Pourcel?

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Edited Date/Time 1/17/2016 1:36pm
Anyone know what happened?

He was doing good in the first start, then after the restart he seemed frozen at the back?

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Olson
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Olson 1/11/2016 12:01pm
1/11/2016 12:01pm
He was second to last on the first lap and did a typical Pourcel thing and just rode around in the back.
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race 1/11/2016 1:15pm
1/11/2016 1:15pm
Since no one seems to know I found this -

"Christophe Pourcel took 1st gate pick in Heat 1 after setting the 2nd fastest overall time in qualifying practice and finished seventh in the heat after a mid-pack start and would eventually qualify for the main through the semi. He moved up to fifth in the main before moving back through the pack and finishing 18th.

“I was in a good position in the main,” said Pourcel, “but the red flag wasn’t good for me. I ended up outside and didn’t get a good start. I know I have the speed, and Jason is riding good so I can learn from him, too. I’m going to keep pushing and will try to be in the top five.”
"

from http://www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com/news/


Don't see how, with his speed, he couldn't move up to at least mid-pack. Did he hit the ground or something?
Sir Roostsalot 1/11/2016 1:50pm
1/11/2016 1:50pm
I guess it's possible he just wanted to get the first one under his belt?
downard254
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downard254 1/11/2016 2:05pm
1/11/2016 2:05pm
Is this his first 450 SX race in the U.S. I'm pretty sure he's raced 450, or at least a 350 in European SX's, but I wasn't sure if he's ever race the big class in the U.S. before.

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THE mx addict 1/11/2016 2:09pm
1/11/2016 2:09pm
downard254 wrote:
Is this his first 450 SX race in the U.S. I'm pretty sure he's raced 450, or at least a 350 in European SX's, but I...
Is this his first 450 SX race in the U.S. I'm pretty sure he's raced 450, or at least a 350 in European SX's, but I wasn't sure if he's ever race the big class in the U.S. before.
It was his very first one...
Sir Roostsalot 1/11/2016 2:12pm
1/11/2016 2:12pm
downard254 wrote:
Is this his first 450 SX race in the U.S. I'm pretty sure he's raced 450, or at least a 350 in European SX's, but I...
Is this his first 450 SX race in the U.S. I'm pretty sure he's raced 450, or at least a 350 in European SX's, but I wasn't sure if he's ever race the big class in the U.S. before.
Pretty sure he did MEC last year but first real ME SX on a 450. I guess well see what's really up next week, but I must admit I'm tired of this top quali only to bag it stuff. I believe he's capable of much more and he's more interesting to watch than anyone when he's railing.
Reefer Sutherland 1/11/2016 2:14pm
1/11/2016 2:14pm
I think Pourcel is one of the top 3 fastest guys on the track. But I think if he gets an 18th place start, he just says "fuck it".
mx836
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mx836 1/11/2016 2:17pm
1/11/2016 2:17pm
He's very fast for one lap and I should have remembered that when picking my fantasy order. Didn't even have him selected for my top 12 then went back and screwed myself because of his good time in practice. Figured he'd be at least in the top 10.
Motofinne
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Motofinne 1/11/2016 2:20pm
1/11/2016 2:20pm
CP is not going to hang it out if he gets a shitty start. With the history of the horrific injury he had he is not going to take any risks at the first SX race in 5-6 years.

He has the speed and i'm sure that he will be better when he gets a decent start!
Twist1
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Twist1 1/11/2016 2:20pm
1/11/2016 2:20pm
Reefer Sutherland wrote:
I think Pourcel is one of the top 3 fastest guys on the track. But I think if he gets an 18th place start, he just...
I think Pourcel is one of the top 3 fastest guys on the track. But I think if he gets an 18th place start, he just says "fuck it".
yeah.
When he was racing East Coast lites and winning he did it with an easy style that he rides with. He has the speed, and the endurance is not as big a deal as outdoors.
Not going to count him out, but DAMN it's going to be a dog fight every week!!
RichardLoots 1/11/2016 2:41pm
1/11/2016 2:41pm
mx836 wrote:
He's very fast for one lap and I should have remembered that when picking my fantasy order. Didn't even have him selected for my top 12...
He's very fast for one lap and I should have remembered that when picking my fantasy order. Didn't even have him selected for my top 12 then went back and screwed myself because of his good time in practice. Figured he'd be at least in the top 10.
Pourcel and Stewart both are probably the fastest one lappers , one needs a good start to finish up front the other needs to stay out of trouble to get a finish ........Both able to win any race if they get it right
cayman
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cayman 1/11/2016 2:48pm
1/11/2016 2:48pm
Pourcel just being Pourcel...
Maybe he'll be eighth in SD...
Or third...
Or sixteenth...
Flatliner
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Flatliner 1/11/2016 3:52pm
1/11/2016 3:52pm
cayman wrote:
Pourcel just being Pourcel...
Maybe he'll be eighth in SD...
Or third...
Or sixteenth...
This sums it up best.
Pollock580 1/12/2016 1:00am
1/12/2016 1:00am
Or maybe the field is that deep that some of these guys won't be able to pick through the field each week. Wasn't it 1 second the covered the top 10 in the second qualifying session? starts are everything.
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jamma10 1/12/2016 1:23am
1/12/2016 1:23am
Pollock580 wrote:
Or maybe the field is that deep that some of these guys won't be able to pick through the field each week. Wasn't it 1 second...
Or maybe the field is that deep that some of these guys won't be able to pick through the field each week. Wasn't it 1 second the covered the top 10 in the second qualifying session? starts are everything.
Roczen and Anderson seemed to manage to charge their way forward though. I was really impressed at Andersons determination, that's something Pourcel could definitely learn from him.

I've always supported Pourcel but he is immensely frustrating to be a fan of at times - like Reefer Sutherland above, I also think he's one of the fastest guys out there still, but only when he's got the the track to himself. He's not prepared to hang it out and battle when things get a little too close for comfort.

I think it was Everts who once said; as soon as you start worrying about getting injured it's probably time to hang it up. But I dont want him to hang it up, from a selfish point of view I want to see him to return to the confident and self assured Pourcel of old. The frustrating thing is seeing his name at the top of the qualifying sheet, because it still gives you that little glimmer of hope.
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Juss 1/12/2016 1:33am
1/12/2016 1:33am
downard254 wrote:
Is this his first 450 SX race in the U.S. I'm pretty sure he's raced 450, or at least a 350 in European SX's, but I...
Is this his first 450 SX race in the U.S. I'm pretty sure he's raced 450, or at least a 350 in European SX's, but I wasn't sure if he's ever race the big class in the U.S. before.
THE mx addict wrote:
It was his very first one...
No it was not. He had raced some 450 SX in Europe. Remember he like landed on Barcia.
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Question 1/12/2016 5:04am
1/12/2016 5:04am
Pollock580 wrote:
Or maybe the field is that deep that some of these guys won't be able to pick through the field each week. Wasn't it 1 second...
Or maybe the field is that deep that some of these guys won't be able to pick through the field each week. Wasn't it 1 second the covered the top 10 in the second qualifying session? starts are everything.

I agree. It is easy to over expect based on his crazy qualification times, but it was just his first SX race in the US in 5 years. I currently see him as a top 7-12 rider for his rookie season, which would already be good based on how stacked the field is. He went through the first round healthy, without any crash, he will improve. Unfortunate to have this red flag, his finish would have been better (top 10-top12?) We will see some flashes of brilliance, but in his first season for sure he will not make come backs through the pack like Dungey, Canard, Reed, Stewart, Tomac, Roczen or Anderson, not the same league for now. I also expect him to finish the season which based on this first race I am pretty sure that at least a third of the riders will not do the 17 rounds, SX is about precision, not only about agression !
kkawboy14
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kkawboy14 1/12/2016 5:14am
1/12/2016 5:14am
Somebody in here the other day was claiming fast laps translate into championships

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Question 1/12/2016 9:33am
1/12/2016 9:33am Edited Date/Time 1/12/2016 9:34am
kkawboy14 wrote:
Somebody in here the other day was claiming fast laps translate into championships
This is not wrong either. A rider cant win championships if he is off the pace. For CP, I just think he needs some time to adjust to ride with the 10 best SX riders all around. A good rookie season, top 10, finishing all the events, that would be great and it would build some solid fundations to try to get into the top 5 next season. I rather seeing him careful now and do the season rather than riding over his head to crack a couple top 3 then getting injured... Once he will be really confident I am sure he can run upfront.
THE mx addict 1/12/2016 12:42pm
1/12/2016 12:42pm
downard254 wrote:
Is this his first 450 SX race in the U.S. I'm pretty sure he's raced 450, or at least a 350 in European SX's, but I...
Is this his first 450 SX race in the U.S. I'm pretty sure he's raced 450, or at least a 350 in European SX's, but I wasn't sure if he's ever race the big class in the U.S. before.
THE mx addict wrote:
It was his very first one...
Juss wrote:
No it was not. He had raced some 450 SX in Europe. Remember he like landed on Barcia.
It was, dude.

We were talking about AMA Supercross 450 category.
cayman
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cayman 1/12/2016 1:29pm
1/12/2016 1:29pm Edited Date/Time 1/12/2016 1:33pm
Motofinne wrote:
CP is not going to hang it out if he gets a shitty start. With the history of the horrific injury he had he is not...
CP is not going to hang it out if he gets a shitty start. With the history of the horrific injury he had he is not going to take any risks at the first SX race in 5-6 years.

He has the speed and i'm sure that he will be better when he gets a decent start!
The real strange thing about CP is that his whole attitude didn't change after his accident, but after his 250 days were over.
Back in his PC days (and that was already AFTER his big crash), the guy sure was a racer and wasn't afraid to fight for his position.
He always stated that he would be even faster on a 450 as his smoooooth style was very efficient.
Yet, ever since he got on a 450 in 2011, be it GP or US (and including his outdoor season with Valli's 250), he's been more of a very fast cruiser than a racer.
Always the same strategy: rely on a holeshot or at least a very good start, and then hang on as good as he can without ever fighting for a position, and letting by anyone who shows his front wheel.
Works quite well for him...sometimes. A great start and he's mostly moving backwards. A bad start and he gets totally invisible.
You'd actually swear his medical after-effects got worse with years passing by, but since the guy is mute as a grave, you just have to guess.
And my guess would be he's just the fastest adaptive motocross pilot in the world.
That or he's basically the laziest guy around...
Another CP mystery...
cayman
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cayman 1/13/2016 9:38am
1/13/2016 9:38am
Thought this would fuel a few bold bench racing theories that could be interesting, but the topic is slowly fading away...
Anybody wants to put his own two cents?
Wink
jabberwalkee 1/13/2016 9:45am
1/13/2016 9:45am
I think that losing the two titles the way he did had more of an effect on him that people realize. You are right that he wasn't the same guy when he took some time off but he wasn't fading in his gp year and that has been more of an issue in his more recent comebacks where he has looked scared on the track. I will say that he looked very good at times outdoors last season (as opposed to 2014 where I always thought he looked like he was scared to push). I expect him to get better and more comfortable. I don't like that he is the one with the biggest uphill battle and yet he still refuses to try and partner up with a good trainer or legitimate riding partners like everyone else does.
cayman
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cayman 1/13/2016 10:21am
1/13/2016 10:21am
You're right about GPs. I wouldn't say he wasn't fading at all, but it got worse in the US.
Regarding on your last point, he often seemed weak and I wonder if his condition really allows him to train that much...
I have the feeling he can't, wants to keep secret about it and just goes by on sheer talent.
cayman
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cayman 1/16/2016 2:13pm
1/16/2016 2:13pm
He's fast, will he last?
I'd like to see him get a good start to get an idea what race rhythm he can hold.
Fat Fingers
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Fat Fingers 1/16/2016 3:15pm
1/16/2016 3:15pm
I'm on the CP bandwagon and have been for years. Probably the most talented rider out there, he just needs things to click and he can win races.
RandyS
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RandyS 1/16/2016 3:38pm
1/16/2016 3:38pm
He cut the track right? Fastest in 1st practice, where did that come from?
Celine
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Celine 1/16/2016 3:40pm
1/16/2016 3:40pm
Reefer Sutherland wrote:
I think Pourcel is one of the top 3 fastest guys on the track. But I think if he gets an 18th place start, he just...
I think Pourcel is one of the top 3 fastest guys on the track. But I think if he gets an 18th place start, he just says "fuck it".
Right. He's not going to ride the edge. He's even stated that in the past.

Look, Pourcel's won two 250 Supercross titles. So he knows how to ride supercross. It's not going to surprise anyone if he ends up standing on the box at some point during the 17 race series.
jabberwalkee 1/16/2016 4:21pm
1/16/2016 4:21pm
RandyS wrote:
He cut the track right? Fastest in 1st practice, where did that come from?
It came from his ability to ride a dirt bike faster than everyone else.
cayman
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cayman 1/16/2016 7:42pm
1/16/2016 7:42pm
cayman wrote:
He's fast, will he last?
I'd like to see him get a good start to get an idea what race rhythm he can hold.
Guess I got an answer with the first heat... It's getting more difficult in race conditions.

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