Frenchman Christophe Pourcel’s victory in the Italian round of the FIM Motocross World Championship marked his first overall win since the 2007 season and his first ever MX1 overall victory.

Pourcel, who forms part of his family’s very own Monster Energy-backed CP377 team, gave them their first ever GP win with a victory in the first moto and second in the final outing.

“I was confident already when we arrived here in Italy,” he admitted. “We had the bike set up really well from the race last weekend in Bulgaria and I immediately felt comfortable on this track.

“My Kawasaki got me out of the gate well in both races and I won the first race after an exciting battle with Gautier Paulin. I was sitting comfortably in second place in the second moto and was optimistic that I could win that race too.

“But a rock hit me on the nose a few laps from the end, blood was streaming down my face, so I decided it was wiser to settle for second place as this would secure the overall GP win.

“We’re a young team and it’s great to win already at our third GP to confirm the potential we showed in Bulgaria.”

After claiming second in Bulgaria and the win in Italy, Pourcel has now climbed to third in the MX1 championship standings.