Sebastien Tortelli
Encyclopedia
Sebastien Tortelli
Sebastien Tortelli (born 19 August 1978 in Agen
, France
) is a two-time World Champion motocross
racer. A longtime factory-sponsored rider, Tortelli has been a top ranked rider in both AMA
National and Supercross
competition, as well as the European-based Motocross Grand Prix World Championships.
on the Grand Prix motocross racing circuit, Tortelli made his Grand Prix debut at the last GP of the 1994 season, just few days after his 16th birthday. In his first GP season, Tortelli claimed some race wins and finished 3rd of the championship. He won the 1996 125cc FIM
World Motocross Championship and to this date is still the younger World champion. He was riding for Jan DeGroot's factory Kawasaki
team. Tortelli had caught the eye of the motocross world with his aggression, incredible cornering speed and legendary fighting spirit. He graduated to the 250cc ranks of the GPs in 1997. While that year was plagued by some frightening high-speed crashes, Tortelli claimed several overall victories against perennial Grand Prix champion Stefan Everts
. The next season would be much different.
In January 1998, at a one-off Supercross
appearance in Los Angeles
, Coliseum, California, Tortelli showed his incredible speed to the American public with a surprise victory. Tortelli planned to move to the United States to contest the AMA circuit in 1999, but first, he had a World Championship to win that summer.
In an epic, season-long battle, Tortelli and Everts (most crowned world champion of all time) traded the points lead multiple times, with one rider typically finishing just ahead of the other. The title fight went down to the final round, last race of the Greece
GP, and it was Tortelli who shouldered the pressure, won the race and claimed the 1998 250cc World Championship. Everts was left reeling from the defeat, and several seasons would pass before he would again see the same level of success.
. He struggled somewhat through that supercross season, saving himself for the outdoors. At the season opener in San Bernardino, CA, Tortelli came from behind in both motos, passing Jeremy McGrath
and Kevin Windham
to sweep the 250cc National in his very first try. He led the points standings most of the summer until he was injured in a crash with Doug Henry at Unadilla
.
Tortelli improved further for 2000, scoring a strong 6th in Supercross and battling with Ricky Carmichael
tooth-and-nail through the outdoor season, where he eventually finished second. It is Tortelli's best overall season in America to date. The next five full seasons would produce similar results, with Tortelli consistently placing top 5 in both Supercross and Nationals. He raced for Team Suzuki
from 2003 through the 2005 season, and was so stricken with knee and wrist injuries that he was unable to complete an entire season. Whenever he was at the racetrack, Sebastien Tortelli's speed was always incredible. He was one of the few riders that could battle and pass Ricky Carmichael known as the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Times).
for the 2006 and 2007 season. The aim of his new deal was to beat his old rival Stefan Everts
in the MX1 World Championship, and claim KTM
's first World title in that category. After some early battles with Everts, Tortelli's 2006 season came to abrupt end when he crashed during the Portuguese round of the championship, dislocating his hip and ruling him out for the remainder of the season. Whilst Everts rode on effectively unchallenged to his final world title, rumours linked Tortelli with a move back to America in 2007. However, with Tortelli struggling to regain fitness, he announced his retirement from professional motocross in December 2006.
In 2007 with the desire to share his knowledge and passion of the sport, Tortelli created his own motorcycle school: ChampFactory MX School
With riders like Justin Brayton, Ryan Sipes, Will Hann... Tortelli became the official riding coach for KTM North America until early 2009. In the mine time he developed his own simple way to explain riding techniques to all age and level of riders and build some international MX, Off Road school.
Tortelli still race occasionally in found raiser and charity events but actively focus his time to his school and coaching pro and amateurs riders like Blake Wharton, Jason Anderson, Tommy Searle, Jace Owen... to bring them to the highest level of Supercross and Motocross.
Sebastien Tortelli (born 19 August 1978 in Agen
Agen
Agen is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in Aquitaine in south-western France. It lies on the river Garonne southeast of Bordeaux. It is the capital of the department.-Economy:The town has a higher level of unemployment than the national average...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) is a two-time World Champion motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
racer. A longtime factory-sponsored rider, Tortelli has been a top ranked rider in both AMA
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
National and Supercross
Supercross
Supercross is a motorcycle racing sport involving off-road motorcycles on an artificially-made dirt tracks consisting of steep jumps and obstacles. Professional supercross contest races are held almost exclusively within professional baseball and football stadiums.-History:Supercross was derived...
competition, as well as the European-based Motocross Grand Prix World Championships.
Early European success
During his early career in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
on the Grand Prix motocross racing circuit, Tortelli made his Grand Prix debut at the last GP of the 1994 season, just few days after his 16th birthday. In his first GP season, Tortelli claimed some race wins and finished 3rd of the championship. He won the 1996 125cc FIM
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the governing body of motorcycle racing. It represents 103 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions....
World Motocross Championship and to this date is still the younger World champion. He was riding for Jan DeGroot's factory Kawasaki
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
team. Tortelli had caught the eye of the motocross world with his aggression, incredible cornering speed and legendary fighting spirit. He graduated to the 250cc ranks of the GPs in 1997. While that year was plagued by some frightening high-speed crashes, Tortelli claimed several overall victories against perennial Grand Prix champion Stefan Everts
Stefan Everts
Stefan Everts is a motocross racer from Belgium, who retired in 2006 after securing his record 10th World Title. He also holds several other motocross records....
. The next season would be much different.
In January 1998, at a one-off Supercross
Supercross
Supercross is a motorcycle racing sport involving off-road motorcycles on an artificially-made dirt tracks consisting of steep jumps and obstacles. Professional supercross contest races are held almost exclusively within professional baseball and football stadiums.-History:Supercross was derived...
appearance in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Coliseum, California, Tortelli showed his incredible speed to the American public with a surprise victory. Tortelli planned to move to the United States to contest the AMA circuit in 1999, but first, he had a World Championship to win that summer.
In an epic, season-long battle, Tortelli and Everts (most crowned world champion of all time) traded the points lead multiple times, with one rider typically finishing just ahead of the other. The title fight went down to the final round, last race of the Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
GP, and it was Tortelli who shouldered the pressure, won the race and claimed the 1998 250cc World Championship. Everts was left reeling from the defeat, and several seasons would pass before he would again see the same level of success.
American career
Sebastien followed his long-time career goal and emigrated to America for the 1999 season, as a full factory rider for Team HondaHonda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
. He struggled somewhat through that supercross season, saving himself for the outdoors. At the season opener in San Bernardino, CA, Tortelli came from behind in both motos, passing Jeremy McGrath
Jeremy McGrath
Jeremy McGrath is one of the most popular American Motocross/Supercross champions in the history of the sport. He was most active in the 1990s earning the title the "King of Supercross." His tricks during jumps on the supercross track, the most famous of which he called the "Nac Nac", helped spawn...
and Kevin Windham
Kevin Windham
Kevin Windham , is a professional motocross racer from Centreville, Mississippi. At 17 he received a full factory ride from Team Yamaha...
to sweep the 250cc National in his very first try. He led the points standings most of the summer until he was injured in a crash with Doug Henry at Unadilla
Unadilla
Unadilla may refer to:* Unadilla, California, a former settlement in Kern County* Unadilla, Georgia, a city in Dooly County* Unadilla, Nebraska, a village in Otoe County* Unadilla , New York, a town in Otsego County...
.
Tortelli improved further for 2000, scoring a strong 6th in Supercross and battling with Ricky Carmichael
Ricky Carmichael
Ricky Carmichael is a racer known for his success in Motocross. He is currently competing in NASCAR. He drives the #4 Monster Energy Chevrolet Silverado for Turner Motorsports in the Camping World Truck Series and the #30 Chevrolet Impala part-time for Turner Motorsports in the Nationwide Series...
tooth-and-nail through the outdoor season, where he eventually finished second. It is Tortelli's best overall season in America to date. The next five full seasons would produce similar results, with Tortelli consistently placing top 5 in both Supercross and Nationals. He raced for Team Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
from 2003 through the 2005 season, and was so stricken with knee and wrist injuries that he was unable to complete an entire season. Whenever he was at the racetrack, Sebastien Tortelli's speed was always incredible. He was one of the few riders that could battle and pass Ricky Carmichael known as the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Times).
Return to Europe
Tortelli signed with KTMKTM
KTM Sportmotorcycle AG is an Austrian motorcycle, bicycle and moped manufacturer.The company was founded in 1934 by engineer Hans Trunkenpolz in Mattighofen. It started out as a metal working shop and was named Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen...
for the 2006 and 2007 season. The aim of his new deal was to beat his old rival Stefan Everts
Stefan Everts
Stefan Everts is a motocross racer from Belgium, who retired in 2006 after securing his record 10th World Title. He also holds several other motocross records....
in the MX1 World Championship, and claim KTM
KTM
KTM Sportmotorcycle AG is an Austrian motorcycle, bicycle and moped manufacturer.The company was founded in 1934 by engineer Hans Trunkenpolz in Mattighofen. It started out as a metal working shop and was named Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen...
's first World title in that category. After some early battles with Everts, Tortelli's 2006 season came to abrupt end when he crashed during the Portuguese round of the championship, dislocating his hip and ruling him out for the remainder of the season. Whilst Everts rode on effectively unchallenged to his final world title, rumours linked Tortelli with a move back to America in 2007. However, with Tortelli struggling to regain fitness, he announced his retirement from professional motocross in December 2006.
In 2007 with the desire to share his knowledge and passion of the sport, Tortelli created his own motorcycle school: ChampFactory MX School
With riders like Justin Brayton, Ryan Sipes, Will Hann... Tortelli became the official riding coach for KTM North America until early 2009. In the mine time he developed his own simple way to explain riding techniques to all age and level of riders and build some international MX, Off Road school.
Tortelli still race occasionally in found raiser and charity events but actively focus his time to his school and coaching pro and amateurs riders like Blake Wharton, Jason Anderson, Tommy Searle, Jace Owen... to bring them to the highest level of Supercross and Motocross.