Remember Mickael Pichon? One of the first post-JMB Frenchmen to hit American shores, he won two 125SX titles for Mitch Payton, scored a 450MX win for factory Suzuki and then departed the USA only to win two 250MXGP titles in some great battles there. I caught up to him in France to get the scoop on what he’s been up and some memories of his time here.
Racer X: How are you? Do you ride much anymore?
Congratulations. He won the world enduro championship, Zach. He tried motocross for a little bit and then enduro. How does Zach move from motocross to enduro?
I saw him at Paris SX, doing some laps on the supercross track there. So, that was fun. I don't know if you know the GNCC series over here. Is this like that, or is it like time keeping? Like real enduro where you have time keeping and you have time checks and all that?
Another world champion is on the way for Pichon.
Do you go to all these? Are you back traveling to all these races again?
You still come to America quite a bit, right? I talk to Mitch Payton quite a bit and he has told me, “Oh, Pichon was in here last week,” or whatever. And then [David] Vuillemin saw you. You still come over and visit and hang out?
I made a joke one time to Mitch Payton years ago about maybe you were difficult for him, or maybe you and your dad were difficult for him. I have to say, you’re one of his favorite riders to ever ride for him. He really, really liked you and you have a good relationship to this day. That’s awesome.
He’s a lot more mellow now. He’s way mellower than he was in your day.
I was going to ask you if you kept up with American racing and supercross and motocross, but it sounds like you do. You follow the series?
Vuillemin and [Marvin] Musquin same way. They went to Paris when they were kids. They got photos with JMB. They saw him beat American riders. It’s funny. All of you guys were so influenced by Bercy.
You come to America in ’93. You do the world championship in ’94, and then you come to America back for Mitch Payton in ’95. When you came in ’93, were you French Supercross champion at this point? Was it just you and your dad? How did ’93 go for you? You went 7, 2, 1 in three races, so not so bad.
So, he had his eyes on you this whole time?