Cycle News Staff | November 30, 2021
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing star Marvin Musquin swept the Paris Supercross held at the La Defense Arena and was crowned “King of Paris” for the third time.
The Paris Supercross returned with a one-night affair with three main events. Photo: Stephan Legrande
The Paris Supercross returned during the off-season schedule, and a host of heavy hitters made the trek to compete in France for the Parisian Supercross crown. After six main events, having three-moto formats for the SX1 and SX2 classes, it was Marvin Musquin and Kyle Peters earning the respective King and Prince of Paris crowns.
The Paris promoters pulled out all the stops this year as the race was headlined by fan-favorites, including Chad Reed, Antonio Cairoli and Romain Febvre. A handful of other American notables lined up as well, including overseas veteran Justin Brayton, Justin Bogle, Alex Martin, Josh Hill and Ryan Sipes. The SX2 class featured newly crowned MX2 World Champion Maxime Renaux, along with AMA Arenacross Champion Kyle Peters and AMA privateer Kevin Moranz.
Marvin Musquin and fellow Frenchman Cedric Soubeyras celebrate their 1-2 overall finish in front of the happy crowd. Photo: Stephan Legrande
This year’s course featured a fast layout, and interestingly, did not include a whoop section. Racing was close which pleased the sold-out crowd inside Paris la Defense Arena.
Musquin put on a clinic in front of his home fans, leading every lap of in all three main events. Musquin went undefeated on the night with 1-1-1 main event finishes.
“King of Paris 2021; that was obviously the goal,” Musquin said, “and I came here well prepared as we are getting closer to the new Supercross season in January. This event is always a good training for me, although it was different this year as the track had no whoops. It was fun anyway and the soil was choppy, it was still challenging. I wanted to get holeshots, be at the front and keep pushing to the end.
“I’m happy,” he added. “It was a one-day format this time, but I enjoyed it and went 1-2 with my buddy Cedric Soubeyras: two Frenchies! That was pretty amazing.”
The other French veteran, Cedric Souberas, held his own and logged 3-2-2 finishes for second overall. The Paris fans voiced their approval of the 1-2 French finishers.
Justin Brayton was the top American finisher in third overall.
There was another popular French racer on the start line, but unfortunately, Romain Febvre suffered a horrific get-off in race two. The Kawasaki rider ejected from his bike over the triple jump and sustained a broken leg.
Brayton, aboard the Smartop/Bullfrog Spas/Motoconcepts Honda, rounded out the SX1 podium, going 2-3-4 on the night. He ran in third for the duration of race three, but an aggressive last-lap block pass by Cairoli put the American on the ground.
Musquin (25), Romain Febvre (3), Brayton (10), Chad Reed (22) and Antonio Cairoli (22) fight for the holeshot. Photo: P. Haudiquert
Cairoli barely nabbed the final podium spot in race three but finished seventh on the night. “It was a nice event,” Cairoli said. “I wasn’t really that well prepared for supercross with MXGP finishing so late and didn’t have the best rhythm in the first sessions but found more flow in main events and reached the top three by the end. It was nice way to end the season with this experience.”
Bogle, who made his racing debut on the Twisted Tea/H.E.P. Motorsports Suzuki, and Reed, riding a Mountain Motorsports-backed KTM, both clocked consistent rides to take home fourth and fifth overall.
Cairoli (222) ended his racing season at the Paris Supercross and Reed (22) made his return, if only for one night. Photo: P. Haudiquert
Kyle Peters won all three 250cc main events. Photo: Stephan Legrande
The SX2 division belonged solely to Kyle Peters (FR25 Honda), as he, too, made a clean sweep of the three main events. The Honda rider’s 1-1-1 scores allowed him to take home the Prince of Paris title, ahead of Renaux’s 5-2-2 and Moranz’s 2-5-3. CN
2021 Paris Supercross Overall Results
- Marvin Musquin (KTM) 1-1-1
- Cedric Soubeyras (Hus) 3-2-2
- Justin Brayton (Hon) 2-3-4
- Justin Bogle (Suz) 4-4-5
- Chad Reed (KTM) 6-5-7
- Maxime Desprey (Yam) 9-7-9
- Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 17-6-3
- Thomas Ramette (Yam) 12-11-6
- Gregory Aranda (KTM) 7-8-15
- Dylan Wright (Hon) 8-15-8
