Christophe Pourcel

Christophe Pourcel (born 16 August 1988), is a French former professional motocross and supercross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships and in the AMA Motocross Championships from 2004 to 2016 and then raced his final season in the 2017 CMA Canadian motocross national championship.

Known for his smooth riding style and intelligent racing tactics, Pourcel is notable for winning the 2006 FIM MX2 world championship and, for narrowly losing two consecutive AMA 250cc motocross national championships after suffering misfortune in the final rounds. Despite his smooth riding style, his motocross career was marred by numerous injuries which limited his success. He made his world championship motocross debut at the age of 16 riding a Kawasaki at the 2004 MX2 French Grand Prix. Pourcel finished the season ranked fifth in the world championship overall results. He made an impressive return from his injuries by winning his first race back at the season opening round of the 2009 AMA Supercross East championship. He then won the 2009 Las Vegas East/West Supercross Lites Shootout that featured the top competitors in the Supercross East and Supercross West championships including the western champion Ryan Dungey.

Pourcel then engaged in a season-long battle with Dungey for the 250cc AMA Motocross National Championship. The two competitors exchanged victories back and forth throughout the season with Pourcel holding the championship lead going into the final three motos of the year.

In 2010, Pourcel successfully defended his AMA Supercross East championship. With Dungey moving up to the 450cc class, Pourcel was able to build a nine-point lead over Trey Canard going into the final race of the 250cc AMA Motocross National Championship, and only had to secure a third place to clinch the title. In a dramatic turn of events, Pourcel suffered a crash in the final race and separated his shoulder, allowing Canard to claim the national championship.

Pourcel had planned on moving up to the 450cc class with Kawasaki for the 2011 season but, when Jake Weimer got the job instead, Pourcel was signed by the MotoConcepts Yamaha team managed by former racer David Vuillemin. After a troublesome two-race stint in which Pourcel was not comfortable with his machinery, he failed to appear at the Budds Creek round and was released by the team for failing to meet his contractual obligations. With no options available in the American racing series, Pourcel returned to Europe to compete in the MX1 Motocross World Championship. He joined his brother Sébastien in the Team CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit team competing in the MX1 world championship. In the 2012 MX1 World Championship, Pourcel won two Grand Prix races along with five 2nd place results to improve to fourth in the final championship standings.

Second stint in America Pourcel decided not to race in 2013 and took a year off before returning to America to compete in the 2014 250cc AMA Motocross National Championship with the Valli Yamaha team, winning one race and finishing sixth in the championship final standings. He then signed a contract to race for the Rockstar Husqvarna team in the 450cc national championship, replacing the injured Martin Davalos.

In the 2016 season, Pourcel sustained a non-displaced fracture in his neck at the ninth round of the championship which forced him to miss the remainder of the season. Because Pourcel was no longer comfortable racing supercross, the Husqvarna team decided to enter him in the Canadian Motocross National Championship in 2017 where, finished second in points to Matt Goerke. Pourcel announced his retirement after the 2017 season at the age of 29.

Career Results