BIG NEWS! FRENCH DIVISION: POURCEL WILL JOIN POURCEL AT PRO CIRCUIT KAWASAKI

Team CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit has signed the Pourcel brothers for their assault on the 2012 FIM MX1 Motocross World Championship. The Pourcel family is back to Kawasaki.

Even though he has not discounted a return at some time during his career to racing in the USA,Christophe has chosen to contest the FIM 450 World Championship with Kawasaki CLS Team for next season. Christophe will be joined by his brother Sebastien who has now recovered from a pre-season back injury.

Christophe Pourcel said, “Next season I want to race in the World Championship with team CLS, then I will have time to go back one day in the US to try to win in 450 class. I’m also happy to be closer to my family. When I came back to Europe it took us a few weeks before we started winning races, but right from the beginning we were convinced that we could do it. I’ve always had a great feeling with Kawasaki, and I know that with the technical support of Kawasaki Factory and Pro Circuit I will have the best material available in the 2012 Kawasaki KX450F. My goal is to do my best and fight with the top European riders.”

Sebastien Pourcel.

Sebastien Pourcel said, “Next year we’ll have a strong team, and my goal will be to have fun on a bike again. My back and my shoulder are nearly okay now, and I’m working every day to get back to my best shape before I make a full-time return to riding. We have the full support of Kawasaki and Mitch Payton, and the Pro Circuit bikes have always been winners. It will also be nice to be in the team with Christophe again. For sure he will be stronger than me, and I will draw on this experience to be competitive at the highest level and get back on the podium.

Steve Guttridge of Kawasaki Europe said, “It’s great to have Christophe back racing in Europe and on a Kawasaki! He has grown up with our brand and enjoyed so much success with us over the years. When he won the MX2 World title in 2006 we helped secure the deal that he transferred directly into the Pro Circuit Kawasaki team on his move Stateside. Now the roles are reversed but the mutual cooperation between all the partners remains in place and with the same winning goals. I’m sure the cooperation will prove fruitful for our 450 World Championship results next season with both Christophe and Sebastien working back alongside one another on the all-new KX450F and within the CLS team environment.”

Christophe (377) raced a few GP’s at the end of the 2011 season and won motos.

Pro Circuit’s Mitch Payton said: “I always had a strong relationship with Christophe, and I think that he can beat Antonio Cairoli and win the 450 World Championship; he is the best guy we could have on our bike! When he came back to Europe he needed some time to adapt as he wasn’t comfortable with the settings to ride the tracks over here; you know, you can send the parts from the USA but there’s still the need to adjust them for the circumstances you face and the team has learned fast. We didn’t make it happen the first week, but now he’s got more comfortable with the team and with the bike, he’s back on his program, winning races. And the way he works he is very confident; when he has success, he has a very strong mind. I hope that he can achieve his goal here, that will show to Kawasaki that he is a loyal person that they should keep on the brand! I hope that with Monster Energy and Kawasaki support we can have him back with us in the USA, if that’s the program Christophe wishes.”