2010 Bercy Supercross
Taking two of the three main events in the International Open class of the 28th annual Bercy Supercross was just enough for GEICO Powersports Honda rider Justin Barcia to earn the coveted title “King of Bercy.”
Barcia won Friday’s Bercy Supercrossopener and Sunday’s finale at Palais Omnisports in downtown Paris, which together with a fifth-place finish Saturday earned him the overall crown by one point over fellow American Kyle Chisholm.
Justin Barcia (Geico Honda) says: “We came here to have fun and fun turned into winning. To leave here as King of Bercy is unreal. I remember when Jeremy McGrath and Jeff Emig won this deal. James Stewart won it before, so did Chad Reed and my team manager Mike Larocco. It’s awesome to have my name alongside those guys in the record books.”
Unlike Friday’s Bercy Supercross victory when he led from start to finish, Barcia had to work a little harder Sunday.
Following an unpopular tangle with a French rider in an earlier heat that put him back in the pack, Barcia had the eighth gate pick in the main event, a marked disadvantage compared to the other top contenders.
But when the gate dropped he powered to the front and took the first turn by a wheel. From there he simply rode a strong and error-free Bercy Supercross race, maintaining a two-second gap on Chisholm for all 15 circuits.
Justin Barcia (Geico Honda) says: “All weekend long the starts were the difference. Guys were coming at me hard today and were trying to take me out in the earlier races and one of them got me. I just had to keep my cool and focus on having the best start I could in the main event. It worked out perfectly.”
“The fans here have been great and all the race organizers and friends we’ve made have been really special. I definitely want to come back next year and defend our King of Bercy title. Thank you to France!”
Barcia’s Bercy Supercross teammate on the GEICO Powersports Honda team, Texan Blake Wharton, finished in eighth place for the second night in a row, despite riding a smaller 250cc machine all weekend; he was the second-best 250cc rider at 2010 Bercy Supercross.
Blake Wharton says: “This has been a good experience all the way around. We knew it would be a challenge competing on a Lites bike and it was, but this is what I’ll be riding in 2011 and I went for the experience rather than the win.”
“I feel like I’m already ahead of the other riders back home because this was every bit as hard as a regular Supercross event. Now I know what I need to work on before the season starts.”
“I’d really like to come back and ride a 450cc bike next year and go for the trophy. Now that I know the style of riding and what to expect I think I could really have some fun.”
The AMA Supercross season starts Jan. 8 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
