They’ve been waiting for this for two years. Two years since they had come to the kangaroo field in Torcé-en-Vallée. The 150 motocross and sidecar cross riders of course, but also the spectators, who came in large numbers for the great return of this Ascension tradition and to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the event. More than 6,000 people gathered this Thursday to attend the various motorcycle and sidecar races. A pride for the presidentChristian Letessier: “I have been president since 1998 and I have never seen so many people.”
The sidecar, an institution
A unmissable meeting for fans of motor sports especially on the circuit, there was spectacle. The highlight of the day was the French sidecar cross championship with two crews that concentrated the lenses of the cameras: Daniel Willemsen, ten-time world champion in the discipline and Nicolas Musset, world champion in 2019 and 2021.
– Julien Provoyeur
Among the spectators, we don’t just come for the great champions. We also come because the sidecar in Torcé-en-Vallée is a family affair, as for Corentin: “My grandfather and my father by doing before in the past. My father was three times vice-champion of France and made great prices for years with his brother. I then took over but I stopped for my studies so here I come to support my cousins who are riding today.”
Spectators who were present but also volunteers enthused the president: “For two years, we lost our habits and a little energy, but we found almost all of our volunteers, 220 volunteers and 70 partners.”
At the end of this successful day, President Christian Letessier has a smile of course and think bigger : “Today our goal, we dream of a world in Torcé. I will continue to negotiate with the promoter. I am part of a working group with the French Motorcycle Federation. If they do not want to hear us , we will do something in parallel.”