was a good place for me to recover. It was a painful experience physically, but mentally also. The pain meds were so strong it makes you go crazy, i would argue with my parents and have dark days. Im really thankful for them tho, they stuck with me and helped me through it. Its an experience that makes you never forget how lucky you are to be healthy.

Once I felt better, about a year after the crash, they let me out. I slowly started to regain function to use the restroom and my balance got better and better. I remember my first time bike on the bike still using a catheter, it was crazy. but I'm thankful to have got back as much function as i have, its not 100%, but its very close. I have to eat very healthy, lots of fiber and still take a daily laxative. I also have more lower back pain and less flexibility, or the pain comes quicker from certain activities.

CP377 wrote:

No, i don't think this is true. A lot of you are asking so i will put it in one post. My injury in 2007, I...

No, i don't think this is true. A lot of you are asking so i will put it in one post. My injury in 2007, I broke my sacrum and had the syndrome de la queue de cheval, or cauda equina in english. It means being paralyzed from waist down to upper legs, or like the saddle area. I had a big edema on the nerve where I broke the sacrum and some damage on the nerve, they opened me up and cleaned up the edema as much as they could and hope for the best. There was 80% chance that i would not regain feeling, use the restroom without help, or be able to have children. 3 month later after being laying on a bed flat, they started to teach me how to walk again, i lost all my balances. Nerve pain is one of the worst and the pain medecine were very strong. I lost about 40 pounds. I had some stomach problem because i couldnt go to the restroom so i couldnt eat much, my stomach was in pain everyday and that was hard to deal with, everyday throwin up is not a good feeling.

My parents sent me to the best rehab center in France at capbreton. They have doctors, therapists, and other athletes, it was a good place for me to recover. It was a painful experience physically, but mentally also. The pain meds were so strong it makes you go crazy, i would argue with my parents and have dark days. Im really thankful for them tho, they stuck with me and helped me through it. Its an experience that makes you never forget how lucky you are to be healthy.

Once I felt better, about a year after the crash, they let me out. I slowly started to regain function to use the restroom and my balance got better and better. I remember my first time bike on the bike still using a catheter, it was crazy. but I'm thankful to have got back as much function as i have, its not 100%, but its very close. I have to eat very healthy, lots of fiber and still take a daily laxative. I also have more lower back pain and less flexibility, or the pain comes quicker from certain activities.

Sir Roostsalot wrote:

Reading this just about floored me.

Steely Dan wrote:

Is it true that part of the condition after your back injury is your body having difficulty regulating its own temperature?

CP377 wrote:

No, i don't think this is true. A lot of you are asking so i will put it in one post. My injury in 2007, I...

No, i don't think this is true. A lot of you are asking so i will put it in one post. My injury in 2007, I broke my sacrum and had the syndrome de la queue de cheval, or cauda equina in english. It means being paralyzed from waist down to upper legs, or like the saddle area. I had a big edema on the nerve where I broke the sacrum and some damage on the nerve, they opened me up and cleaned up the edema as much as they could and hope for the best. There was 80% chance that i would not regain feeling, use the restroom without help, or be able to have children. 3 month later after being laying on a bed flat, they started to teach me how to walk again, i lost all my balances. Nerve pain is one of the worst and the pain medecine were very strong. I lost about 40 pounds. I had some stomach problem because i couldnt go to the restroom so i couldnt eat much, my stomach was in pain everyday and that was hard to deal with, everyday throwin up is not a good feeling.

My parents sent me to the best rehab center in France at capbreton. They have doctors, therapists, and other athletes, it was a good place for me to recover. It was a painful experience physically, but mentally also. The pain meds were so strong it makes you go crazy, i would argue with my parents and have dark days. Im really thankful for them tho, they stuck with me and helped me through it. Its an experience that makes you never forget how lucky you are to be healthy.

Once I felt better, about a year after the crash, they let me out. I slowly started to regain function to use the restroom and my balance got better and better. I remember my first time bike on the bike still using a catheter, it was crazy. but I'm thankful to have got back as much function as i have, its not 100%, but its very close. I have to eat very healthy, lots of fiber and still take a daily laxative. I also have more lower back pain and less flexibility, or the pain comes quicker from certain activities.

Sir Roostsalot wrote:

Reading this just about floored me.

seth505 wrote:

Thanks for doing this, your answers have been some of the best I've seen for a QNA. My question is if you approach a qualifying lap...

Thanks for doing this, your answers have been some of the best I've seen for a QNA.

My question is if you approach a qualifying lap "heater" any differently than a regular race lap? You are so good at putting down a blazing fast lap, do you take extra mental care to evaluate every single obstacle for that single lap or what?

You are one of the few riders I tend to zero in on and watch on the track over and over, best of luck with your upcoming racing!

scooterwhipmoore wrote:

Thanks for doing this... nerve pain is definitely the worst, plus it takes a while to completely go away..(phantom pains) I remember you at Texas 2010...

Thanks for doing this...
nerve pain is definitely the worst, plus it takes a while to completely go away..(phantom pains) I remember you at Texas 2010 when Eli had won Hangtown,he holeshot and was gapping the field,you had a bad start then about 18 minutes in you finally made the pass for 2nd and started realing him in, Then you highsided the sweeper and ran into the fence (2 feet from me) then with 4 laps to go still ran him down...It was Unbelievable... I still have visions of you backing your bike up and running him down. How was that day? How Hot was that one?

jasonv43 wrote:

First off. I have always loved watching you ride a bike. And HUGE props to you for still racing after all you have gone through. Pala...

First off. I have always loved watching you ride a bike. And HUGE props to you for still racing after all you have gone through.

Pala Motocross - 2010 - Leading the championship over Canard and the crash happened. Can you talk about that day? I was there and was pulling for you all the way. Then that crash happened and I'll never forget it. I was so bummed but I was also pissed at some of the drunk assholes around us. I won't even quote them but let's just say they were PRO America and Anti-France that day. We even told one guy next to us to "Get the Fuck away and go home!!!" So annoying. I just don't understand how people can be like that.

Anyways. I know you have probably not been the easiest to approach but it seems like the fans have finally warmed up to you. And they have really accepted Marvin Musquin which is cool to see. What is your take on how the fans have reacted to riders from other countries racing in the US series?

Bonne chance avec le reste de votre carrière. J'espère que vous guérissez bientôt et revenir fort pour l'année prochaine.

Allez Pourcel!!!

Sir Roostsalot wrote:

Couple of questions for you Chris: 1) Do you prefer SX or MX? 2) What is your most memorable race? 3) Do you have a favorite...

Couple of questions for you Chris:

1) Do you prefer SX or MX?
2) What is your most memorable race?
3) Do you have a favorite outdoor track that you look forward to racing the most?
4) What bike do prefer 250f or 450f?

agn5009 wrote:

A lot of guys seem to want a riders union, and you've mentioned this would be beneficial. I agree, I believe it would be beneficial. My...

A lot of guys seem to want a riders union, and you've mentioned this would be beneficial. I agree, I believe it would be beneficial. My question is, what do you think needs done for there to be a riders union? Is there a plan in place to make this happen?

Thanks so much for doing this Q&A. This is by far the best I've read and your post detailing your road to recovery was unbelievable. I've always been a huge fan, but I am now an even bigger fan. Good luck healing up I can't wait to see you kill it in SX.

okieonayamaha wrote:

Welcome Mr. Pourcel I believe it was 2009 the year there was no Dallas due to new stadium. Me, my brother, and some of our friends...

Welcome Mr. Pourcel I believe it was 2009 the year there was no Dallas due to new stadium. Me, my brother, and some of our friends road tripped down to Houston for the race. I had the pleasure of meeting you there and then got to watch you be your usual silky smooth self out on the track that night. My question is how nervous/excited does a rider like yourself get on your first race of the series like that? Anyways it was an awesome but cold day in the pits and then the races that night were a blast. To top it off we ended up hanging out and getting drunk with Doc Bodnar, one of the FMX guys, and Erin Bates later that night at the hotel. Thanks! you started me off on one of the most fun weekends I've ever had.

David934 wrote:

Hello Christophe, thanks for doing this. I remember you and your brother Sebastien many GP of Czech republic Loket and for me you have favourite riding...

Hello Christophe,
thanks for doing this. I remember you and your brother Sebastien many GP of Czech republic Loket and for me you have favourite riding technique with no scrubs or modern elements, in my opinion, still very fast. Im fan all European riders racing in USA. What can you say about riders, wich was selected for MXoN and will not race? I wish you next seasons without injuries. Thank you David Czech republic