Mission impossible?
By TMX Archives on 12th Oct 05
Sebastien Tortelli is the last guy ever to beat Stefan Everts for a title in a season when the record champ did not get injured. Sebastien Tortelli is the last guy ever to beat Stefan Everts for a title in a season when the record champ did not get injured. At the age of 27 - after seven years on the US circuit - he returns to the GPs as one half of KTM's twin French spearhead assault on Stefan's MX1 domain.Sebastien's orange debut was a baptism of fire at the Nations but, riding the 250F in MX2 for his country rather than the 450F he will race next year, he was the fastest guy on the track in class and is already favourite to push Everts to the wire next year.But Sebastien also makes no secret of the fact that he still has an account to settle Stateside!"I haven't given up on America but after all of the injuries I need to rebuild my confidence and go back at it in 2007. I want to be fully prepared when I go back for my second chance."I got offers in the States but I'm coming back to Europe because the seven years in the USA haven't gone the way I wanted them to. Seven years, seven injuries and I feel like it was time for me to regain some confidence."I want to ride supercross again in 2007 but I wanted to switch to 125cc outdoor if I stayed in the US next year. It was either that or come back to race the GPs. I want a title to evolve again, get some confidence and be battling at the front."I didn't commit myself to either option until I looked at all of the offers and I wanted to make sure I ended up in a good team. I've been used to racing in a factory team for a long time now and if I went to a private team I needed to be sure it was what I wanted. I did have one factory ride for 125 in the States but I didn't like it so it was just a question of what was possible."I had an open mind about coming back to Europe but on one condition - I wanted the second year going back to US. That was my only condition and KTM were the ones who could offer me that in Europe. I had a good feeling when I talked with Kurt. I could see not only my goals but also theirs and it was clear that they were just as committed as I to winning here in Europe and then 2007 in the States. They want it just as much as I do and that makes me really excited to be riding for KTM Red Bull in the GPs."I've only been riding the 250F so far but I have already got a big impression of KTM. I didn't ride a 450 yet so I don't know anything about the bike I will be riding next year but I got a super-nice impression of the 250F."Suzuki let me go straight after the final National. KTM are really committed on both sides of the Atlantic to help me out to make it happen and I rode five or six days with the KTM team in the US before I came over here for the Nations."I got here on Tuesday, so I got two days of testing here too. I didn't really get to see the whole team yet and there is no decision yet on who will be my race mechanic and all of the regular mechanics were busy so chief mechanic Matte Falt went testing with me and is with me here at the Nations. I didn't meet my team manager Tobbe Gustafsson until I got here but Claudio - the WP guy - and Stefan - the engine guy - both came testing with me and Matte too."I got a great impression of all of them - they were very committed to the testing with many solutions which was a great help to me because it was my first time in Europe on a KTM so there were a lot of question marks and they came prepared for that. It really is a sign that they are both motivated and capable of great things and I know that KTM Austria are committed to their new bike and are willing to do a lot of things to make it happen."I'm looking forward to racing the new 450 in the GPs but I will carry on riding the 250F until Bercy as I rebuild from my injury."It is significant that Sebastien is clearly focused primarily on success in the Nationals when he looks ahead to 2007."I'm a better rider outdoors but I have come on a lot in SX too. I have to admit that it took some time to get used to supercross but today I feel comfortable. This year I was battling for fifth place in SX but I got a few dnfs where I stalled and couldn't restart the bike but that's the way racing is."I didn't specially get hurt in supercross either, I got hurt outdoor mostly. Maybe I was pushing too much to make it happen - I didn't let things come to me, I went after them and paid the price."It's just that those top three guys in supercross are exceptional - in SX they are simply better, it's as simple as that - and I'm not at the level in supercross to think I can beat RC, Reed or Bubba there. My strength is outdoors but I have to be prepared. I want to rebuild my confidence here and go back for the outdoor. That is the main goal - not only for me but also for KTM."But first comes the battle for world glory in MX1 next summer and the Everts-Tortelli confrontation is one which even the nine-time champ is eagerly awaiting. When KTM announced Sebastien's signature, Stefan reacted enthusiastically. "Great. I have waited a long time to get revenge for 1998."Sebastien grins when this is mentioned. "Well I want revenge for 1997!"As the last man to beat Stefan over a season, what is the secret? "I don't really know. Stefan has been champion nine times and is a strong guy. I'll just race the best I can every week - that's what matters - and I hope, just like in 1998, that will be enough!"Words and photos by Alex Hodgkinson