Claiming a podium result at the Supercross of Paris Bercy, Gregory Aranda (Kawasaki Bud Racing) ended his season with high expectations for the future after a series of strong results.

Biggest European Supercross event since a while, Paris Bercy has been successful for Gregory Aranda, who came in the French capital for a three night’s program, alongside famous riders such as Americans Stewart, Brayton, Hill or countrymen Musquin and Renet, both reigning World Champions. Winner a few weeks ago in Marseille and runner-up in Bilbao, two rounds of the European series, Gregory also won this summer the French SX round of La Tremblade, confirming his ability on a Supercross track.

Organized in one of the main stadium of Paris, Bercy always offered to the riders a compact and technical track. The quality of the show and the atmosphere of the event, thanks to the 40000 excited fans who celebrate each year their heroes, made this race unique in the world and is for the French riders a special one. “Since the first edition of this race twenty five years ago, the Frenchies always dream to race here, as their heroes did in the past. When you’re a kid riding a 85cc you come here each year to cheer them, and later when you are on the track taking part to the races it’s always different than any other event. The fans gave us a strong support, and when you reach a podium it’s like a dream” explained Greg who is a regular contender of Bercy. The schedule of the event was different than usual, with three different races per night: the Superpole (one timed practice lap for each rider, alone on the track), an American race (all the riders start for a five laps race, and the first nine of them qualified; then they start for four laps, to qualify only four riders who enter a three laps race) and a traditional fifteen laps main event. Always fast this year in the timed practice periods, Gregory got strong results in the Superpole with a third, a second and a fourth position. The American race was tougher for him as he never entered the last part of the competition with a seventh, an eighth and another seventh ranking, but then he got strong results in the main event races. Fourth on Friday, third on Saturday and second on Sunday, Greg was happy to end his season with an overall third position behind American’s Justin Brayton and James Stewart. “We did a lot of testing and training with my new team to prepare Bercy, and I would like to thanks all the Bud racing people for their great support. Marseille and Bllbao were two great opportunities to prepare Bercy which is completely different with a long program. On Sunday I felt pretty tired, and I gave my best during the last race; both Brayton and Musquin did a mistake, the whoops section was harder than ever but I managed to keep a good rhythm and secure another podium. I just started working with Jacky Vimond since a month, and this podium in Bercy is the best way to enter a new chapel of my career; I want to built a strong physical condition for next season, now I will take some rest and have a surgery to my left arm early in December” ended Greg who did in Paris his last race of the year. Alongside his new teammate Nicolas Aubin he will move with Jacky Vimond to California just after Christmas, and could race some of the first US Supercross rounds to prepare his second season in the MX1 World Championship.

Winner in 1998 aboard a 125 Kawasaki, American Nick Wey was back in Paris and finished seventh of this 27th edition of Bercy, an event that Kawasaki won several times in the past with Christophe Pourcel (2006), Jeff Emig (1997), Ryan Hughes (1996) and legendary Jeff Ward (1988).

Overall classification 1st night: 1.Stewart (USA, Yamaha); 2.Brayton (USA, Yamaha); 3.Aranda (FRA, Kawasaki Bud); 4.Izoird (FRA, Suzuki); 5.Hill (USA, Yamaha); 6.Boni (USA, Honda); 7.Musquin (FRA, KTM); 8.Wey (USA, Kawasaki); 9.Boniface (FRA, Honda); 10.Coisy (FRA, Honda); etc….

Overall classification 2nd night: 1.Stewart; 2.Brayton; 3.Musquin; 4.Aranda; 5.Izoird; 6.Wey; 7.Boni; 8.Hill; 9.Degli Espoti (ITA, Suzuki); 10.Coisy; etc…

Overall classification 3rd night: 1.Musquin; 2.Hill; 3.Brayton; 4.Aranda; 5.Izoird; 6.Stewart; 7.Wey; 8.Demartis (FRA, Honda); 9.Thomas (USA, Suzuki); 10.Soubeyras (FRA, Honda); etc…

King of Bercy 2009 classification: 1.Brayton; 2.Stewart; 3.Aranda; 4.Musquin; 5.Izoird; 6.Hill; 7.Wey; 8.Boni; 9.Martin; 10.Degli Espoti; etc….