MX Legends Johnny O’Mara, David Bailey, Rick Johnson, Jeff Ward, Jean-Michel Bayle, Jeff Stanton, Jeremy McGrath, Mike LaRocco, David Vuillemin, to name a few, have mastered Bercy’s tricky track, that includes a fast supermoto-like section in the stadium’s corridors…

The GOAT at Bercy ! One (big) name has been missing in the list : Ricky Carmichael.

The Greatest Rider Of All Times did come to Bercy, early in his big-bike career, but he had a disappointing week-end, which ended prematurely when a gearbox malfunction sent him over the bars in Day Two’s practise and left him with a broken collarbone.

RC still has a plate in his shoulder to remind him about the incident but, when contacted by the promoters, he jumped on the occasion to add the King of Bercy title to his extra-long list of achievements…

“Bercy is a fun Event, the fans there are incredible, during my championship years, I had made a decision to focus only on the US races but now that my career is coming to an end, I want to go and have fun !.. But, of course, I want to win too”, said Carmichael.

Bercy is the last race on RC’s current schedule and that, in itself, will make the 25th edition “One for the Ages” ! Big bikes, big names… For the occasion, the Paris SX has adopted an Open format, invited riders may choose to race the size bike they want (the past five editions were ran in Lites class only).

That will give Grant Langston, the new AMA MX 2007 champion, a chance to challenge the GOAT again, after finishing second to Carmichael at the recent X-Games. The “Zulu Warrior” loves Bercy (he was crowned King, twice, on smaller bikes) and, as always, the hard-charging South African won’t give an inch to his competition (see his interview at http://www.motoverte.com)

Himself twice King of Bercy, Andrew Short is another rider who has great hopes to win in Paris. After battling with Langston for the AMA MX title, finishing third in the prestigious series, the Factory Honda rider has shown his true potential on big bikes too.

Sebastien Pourcel, the most successful French rider this season (he finished 4th, for his first MX1 season, with two GP wins), will represent the host Nation with hopes to do as good as his unfortunate young brother Christophe, who got seriously injured in Ireland last month.

How good did Christophe Pourcel last year ? He became the youngest-ever King of Bercy ! Sebastien will follow the same program as his brother : training and getting the right bike set-up for SX in California between the MXDN and Bercy...

Carmichael, Langston and Pourcel will be the leaders for Team USA, Team “Rest of the World” and “Team France”, respectively. Bercy invites four riders for each team, to ensure the racing mixes talent from all around the world : besides Langston, for Rest of the World, the Equatorian Martin Davalos is “in”, two other representing Europe and a fourth continent (to be announced soon) will bring a truly international and exotic touch to the event…

Besides RC and Short, Josh Grant will be back to represent the USA, after a strong but crash-filled showing last year. France’s team will consist of the MXDN Team : Pourcel, Nicolas Aubin and Pierre-Alexandre Renet, the fourth man being Eric Sorby, one of the top privateers to compete in the AMA SX class. Currently hurt, David Vuillemin, the winningest rider in Bercy history, is scheduled to be back on a bike –his new Factory Suzuki ride- for mid-october.

Depending on how he feels, him and Team Manager Roger DeCoster will decide if the ultra-popular “DV12” will indeed be able to race this 25th edition. The fourth rider for Team USA will be announced after the US Open.

The fourth Team will present the four best racers from the popular French SX Tour championships, which will race one championship heat each night.

Riders like Benjamin Coisy, Marvin Musquin, Jeremy Tarroux, Kounsith Vongsana and new European Champion Gauthier Paulin, to name a few, want to use this race to transfer into the Open class, to complete the 16-man gate. Unique race format Those 16 riders will pionneer Bercy’s new, unique and exciting race format.

Riders will add-up points from three finishes :

- Heat 1 : 12 laps, 16 riders score from 1 point (winner) to 16 points (last);

- Tournament : riders are split in two groups of 8 for two, 3-lap eight-finals, last four riders are eliminated and score 4; the remaining two groups of 4 riders each race a 3-lap quarter-final, last two riders are eliminated and score 3 points; the remaining four riders race a 3-lap semi final, last two are eliminated and score 2 points; the two finalists race 3 laps, man on man, the looser scoring 1 point and the winner of the tournament, 0 point.

- Final Heat : 15 laps, scoring is same as Heat 1.

The rider scoring the lowest total will be declared the winner each night…

And the rider scoring the lowest total for the week-end will be crowned King of Bercy !

This new format’s goal is to keep the best riders on the track more for the fans and to challenge their skills in every dimension of SX racing, from pure speed to endurance to race strategy : the future King of Bercy will have to be fast, and versatile !

Bercy’s magic mix After a successfull introduction last year, the 85cc class will be back in Bercy, only stronger. 2007 World Champion and German-sensation Ken Roczen will challenge the ’06 Prince of Bercy, Great Britain’s pride Max Anstie, and the ’07 European Champion, France’s Jason Clermont, along with seven other young French hopes, lead by Jordi Tixier.

Freestyle is an important factor in Bercy’s magic mix and it will sure rock as Paris’ own FMX legend Manu Troux will make his last appearance after numerous classic performances in this stadium. Manu will be joined by his pupils, Tom and Charly Pagès, Japan’s high flyer Eigo Sato and Switzerland’s star, Matt Rebeaud, for three burning sessions each night.

Of course, this extraordinary edition will also feature Bercy’s usual spectacular opening show, the famous (and sexy) DARK DOG pom-pom girls and loud rock music… Saturday night is sold out but Euro fans who would not want to miss Bercy’s show need to hurry and buy tickets at www.ticketnet.net !

PRESS CREDENTIALS : Pascal Haudiquert, phaudiquert@attglobal.net