X Games 15 features the return of the most exciting racing on two wheels as the world’s top motorcycle racers will vie for Supermoto Gold. Although race promoter Gavin Trippe gets credit for creating the concept of a hybrid roadracing/motocross competition for the original "Superbikers" race for ABC’s Wide World Of Sports more than 30 years ago, it is the French who have really embraced the concept and have made the sport of "Supermotard" their own in recent years. In fact, 2007-2008 Supermoto World Champion Adrien Chareyre has just confirmed he will be coming from France to compete on the track at the Home Depot Center.
Supporting the super fast Supermotard racer will be a local dealer as San Diego’s GP Motorcycles will be race-prepping Chareyre’s Husqvarna SM450 motorcycle. As San Diego’s only all-European motorcycle dealership and an authorized Husky dealer, GP Motorcycles was a natural to play host to the champ. Adding to the international flavor of this team is a French rider on an Italian-made motorcycle (the brand actually originated in Sweden) fueled by GP Motorcycles’ owner Paul Lima’s passion for the classic style and character of historic European motorcycle marques.
As he says, "the intent for opening the dealership was to fill a cultural void and create a cool place to hang out, eat, sleep, and breathe European motorcycles. Chareyre should feel right at home with his X Games team!" The fact that his team will be competing just up the road from Lima’s home turf makes his commitment even deeper.
Nicknamed "Le Chat" the likable Chareyre has been racing motorcycles since he was 4 years old, competing in the European and French National Motocross Championships until he was 15. He then switched to the Supermoto discipline back in 2001, starting on a little 50cc minibike and working his way up through bigger bikes to ultimately become the World Champion.
Check out www.adrienchareyre.com for the latest photos and video clips from recent competition. Adrien comes into the X Games having just won both legs of the World Supermoto Championships at the historic Mallory Park in the U.K. Leading the series with a perfect 100 point total he is one the American heroes – former X Games Gold medalist Jeff Ward and Supercross phenom James Stewart – will have to look out for at the Home Depot Center.
The X Games makes a seventh appearance in Los Angeles July 30-August 2 with events staged at the STAPLES Center, the Home Depot Center, and the Event Deck at LA Live. Events on tap this year are BMX Street, Moto X Best Whip, Women’s Moto X Racing, Moto X Speed & Style, and BMX and Skateboard SuperPark. To purchase X Games 15 tickets (Click). Ticket are $10 – $20. Thursday, July 30 is Kids Day with FREE admission to all the practice sessions at the Home Depot Center.
