After his podium last weekend in Genoa, Valentin Guillod got another top result in Lille, home of the famous ‘Paris Bercy’ Supercross, the main European event. The line up was stronger than in Italy, but Valentin scored a fourth overall and was the best European riders during both nights.
The track was wider and more technical, his rivals had more Supercross experience, but Valentin who made new improvements during the two nights of the French event to get great results. On Saturday he qualified straight for the main event with a fourth position in his heat race; he got a good start in the main and scored a fourth position behind three American Supercross riders, Peick, Webb and Pourcel. The regular riders of the French SX Tour were all behind Valentin, who confirmed on Sunday his potential in front of 20000 spectators. Due to a crash at the start of his heat race he qualified in the last chance, and was on the second row on the grid but took and amazing start as he came third after the first lap! Several American riders including Stewart and Peick passed him, but crashed later while Valentin didn’t do any mistakes! Seven at mid race he keeps a good rhythm during the 18 laps of the race, and scored another fourth position. Best Euro rider this weekend he missed the podium (he scored eight points, compared to Webb who had only seven) but confirmed how fast he is with the 450 Yamaha. Next and last race of the season for Valentin on December 4 and 5 in Geneva.
Valentin Guillod; “It was cool and I’m very happy as the result is better than what I could expect before coming; with such a strong line up, my goal was to finish between fifth and tenth. On Saturday I didn’t crash, but on Sunday I crashed twice, one time in the whoops during the practice and later when I hit the rear wheel of Stewart at the start of the heat race. I was on the second row at the start of the main event, but I got a great start to score another fourth position. Fourth overall and best European rider, that’s great! I’m happy with my bike, it’s a stock Yamaha with Supercross suspension settings and that’s OK; I got more racing experience with the 450 at each race, that’s important for next season. I’ve now one more race in Geneva, my goal there will be the same as in Genoa or Paris: to finish between fifth and tenth, then we’ll see during the races if it’s possible to do better.”