Gordon Crockard had to settle for seventh place in Sunday's latest round of the World 250cc Motocross Championship.

Defending champion Mickael Pichon delighted the home fans by taking victory in the French Grand Prix at St Jean d'Angely.

Heavy overnight rain made conditions difficult for the riders.

Pichon took the lead near the end of lap one and was never headed thereafter.

The 26-year-old Suzuki rider won by over 30 seconds from Fred Bolley who earned his third podium finish of the year.

Crockard finished third in last year's World Championship but he is struggling to reproduce that form for his new KTM team this season.

Meanwhile, Cork rider Hilton Hincks stormed to four victories at the Montello Park meeting on Sunday.

Hincks won the feature race, both open events and the second Supersport 600 race.

Portadown's Marshall Neill claimed both Aprilia 250 races and took three other third places.

Dundrod's Ryan Rainey won the opening Supersport 600 race while Toomebridge man John Laverty won the 125 race.