 Pourcel had planned on moving up to the 450cc class with Kawasaki for the 2011 season but, when Jake Weimer got the job instead, Pourcel was signed by the MotoConcepts Yamaha team managed by former racer David Vuillemin.After a troublesome two-race stint in which Pourcel was not comfortable with his machinery, he failed to appear at the Budds Creek round and was released by the team for failing to meet his contractual obligations.With no options available in the American racing series, Pourcel returned to Europe to compete in the MX1 Motocross World Championship.