Who was the worst 250 SX champ turned 450 ?

-MAVERICK-
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12/17/2025 2:31pm
flopper12 wrote:

You must be right! I could have sworn he won ONE Premier Class 450 main in SX on a Honda…I must be thinking of Ramsey. 

My mistake. 

Ramsey does have a single 450/250SX main event win. He won Pontiac in 2002. It was the first SX win for the Honda CRF 450 as well. 

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Nairb#70
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12/17/2025 4:12pm

Preston never won a premier class main event. But he was responsible for Husqvarna winning a SX lites  main event before KTM and becoming the first European brand to do so. Langston crashed close to the finish and handed Preston the win.

2
12/17/2025 4:50pm
Nairb#70 wrote:

Pourcel got the shaft worse than anyone, after 2 titles in a row.

kage173 wrote:

Agreed. He also barely lost two outdoor 250 championships. Crashed at the final round and lost to Dunge.

Loss to Dung cause his bike let go at Southwick. I will always be disappointed we never got to see CP's potential. He should of got the Kawi 450 ride. But they didn't like him. 

Answer to the question though. Will Hahn.

I have been bored lately and rewatching 2013. My son and I both said before watching "how the hell did Hahn win a 250 title". But he was prepared that year. 

Side rant. Anyone who wants to rewatch races on the app or website. Do you get annoyed that the thumb nail always shows the 450 winner? I understand its old news. But be way better to rewatch without knowing sometimes

5
1
12/17/2025 4:53pm
flopper12 wrote:

You must be right! I could have sworn he won ONE Premier Class 450 main in SX on a Honda…I must be thinking of Ramsey. 

My mistake. 

-MAVERICK- wrote:
Ramsey does have a single 450/250SX main event win. He won Pontiac in 2002. It was the first SX win for the Honda CRF 450 as...

Ramsey does have a single 450/250SX main event win. He won Pontiac in 2002. It was the first SX win for the Honda CRF 450 as well. 

I was thinking it was Preston. When Carmichael looped out. But it was Ramsey

The Shop

jmo443
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12/17/2025 4:55pm

Jett Lawrence. 

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kage173
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12/17/2025 5:17pm
Loss to Dung cause his bike let go at Southwick. I will always be disappointed we never got to see CP's potential. He should of got...

Loss to Dung cause his bike let go at Southwick. I will always be disappointed we never got to see CP's potential. He should of got the Kawi 450 ride. But they didn't like him. 

Answer to the question though. Will Hahn.

I have been bored lately and rewatching 2013. My son and I both said before watching "how the hell did Hahn win a 250 title". But he was prepared that year. 

Side rant. Anyone who wants to rewatch races on the app or website. Do you get annoyed that the thumb nail always shows the 450 winner? I understand its old news. But be way better to rewatch without knowing sometimes

Yeah I got the years mixed up with CP. I guess He got hurt against Canard, which also came down to the wire.

As far as Will goes. He legit won that championship. He won multiple races and was on the box almost every round. Bear Marv and Deano. 

450 was rough though.

ACBailey89
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12/17/2025 5:57pm
Moto Nomad wrote:

Those stats are super-interesting. Like Reed's numbers you would expect to be higher. He was always a clinch rider who could win when it counted.

I’d say that’s because he stayed a bit too long after his prime which brought his averages down.

-MAVERICK-
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12/17/2025 7:53pm
Loss to Dung cause his bike let go at Southwick. I will always be disappointed we never got to see CP's potential. He should of got...

Loss to Dung cause his bike let go at Southwick. I will always be disappointed we never got to see CP's potential. He should of got the Kawi 450 ride. But they didn't like him. 

Answer to the question though. Will Hahn.

I have been bored lately and rewatching 2013. My son and I both said before watching "how the hell did Hahn win a 250 title". But he was prepared that year. 

Side rant. Anyone who wants to rewatch races on the app or website. Do you get annoyed that the thumb nail always shows the 450 winner? I understand its old news. But be way better to rewatch without knowing sometimes

"He should of got the Kawi 450 ride. But they didn't like him."

He didn't get it because he asked for too much money. 

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12/18/2025 12:43am
-MAVERICK- wrote:

"He should of got the Kawi 450 ride. But they didn't like him."

He didn't get it because he asked for too much money. 

Fisher was not a big fan of Pourcel at that time...

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kage173
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12/18/2025 5:51am
Moto Nomad wrote:

Those stats are super-interesting. Like Reed's numbers you would expect to be higher. He was always a clinch rider who could win when it counted.

ACBailey89 wrote:

I’d say that’s because he stayed a bit too long after his prime which brought his averages down.

The stats shown weren't averages. So whether he stayed longer or not has nothing to do with it.

Like James Stewart, Chad was a victim of the Ryan's. I believe Chad only finished ahead of Dungey once in his whole career. 

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thewrizzle
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12/18/2025 6:11am
kage173 wrote:
The stats shown weren't averages. So whether he stayed longer or not has nothing to do with it.Like James Stewart, Chad was a victim of the...

The stats shown weren't averages. So whether he stayed longer or not has nothing to do with it.

Like James Stewart, Chad was a victim of the Ryan's. I believe Chad only finished ahead of Dungey once in his whole career. 

You mean once in the points standings, right?

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Johnny Ringo
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12/18/2025 6:15am
Moto Nomad wrote:

Those stats are super-interesting. Like Reed's numbers you would expect to be higher. He was always a clinch rider who could win when it counted.

ACBailey89 wrote:

I’d say that’s because he stayed a bit too long after his prime which brought his averages down.

kage173 wrote:
The stats shown weren't averages. So whether he stayed longer or not has nothing to do with it.Like James Stewart, Chad was a victim of the...

The stats shown weren't averages. So whether he stayed longer or not has nothing to do with it.

Like James Stewart, Chad was a victim of the Ryan's. I believe Chad only finished ahead of Dungey once in his whole career. 

Chad was pretty old and outside of his prime by the time the Ryan’s were on top of their game. And he still waxed Dunge in 2011 for most of the year until Millville

If Chad would have retired in 2013 (10 year 450 career, after his big 2012 injury) his averages would be way higher. 

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kage173
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12/18/2025 6:24am
Chad was pretty old and outside of his prime by the time the Ryan’s were on top of their game. And he still waxed Dunge in...

Chad was pretty old and outside of his prime by the time the Ryan’s were on top of their game. And he still waxed Dunge in 2011 for most of the year until Millville

If Chad would have retired in 2013 (10 year 450 career, after his big 2012 injury) his averages would be way higher. 

Chad won the championship the year before Dungey went to 450. He never won another one. Not Dungeys rookie season, not Villopotos rookie season, not ever.

I'm not saying Chad isn't great. He beat Carmichael in his prime. If that was all he ever did, it's more than enough. I'm just saying that the Ryan's ended any chance he had at a title. The proof is in the pudding. 

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Johnny Ringo
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12/18/2025 6:38am Edited Date/Time 12/18/2025 6:41am
Chad was pretty old and outside of his prime by the time the Ryan’s were on top of their game. And he still waxed Dunge in...

Chad was pretty old and outside of his prime by the time the Ryan’s were on top of their game. And he still waxed Dunge in 2011 for most of the year until Millville

If Chad would have retired in 2013 (10 year 450 career, after his big 2012 injury) his averages would be way higher. 

kage173 wrote:
Chad won the championship the year before Dungey went to 450. He never won another one. Not Dungeys rookie season, not Villopotos rookie season, not ever.I'm...

Chad won the championship the year before Dungey went to 450. He never won another one. Not Dungeys rookie season, not Villopotos rookie season, not ever.

I'm not saying Chad isn't great. He beat Carmichael in his prime. If that was all he ever did, it's more than enough. I'm just saying that the Ryan's ended any chance he had at a title. The proof is in the pudding. 

I mean yes you have the proof in that he didn’t win another title after 2009. But he beat Dunge in 2011 SX (and was leading the points at Millville). And then he had a catastrophic knee injury in 2012 and he really was never the same again. I just don’t see how you can disagree that his averages wouldn’t be higher if he didn’t retire after that injury


I think we are agreeing on the main premise

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Nairb#70
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12/18/2025 6:40am

The OP has been absent from this thread since starting it.  🤣 

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kage173
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12/18/2025 6:42am Edited Date/Time 12/18/2025 6:43am
Chad was pretty old and outside of his prime by the time the Ryan’s were on top of their game. And he still waxed Dunge in...

Chad was pretty old and outside of his prime by the time the Ryan’s were on top of their game. And he still waxed Dunge in 2011 for most of the year until Millville

If Chad would have retired in 2013 (10 year 450 career, after his big 2012 injury) his averages would be way higher. 

kage173 wrote:
Chad won the championship the year before Dungey went to 450. He never won another one. Not Dungeys rookie season, not Villopotos rookie season, not ever.I'm...

Chad won the championship the year before Dungey went to 450. He never won another one. Not Dungeys rookie season, not Villopotos rookie season, not ever.

I'm not saying Chad isn't great. He beat Carmichael in his prime. If that was all he ever did, it's more than enough. I'm just saying that the Ryan's ended any chance he had at a title. The proof is in the pudding. 

I mean yes you have the proof in that he didn’t win another title after 2009. But he beat Dunge in 2011 SX (and was leading...

I mean yes you have the proof in that he didn’t win another title after 2009. But he beat Dunge in 2011 SX (and was leading the points at Millville). And then he had a catastrophic knee injury in 2012 and he really was never the same again. I just don’t see how you can disagree that his averages wouldn’t be higher if he didn’t retire after that injury


I think we are agreeing on the main premise

I didn't disagree that his averages would be higher. I pointed out that the statistics that were posted by Mav,  and thar were being discussed, were numbers of championships. And that doesn't change based on how long you raced. 

If anybody posted any stats on averages then please show me and I'll modify my comment becaus  I missed it.

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Johnny Ringo
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12/18/2025 7:42am
kage173 wrote:
Chad won the championship the year before Dungey went to 450. He never won another one. Not Dungeys rookie season, not Villopotos rookie season, not ever.I'm...

Chad won the championship the year before Dungey went to 450. He never won another one. Not Dungeys rookie season, not Villopotos rookie season, not ever.

I'm not saying Chad isn't great. He beat Carmichael in his prime. If that was all he ever did, it's more than enough. I'm just saying that the Ryan's ended any chance he had at a title. The proof is in the pudding. 

I mean yes you have the proof in that he didn’t win another title after 2009. But he beat Dunge in 2011 SX (and was leading...

I mean yes you have the proof in that he didn’t win another title after 2009. But he beat Dunge in 2011 SX (and was leading the points at Millville). And then he had a catastrophic knee injury in 2012 and he really was never the same again. I just don’t see how you can disagree that his averages wouldn’t be higher if he didn’t retire after that injury


I think we are agreeing on the main premise

kage173 wrote:
I didn't disagree that his averages would be higher. I pointed out that the statistics that were posted by Mav,  and thar were being discussed, were...

I didn't disagree that his averages would be higher. I pointed out that the statistics that were posted by Mav,  and thar were being discussed, were numbers of championships. And that doesn't change based on how long you raced. 

If anybody posted any stats on averages then please show me and I'll modify my comment becaus  I missed it.

Gotcha, I was looking at Joey Novices average finishing stat table and thought that was what we were talking about. My bad brother

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deanwhite51
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12/18/2025 2:08pm
Chad was pretty old and outside of his prime by the time the Ryan’s were on top of their game. And he still waxed Dunge in...

Chad was pretty old and outside of his prime by the time the Ryan’s were on top of their game. And he still waxed Dunge in 2011 for most of the year until Millville

If Chad would have retired in 2013 (10 year 450 career, after his big 2012 injury) his averages would be way higher. 

kage173 wrote:
Chad won the championship the year before Dungey went to 450. He never won another one. Not Dungeys rookie season, not Villopotos rookie season, not ever.I'm...

Chad won the championship the year before Dungey went to 450. He never won another one. Not Dungeys rookie season, not Villopotos rookie season, not ever.

I'm not saying Chad isn't great. He beat Carmichael in his prime. If that was all he ever did, it's more than enough. I'm just saying that the Ryan's ended any chance he had at a title. The proof is in the pudding. 

Id say reeds crash and best mate passing within the span of a few weeks rattled him a lot and never bounced back after that.

there is also a 6 year age gap between RV and CR22.. so you could also say Ryans battled a older Reed.

and id also say the argument with the Ryans could be made about multiple riders. 

 

12/18/2025 3:52pm
Loss to Dung cause his bike let go at Southwick. I will always be disappointed we never got to see CP's potential. He should of got...

Loss to Dung cause his bike let go at Southwick. I will always be disappointed we never got to see CP's potential. He should of got the Kawi 450 ride. But they didn't like him. 

Answer to the question though. Will Hahn.

I have been bored lately and rewatching 2013. My son and I both said before watching "how the hell did Hahn win a 250 title". But he was prepared that year. 

Side rant. Anyone who wants to rewatch races on the app or website. Do you get annoyed that the thumb nail always shows the 450 winner? I understand its old news. But be way better to rewatch without knowing sometimes

-MAVERICK- wrote:

"He should of got the Kawi 450 ride. But they didn't like him."

He didn't get it because he asked for too much money. 

I remember Money was a factor. But I believe it was a little of money crossed with Kawi not wanting to work with him 

12/18/2025 3:55pm
Loss to Dung cause his bike let go at Southwick. I will always be disappointed we never got to see CP's potential. He should of got...

Loss to Dung cause his bike let go at Southwick. I will always be disappointed we never got to see CP's potential. He should of got the Kawi 450 ride. But they didn't like him. 

Answer to the question though. Will Hahn.

I have been bored lately and rewatching 2013. My son and I both said before watching "how the hell did Hahn win a 250 title". But he was prepared that year. 

Side rant. Anyone who wants to rewatch races on the app or website. Do you get annoyed that the thumb nail always shows the 450 winner? I understand its old news. But be way better to rewatch without knowing sometimes

kage173 wrote:
Yeah I got the years mixed up with CP. I guess He got hurt against Canard, which also came down to the wire.As far as Will...

Yeah I got the years mixed up with CP. I guess He got hurt against Canard, which also came down to the wire.

As far as Will goes. He legit won that championship. He won multiple races and was on the box almost every round. Bear Marv and Deano. 

450 was rough though.

Oh for sure. Hahn deserved his championship. But it was kind of like, where did that come from. 

He rode so good that year. I just finished his first win last night. I think ppl like Deano underestimated him early in the season. Helped Hahn got those points. 

1
12/18/2025 4:10pm
ACBailey89 wrote:

I’d say that’s because he stayed a bit too long after his prime which brought his averages down.

kage173 wrote:
The stats shown weren't averages. So whether he stayed longer or not has nothing to do with it.Like James Stewart, Chad was a victim of the...

The stats shown weren't averages. So whether he stayed longer or not has nothing to do with it.

Like James Stewart, Chad was a victim of the Ryan's. I believe Chad only finished ahead of Dungey once in his whole career. 

Chad was pretty old and outside of his prime by the time the Ryan’s were on top of their game. And he still waxed Dunge in...

Chad was pretty old and outside of his prime by the time the Ryan’s were on top of their game. And he still waxed Dunge in 2011 for most of the year until Millville

If Chad would have retired in 2013 (10 year 450 career, after his big 2012 injury) his averages would be way higher. 

Chad wasn't a victim of the Ryans. He continued to show season speed until his crash and 12. That race speed until the end of 14. 

Chad would've, should've could've won both titles in 2021. He was one JS torpedo through the whoops from an SX title. MX lets face it. He was just asserting himself as the Alpha the exact day his championship ended. 

End of the day he became a victim of a couple injuries and mistakes. 

JS was younger than Chad his last win came in 14 also. With not many leading up to it from 2009 onwards. 

Would of loved both these guys to get to finish their seasons when they were still in prime form

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Zucchini Nibs
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12/18/2025 4:31pm

Anyone have a list of lites champions that never went on to win a 250/450 race? 

I’m sure you probably already got a list but here’s my go; Broc Tickle, Colt Nichols, Haiden Deegan, Justin Cooper, Tom Vialle, Chris Pourcel, Wil Hahn, Justin Hill (Tampa 2018 was supposed to be his), Christian Craig, Shae Bentley, Branden Jesseman, the Fonz, Jimmy Gaddis, and I think Ty Dave completes the list, at least going back to 1990. I know I missed someone but I can not for the life of me figure it out who

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Zucchini Nibs
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12/18/2025 5:03pm Edited Date/Time 12/19/2025 3:42pm
-MAVERICK- wrote:
125/250 SX Champions to Never Win a 250/450 Race* Riders in italics are still activeEddie Warren: 1985 125SX East ChampionBobby Moore: 1985 125SX West...

125/250 SX Champions to Never Win a 250/450 Race

* Riders in italics are still active

Eddie Warren: 1985 125SX East Champion

Bobby Moore: 1985 125SX West Champion (never moved up)

Keith Turpin: 1986 125SX East Champion (only did one 250SX race and finished 20th.)

Donny Schmit: 1986 125SX West Champion

Ron Tichenor: 1987 125SX East Champion

Willie Surratt: 1987 125SX West Champion

Todd DeHoop: 1988 125SX East Champion 

Denny Stephenson: 1990 125SX East Champion

Ty Davis: 1990 125SX West Champion

Brian Swink: 1991 & 1992 125SX East Champion

Jimmy Gaddis: 1993 125SX West Champion 

Ernesto Fonseca: 1999 125SX East & 2001 125SX West Champion

Stéphane Roncada: 2000 125SX East Champion

Shae Bentley: 2000 125SX West Champion (never moved up)

Travis Pastrana: 2001 125SX East Champion 

Travis Preston: 2002 125SX West Champions

Branden Jesseman: 2003 125SX East Champion (never moved up)

Ben Townley: 2007 SX Lites East Champion

Jason Lawrence: 2008 SX Lites West Champion

Christophe Pourcel: 2009 & 2010 SX Lites East Champion

Jake Weimer: 2010 SX Lites West Champion 

Broc Tickle: 2011 SX Lites West Champion 

Wil Hahn: 2013 250SX East Champion

Justin Hill: 2017 250SX West Champion 

Colt Nichols: 2021 250SX East Champion

Justin Cooper: 2021 250SX West Champion

Christian Craig: 2022 250SX West Champion 

Edit: Typo

Hey, I know he never bagged an overall but didn’t Swinkster take a couple of moto’s? Or am I absolutely off my plate

flopper12
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12/18/2025 5:32pm
-MAVERICK- wrote:
125/250 SX Champions to Never Win a 250/450 Race* Riders in italics are still activeEddie Warren: 1985 125SX East ChampionBobby Moore: 1985 125SX West...

125/250 SX Champions to Never Win a 250/450 Race

* Riders in italics are still active

Eddie Warren: 1985 125SX East Champion

Bobby Moore: 1985 125SX West Champion (never moved up)

Keith Turpin: 1986 125SX East Champion (only did one 250SX race and finished 20th.)

Donny Schmit: 1986 125SX West Champion

Ron Tichenor: 1987 125SX East Champion

Willie Surratt: 1987 125SX West Champion

Todd DeHoop: 1988 125SX East Champion 

Denny Stephenson: 1990 125SX East Champion

Ty Davis: 1990 125SX West Champion

Brian Swink: 1991 & 1992 125SX East Champion

Jimmy Gaddis: 1993 125SX West Champion 

Ernesto Fonseca: 1999 125SX East & 2001 125SX West Champion

Stéphane Roncada: 2000 125SX East Champion

Shae Bentley: 2000 125SX West Champion (never moved up)

Travis Pastrana: 2001 125SX East Champion 

Travis Preston: 2002 125SX West Champions

Branden Jesseman: 2003 125SX East Champion (never moved up)

Ben Townley: 2007 SX Lites East Champion

Jason Lawrence: 2008 SX Lites West Champion

Christophe Pourcel: 2009 & 2010 SX Lites East Champion

Jake Weimer: 2010 SX Lites West Champion 

Broc Tickle: 2011 SX Lites West Champion 

Wil Hahn: 2013 250SX East Champion

Justin Hill: 2017 250SX West Champion 

Colt Nichols: 2021 250SX East Champion

Justin Cooper: 2021 250SX West Champion

Christian Craig: 2022 250SX West Champion 

Edit: Typo

Hey, I know he never bagged an overall but didn’t Swinkster take a couple of moto’s? Or am I absolutely off my plate

Swink won a few 250 Motos, but not an overall. 

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-MAVERICK-
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12/18/2025 5:33pm

Hey, I know he never bagged an overall but didn’t Swinkster take a couple of moto’s? Or am I absolutely off my plate

1994 Gatorback Moto 1. 

2
MXMattii
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12/19/2025 5:20pm Edited Date/Time 12/19/2025 5:26pm
-MAVERICK- wrote:

"He should of got the Kawi 450 ride. But they didn't like him."

He didn't get it because he asked for too much money. 

Fisher was not a big fan of Pourcel at that time...

The complete story (and I've talked with RV2 and CP377 about it). Kawasaki USA and Japan wanted that Fisher signed Christophe Pourcel, but Ryan Villopoto didn't wanted Christophe as teammate because then he needed, not only handle competition from other riders outside his rig but also from under his own tent. Fisher who was under pressure started to make up the stories about "the negotiations and the price being too steep". He needed something to keep Kawasaki USA and Japan from his back till he signed Jake Weimer. While CP377 and his agent never talked with Kawasaki.They let great opportunities pass because they kept waiting till for a real offer, an offer that everyone in the world expected that would come, but it didn't came.

In the end Mike Fisher signed Weimer, and he also went against the advise from Kawasaki USA and made a deal with FMF instead of Pro Circuit. A few months after those two decisions he got fired.

Pourcel was without a team and when the outdoors came up he tested the Valli Motorsport Yamaha 450 and the Geico Honda 450. He wanted to sign for Valli because there where working a few former Pro Circuit members, and he had a good feeling on the bike. On the day he wanted to call the people from Valli, his agent called him and said: "MotoConcepts has an offer that is higher than al others", Pourcel said that he didn't tested that bike and the agent would've said: "MotoConcepts rides a Yamaha, same as Valli". So CriCri made the decision to sign for MotoConcepts but didn't had the same feeling on their Yamaha than what he had on the the Valli Yamaha bike.

If he could've signed the deal from Jake Weimer, or the deal from Will Hahn/Davi Millsaps he still could've a great career! Lets be honest Will Hahn injured himself in the first free practice on that Kawasaki.

(If people want the audio files from the interviews, I can look them up)

4
Sully
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12/19/2025 5:33pm
Moto Nomad wrote:

Those stats are super-interesting. Like Reed's numbers you would expect to be higher. He was always a clinch rider who could win when it counted.

ACBailey89 wrote:

I’d say that’s because he stayed a bit too long after his prime which brought his averages down.

kage173 wrote:
The stats shown weren't averages. So whether he stayed longer or not has nothing to do with it.Like James Stewart, Chad was a victim of the...

The stats shown weren't averages. So whether he stayed longer or not has nothing to do with it.

Like James Stewart, Chad was a victim of the Ryan's. I believe Chad only finished ahead of Dungey once in his whole career. 

"The stats shown weren't averages."

Huh? What does "450 SX/MX Avg Finish" mean, then?

Screenshot 2025-12-20 103105.png?VersionId=w6LwAYw1Kbp0LjLWdgYVo
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mxbigd17
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12/19/2025 5:51pm

Wil Hahn

12/20/2025 12:37pm
-MAVERICK- wrote:

"He should of got the Kawi 450 ride. But they didn't like him."

He didn't get it because he asked for too much money. 

Fisher was not a big fan of Pourcel at that time...

MXMattii wrote:
The complete story (and I've talked with RV2 and CP377 about it). Kawasaki USA and Japan wanted that Fisher signed Christophe Pourcel, but Ryan Villopoto didn't...

The complete story (and I've talked with RV2 and CP377 about it). Kawasaki USA and Japan wanted that Fisher signed Christophe Pourcel, but Ryan Villopoto didn't wanted Christophe as teammate because then he needed, not only handle competition from other riders outside his rig but also from under his own tent. Fisher who was under pressure started to make up the stories about "the negotiations and the price being too steep". He needed something to keep Kawasaki USA and Japan from his back till he signed Jake Weimer. While CP377 and his agent never talked with Kawasaki.They let great opportunities pass because they kept waiting till for a real offer, an offer that everyone in the world expected that would come, but it didn't came.

In the end Mike Fisher signed Weimer, and he also went against the advise from Kawasaki USA and made a deal with FMF instead of Pro Circuit. A few months after those two decisions he got fired.

Pourcel was without a team and when the outdoors came up he tested the Valli Motorsport Yamaha 450 and the Geico Honda 450. He wanted to sign for Valli because there where working a few former Pro Circuit members, and he had a good feeling on the bike. On the day he wanted to call the people from Valli, his agent called him and said: "MotoConcepts has an offer that is higher than al others", Pourcel said that he didn't tested that bike and the agent would've said: "MotoConcepts rides a Yamaha, same as Valli". So CriCri made the decision to sign for MotoConcepts but didn't had the same feeling on their Yamaha than what he had on the the Valli Yamaha bike.

If he could've signed the deal from Jake Weimer, or the deal from Will Hahn/Davi Millsaps he still could've a great career! Lets be honest Will Hahn injured himself in the first free practice on that Kawasaki.

(If people want the audio files from the interviews, I can look them up)

Thanks for the insight, mate!

MXMattii
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12/20/2025 2:26pm

Fisher was not a big fan of Pourcel at that time...

MXMattii wrote:
The complete story (and I've talked with RV2 and CP377 about it). Kawasaki USA and Japan wanted that Fisher signed Christophe Pourcel, but Ryan Villopoto didn't...

The complete story (and I've talked with RV2 and CP377 about it). Kawasaki USA and Japan wanted that Fisher signed Christophe Pourcel, but Ryan Villopoto didn't wanted Christophe as teammate because then he needed, not only handle competition from other riders outside his rig but also from under his own tent. Fisher who was under pressure started to make up the stories about "the negotiations and the price being too steep". He needed something to keep Kawasaki USA and Japan from his back till he signed Jake Weimer. While CP377 and his agent never talked with Kawasaki.They let great opportunities pass because they kept waiting till for a real offer, an offer that everyone in the world expected that would come, but it didn't came.

In the end Mike Fisher signed Weimer, and he also went against the advise from Kawasaki USA and made a deal with FMF instead of Pro Circuit. A few months after those two decisions he got fired.

Pourcel was without a team and when the outdoors came up he tested the Valli Motorsport Yamaha 450 and the Geico Honda 450. He wanted to sign for Valli because there where working a few former Pro Circuit members, and he had a good feeling on the bike. On the day he wanted to call the people from Valli, his agent called him and said: "MotoConcepts has an offer that is higher than al others", Pourcel said that he didn't tested that bike and the agent would've said: "MotoConcepts rides a Yamaha, same as Valli". So CriCri made the decision to sign for MotoConcepts but didn't had the same feeling on their Yamaha than what he had on the the Valli Yamaha bike.

If he could've signed the deal from Jake Weimer, or the deal from Will Hahn/Davi Millsaps he still could've a great career! Lets be honest Will Hahn injured himself in the first free practice on that Kawasaki.

(If people want the audio files from the interviews, I can look them up)

Thanks for the insight, mate!

I re-listened to CP his words, and something I forgot, but after his 3th place with Valli Yamaha in the MX250 outdoor championship (2014), McCarthy (Yamaha Boss) wanted to help him to get a contract with JoeGibbs, but he declined because he didn't felt great on the Yamaha bikes (neither 250 as 450) back then. The seat went to Peick.

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