Motocross: Christophe Pourcel To Ride US Motocross For Valli Yamaha

Shan Moore | May 7, 2014

With the 2014 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Season just a few weeks away, a few of the teams are still lining up riders. Today, Yamaha Motor Corporation announced that Valli Motorsports will be contesting the outdoor series with 2006 FIM MX2 champion Christophe Pourcel at the helm.

Pourcel, who had a short stint with MotoConcepts Yamaha in 2011, is no stranger to comebacks and won the 2009 250 East Supercross Championship for Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki after making a return from a devastating back injury. Pourcel won the title again in 2010; however, his best finish in the outdoor series is second in the 250 class in 2009.

“When I came to America I had one goal and that was to win the AMA 250 Motocross National title,” said Pourcel. “I came so close, but never realized my goal. That fire still burns, and the minute I had the opportunity to make another run at the title.”

Along with Poucel, Valli Motorsports also picked up Erik Kehoe, who will serve as team manager.

“Some of my best years as a team manager were with Yamaha,” said Kehoe. “They gave me my first shot at being a team manager and I remember quite fondly Ernesto Fonseca winning that first championship in his rookie year and then following it up right after with the then revolutionary YZ250F. I think we can recapture that magic with Pourcel and the 2014 YZ250F.”

Pourcel will be on the starting line on May 24th for the opening round of the Lucas Oil AMA 250 Motocross National Championship at Glen Helen.