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Edited Date/Time
1/25/2012 4:20am
against pourcel, maybe jelousy of his skills and winning ways? The americans should be happy to see such talent in there series. Pourcel is not cocky or arrogant but i believe his lack of the english language makes him out to be that way. Hes a awesome talent that is making your series that much better, give him a chance.
from Geoff mx large article:
I had to smile when reading RacerX today. David Pingree pointed out that Christophe Pourcel isn’t that complimentary about the way of life in America and how he doesn’t really like anything there. Ping also pointed out that Pourcel might be smart to change his ways. I agree being friendly to people sure helps and gives people reason to respect you.
While Pourcel is making a living in America, and is obviously a wanted commodity there, he really doesn’t need to like anything about America, if he keeps winning the pay cheques will keep coming and teams don’t care if he is liked or disliked as long as he wins. I mean, does anyone in America like Chad Reed……These guys go to America not for the love of America, more for the love of racing in front of 60,000 people inside a stadium. Still, a little respect for the yanks probably wouldn't help.
I know when I got tired of all the Southern Californian BS I made a decision never to return. That was during the wet Anaheim race in 2005 and I've only been back once, and that was for the MXoN. I travelled through America probably 20 times from my first trip in 1978 and lived there twice in the 80's, but as I got older I got tired of some things in USA. I got thinking about that the other night and you know what, America is an awesome place, one of if not the most beautiful country in the World. Maybe I should give it another chance, or myself for that matter.
Look for Pourcel to return to Europe with a bank full of money and AMA titles and then hopefully he will continue to improving and winning on the FIM series. I sure enjoyed interviewing Pourcel when he was here, and despite his (I don’t give a shit) attitude, I had to laugh at it. If somebody is honest and says what they think I am 100% okay with that.
from Geoff mx large article:
I had to smile when reading RacerX today. David Pingree pointed out that Christophe Pourcel isn’t that complimentary about the way of life in America and how he doesn’t really like anything there. Ping also pointed out that Pourcel might be smart to change his ways. I agree being friendly to people sure helps and gives people reason to respect you.
While Pourcel is making a living in America, and is obviously a wanted commodity there, he really doesn’t need to like anything about America, if he keeps winning the pay cheques will keep coming and teams don’t care if he is liked or disliked as long as he wins. I mean, does anyone in America like Chad Reed……These guys go to America not for the love of America, more for the love of racing in front of 60,000 people inside a stadium. Still, a little respect for the yanks probably wouldn't help.
I know when I got tired of all the Southern Californian BS I made a decision never to return. That was during the wet Anaheim race in 2005 and I've only been back once, and that was for the MXoN. I travelled through America probably 20 times from my first trip in 1978 and lived there twice in the 80's, but as I got older I got tired of some things in USA. I got thinking about that the other night and you know what, America is an awesome place, one of if not the most beautiful country in the World. Maybe I should give it another chance, or myself for that matter.
Look for Pourcel to return to Europe with a bank full of money and AMA titles and then hopefully he will continue to improving and winning on the FIM series. I sure enjoyed interviewing Pourcel when he was here, and despite his (I don’t give a shit) attitude, I had to laugh at it. If somebody is honest and says what they think I am 100% okay with that.
Or the Vital thread about it from several days ago.
As to being liked or disliked, sure, if you are indisputably the fastest guy you might be able to command a ride come contract time. But in tight money times, there's also the marketability of the athlete to be considered as well, particularly if you aren't a definite for winning championships. As to Chad Reed, he actually has tons of fans in the US, California motoboard denizens notwithstanding. You can hear the cheers for him in the stadium when he passes Stewart for the lead. Americans are willing to root for any foreign rider as long as he respects them and their country and rides hard and works hard. But, as Ping said (in a serious part of his writing) if a rider wants fans, he needs not to be aloof and stand-offish.
We had a lot of respect for JMB (though some behaved horribly towards him). And Pichon. And James Dobb. And Vuillemin, Tortelli, Roncada, Boniface, Thain, Lalloz and everyone else who comes here to earn a living racing on the AMA circuits.
And when our kids go over there -- Zach Osborne, Jimmy Albertson, Michael Hall -- we have a lot of respect for what they're doing too.
Geoff should not use Pingree's sarcastic comments and try to turn them into a "Come-home-they-don't-respect-you" bid, which is how I read misinformed generalizations like that.
DC
MX Sports
I think guys like Reed, Langston, Byne, Metcalf, Townley..............they all have been well accepted.
DC
MX Sports
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Mccread is still a jagoff though
I have nothing against foreign riders at all. If they bring better competition then I love it. Albertyn was one of my favorite riders of all time. He always had a smile on his face and was very nice.
By the way, as far as Americans not accepting foreign riders. Tell that to my son who has a room full of Chad Reed stuff.
The kid has traveled a long tough road to come here and prove he is the best. What is there not to like?
We are all still treated to his talent, and great racing.
Is this poor spelling, punctuation and bad attitude a common attribute of all people from Mn or would I be making a massive generalization like our new friend bonziman ?
Pit Row
Like it or not, English is "the de facto" language of the planet in "developed" countries, just like Latin or Greek once was....
I, for one, see improvement in Christophe's (aka The Kid lol) English since he "got here."
He is a World Champion, an AMA Champion, and I really enjoy watching the dude ride a dirt bike.
I only care about the racing aspects myself. Last night was a pretty awesome Lites race.
You're right Larry, what's there not to like? Fun to see someone ride with so little effort.
Andy
.
And I really mean it when I say that I love watching him ride. He's so good I actually catch myself smiling during the races. Anyway, I hope he loosens up a bit and makes an attempt to be a part of the sport here. Guys like Albee, Townley, Roncada, Vuillemin, Tortelli, etc, etc all did just that and guess what.... we love those guys.
X2
I think communication is a little bit of an issue. Would I want to do an interview in French? Not a chance. I do think that because I've spent a little time dealing with international riders in both mountain biking and motocross that I understand a little bit about how their sentences are phrased (which is definitely different in English). Occasionally that comes across a bit skewed if you're not familiar with it.
Spend a little time with him, and he's actually pretty funny, and he's definitely not afraid to speak his mind.
BTW, to Ping and everyone else, CP doesn't give respect to anyone or anything. He just does his own deal, be it in France, USA or Kazakstan.
I think he's living his dream in the US!
What Ping' and everyone else needs to understand is how difficult it is to "open up" when you barely have a clue what people are asking you.
I'm learning it the tough way at home with an autistic boy (not saying Christophe has that handicap, of course, but he has always been considered like someone that keeps a lot to himself, to begin with) : if you don't make an effort to use SIMPLE words and words combinations and speak SLOWLY with someone who's learning a language while being shy (so he won't be able to tell you "please slow down", or "can you repeat?"), this person will simply tend to ignore what you say or even to stay away from your world.
I've been listening to CP's interviewes from the beginning and I could tell that last year he had a story set in his mind, that he knew the words to tell and was comfortable with, and he would tell that story, whatever was asked to him.
This is typical from what I describe two paragraphs above this and really the best effort he seemed capable of at the time.
I can tell he is more comfortable with the language now and more willing to answer the real question.
But -and I don't want to enter the Erin Bates' bashing wagon there- if you make a serious attempt to listen to what she asks, the words and word combinations she uses and the speed of her talk on the podiums, I can guarantee that there is very little chance that someone with Christophe's current understanding of English gets a decent clue of what she means, let alone answer it accurately.
He got a little bit of the Barcia question and delivered the speech he had in mind about it, which was pretty funny.
As he understands English better and better, we'll get more of these (and it may become pretty controversial, as CP is not as good for diplomacy as he is on an MX bike) and maybe soon we'll get actual questions-answers with him on the podiums.
But, in the short term, it will take the announcers to slow down and choose their words a bit for it to happen.
Now, does this qualify for (not big enough) an "attempt to be part of the sport here", Ping' ?
Only Christophe knows, all I know is his English was ZERO when he left for America 14 months ago.
So were JMB's and Pichon's and they proved faster-learners than him, for sure, but I don't think it's relevant of a non-effort on CP's part.
This guy is'nt into communication anyway (even for the French Press), he definitely believes his riding does the talking and enjoys being surrounded by a cloud of mystery.
I don't think he used to realize this personal trait may hurt his value as a professional racer but maybe the fact he did'nt get a good offer to ride a 450 for 2010 has opened his eyes about the issue and that's why he's slowly doing better.
well it's given me more understanding anyway
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