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1196
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5/29/2009
Location
SE
Edited Date/Time
3/12/2019 11:14am
I always wanted to know more about Pichon. Great rider, but just like my other favourite rider Pourcel a little bit of a mystery. This interview actually sheds some light over him. Also strong and honest opinion about Everts in the clip. What’s your strongest memories from Pichon as a rider? I recall trying to talk to him in Sweden his last year on the twostroke, he was not happy or approachable then and there, but very nice and relaxed at other times.
Link: https://www.mxlarge.com/news/mickael-pichon-interview-legend
Link: https://www.mxlarge.com/news/mickael-pichon-interview-legend
Yes, it was nice to get some insight from Mickael. Thanks for posting.
https://youtu.be/rHXHJTtonVA
The Shop
He almost had to escape from the US and get back to Europe.
Don't remeber exactly, but something serious happened
More like bloody Comical stuff!
If I recall correctly, Everts got into a fair bit of trouble from what was only a momentary 'hissy fit'. More embarrassing for Everts than being a terrible offense.
Everts and Pichon had some truly epic battles in the GPs with very hard, but ( mostly) fair racing. The line 'cross overs' between a 450F and 250 2T made for some breathtaking passes. Great racing!
Pit Row
Agree that the season Pichon was on the Corona Suzuki 250 2t vs the ultra trick Rinaldi 450 Yamaha of Everts was a very special once in a lifetime year.
Everts lost control in the coming-together and hit the ground. Incensed, he then walked off the track to the adjacent turn to throw his goggles at Pichon as the pack filtered back around. The eight-times world number one then remounted and slowly cruised around the track until the leaders came to lap him, Pichon holding third at this stage.
Clearly still upset Everts blocked the line of the Honda rider and almost caused the chasing Coppins to crash. Everts retired for the first time in over a year and Pichon was sufficiently undeterred to sweep past special guest Greg Albertyn into the lead on lap three.
Four laps later however and the most successful Frenchman in GP history had a big crash in the sandy section and was relegated to sixth place by the time he returned to the track.
Coppins inherited the lead and held the advantage until the finish line. Pichon knew that he needed 2nd spot to secure overall success and sliced through four positions in six laps to mount the top step. Coppins was able to celebrate 2nd ahead of KTM's Steve Ramon.
Everts left the circuit early while Pichon later admitted that his move was aggressive but not unfair:
"The second moto did not really go as I would have expected!" began Mickael with more than a little understatement. "It started well except for that little incident I had with Stefan. He was aggressive in the first lap, like he has been many times this year, and I understand this because he wants to win, like I do.
"I came to the inside and he went far outside and to the middle, I had already jumped out in the middle also and we touched and I took his front wheel. I know it was perhaps not a nice move but he did the same to me last year in Austria and I was lucky to stay on the bike. I just wanted to make the move and there was nothing else involved.
"Afterwards his reaction was not so nice, he was probably very mad and again I can understand this because I would have been the same!" confessed the Frenchman. "He tried to push me on the corner by the finish line and when he was on the bike again the next lap he almost put me on the ground and I nearly crashed. This might not be a good end to the Championship but I just wanted to win really badly.
"My crash was not a result of all this. I was riding pretty good but I don't know what I did there in the sand. I was trying to avoid the big bumps and went too much to the left. The rear wheel locked because I went wide near the fence and I was thrown over the bars, it was a big crash and a stupid one because I had a big lead and felt great.
"From that I knew I had to restart as quick as possible and looking around I saw that Josh was in front and I needed second for the win so I pushed really hard to come back, which was not so easy. All the guys were riding about the same speed and it was hard to make up the difference on that track. When I got to second Josh was too far away but I knew the GP was mine," Pichon concluded.
Everts may now face disciplinary action from the FIM, the sports governing body, for his behaviour.
The International Disciplinary Court (CDI) convened today (Friday) at the FIM headquarters in Switzerland to judge the request lodged by the International Jury of the South African Motocross Grand Prix, to impose sanctions against Stefan Everts and Mickael Pichon.
The International Disciplinary Court (CDI) convened today (Friday) at the FIM headquarters in Switzerland to judge the request lodged by the International Jury of the South African Motocross Grand Prix, to impose sanctions against Stefan Everts and Mickael Pichon.
The pair faced punishment for having delayed the start of the first MX1 race, due to a riders' protest, while Everts faced an additional penalty for his behaviour during the second MX1 race - when he physically confronted Pichon after the Frenchman caused the Belgian to crash.
The CDI took the following decisions:
"In the first case, Everts and Mickael Pichon are sanctioned with a fine of CHF 10.000 each.
"In the second case, the sanctions against Stefan Everts are a suspension of one year, conditionally deferred for a period of 2 years, and a fine of CHF 15.000.
Compilation of the 2003 GP of Austria. Great battle between The Rocket and Everts.
Some great pics here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/pichonimage/photos/?ref=page_internal
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