When the 2017 FIM X-Trial World Championship takes place in Marseille, France later today it will be the first time in the long history of the event being part of the series that it has not included a home rider. Ever since the city hosted a World status competition back in 1993 the home nation has been able to field at least one rider.
In fact, the initial event held almost a quarter of a century ago was won by a Frenchman, the winner being a certain Bruno Camozzi – Scorpa on an historic evening that also included no less than three other home riders – those being Thierry Michaud – Montesa, Gilles Ciamin – Montesa and Sebastian Albero – Montesa.
Since the early nineties France’s other winning representatives in Marseille have been limited to Jean Luc Nictou – Beta who won in 1996 and Christophe Camozzi – Beta who was also victorious the following year.
Following those initial glory years, the home nation riders have also included Gregory Eyries, Frederic Bochet, Jerome Bethune, Loris Gubian, Alexandre Ferrer and Steven Coquelin. Ferrer was the last of these home warriors to fight it out on the stage in Marseille twelve months ago when he secured a respectable sixth place in front of his French fans. Tonight the French audience will have to adopt one of the eight foreign riders to be their own, with competitors from Spain, Japan, Great Britain and Germany waiting to do battle.
FIM Communications