Since its first edition in March 1984, the Paris Supercross has always been a source of inspiration for French riders who discovered, then became passionate about this discipline that came straight from the United States.

And it is no coincidence that many French players first revealed themselves in the capital, before succeeding in a great career across the Atlantic! On November 15 and 16, Paris will blow out its 42 candles in the superb ultra-modern stadium of the Paris la Défense Arena.

When American pilots landed in Paris 42 years ago, they both created a new show in France and provoked vocations. It took a few years before the French riders were able to compete with the specialists in the discipline, but since then it is no coincidence that the French have won more titles in the USA than any other country, Americans out of the game of course!

When Supercross arrived in Paris on March 14 and 15, 1984, the European riders took a slap in the face and didn't necessarily immediately understand what was happening to them, they who only knew the motocross terrain. Jean Luc Fouchet, France motocross champion in 1984, was one of the first to be passionate about SX.

"The first time we rode with the Americans, we were convinced that they were using special bikes, with gearboxes different from ours," recalls Jean Luc, who developed a passion for Supercross, to the point of creating the France championship for the specialty.

The first edition was kicked off in Reygades in Corrèze in 1987, and the winners were none other than Christian and Jean Michel Bayle, the latter being the first French rider to climb on the podium of the SX in Paris a few months later!

Thirty-eight years later, the France championship is still there, allowing young people to get used to a discipline that no longer holds any secrets for them, and Paris is still one of the stages of this France championship by hosting the SX2 category as a curtain raiser for each evening. And on Saturday and Sunday, the best elements of this race will be invited to participate in the International event.

If the Americans have won no less than 27 editions of the Paris Supercross and regularly dominate their US championship, the French have always been their most serious rivals, whether in Paris where they have 10 victories or in the United States where they have won no less than nine Supercross titles!

Jean Michel Bayle was the first non-American rider to win in Paris in 1990 before clinching the US title the following year, and the last was none other than Tom Vialle who won this summer in SX250 on the East Coast. Both of them, like Mickael Pichon, Stéphane Roncada, Christophe Pourcel, Marvin Musquin and Dylan Ferrandis made their debut in the France championship and the Paris Supercross, before going to challenge the Americans and beat them on their home soil!

Vialle is back now and ready to try and make that 250 overall from last year, 450 overall in 2025. It won’t be easy though, as defending Paris King, Cooper Webb and those tough Aussie brothers, Hunter and Jett Lawrence will be favoured to top the young Frenchman.

Pascal Haudiquert story