6 Sep 2010

Just one year ago in Lierop Gautier Paulin walked away with just seven points. This time, using the full agility and power of his 2010 Yamaha Monster Energy YZ250F and leaning on months spent learning the intricacies of the demanding, technical and complicated sandy terrain the Frenchman was able to toast his first victory in black and green. Paulin rode to an aggressive and accomplished victory in the first moto of the Grand Prix of Benelux, the penultimate round of the FIM Motocross World Championship and then took third position later in the afternoon to confirm his maiden overall spoils for Yamaha.

The 20 year old came through from the top five in both motos played out in front of a 12,000 crowd and in summer sunshine in south-eastern Holland and aptly demonstrated his markedly improved skills on the rippled and shifting surface. The Lierop sand forms one of the roughest and most technical terrains on the Grand Prix calendar and Paulin’s speed was impressive as he hunted leader Ken Roczen in the opening race until the German had a mechanical problem and ‘21’ was free to run to the chequered flag. In the second moto he pursued world champion Marvin Musquin all race and engaged in a duel with his countryman on the last lap; only just missing out on second place by less than a second.

Paulin’s achievement with the Italian team ends a period of recovery for the likeable racer after missing the first four grands prix with a broken leg. It was also the first time the YZ250F sat below the top step of the podium since the Turkish Grand Prix last year.

Also savouring the fourteenth round of fifteen was Yamaha Monster Energy Gariboldi’s Harri Kullas. The Finnish rookie made two decent starts (including one holeshot) to record seventh and fifth positions for fifth overall and his personal best result in his noteworthy maiden GP season. Team-mate Christophe Charlier could only take points in one moto as his right hand injury meant the choppy sand was simply too much to cope with.

Bike it Cosworth Yamaha’s Zach Osborne is nearing fourth place in the MX2-GP championship standings and was better in the second moto where he flowed easier with the track and captured sixth position. Earlier in the day he managed eleventh and was eighth overall; the third Yamaha in the top ten of the Grand Prix.

The American needs 23 points to surpass the absent Jeffrey Herlings in the MX2-GP table and reach the top four. He also has to be aware of Joel Roelants who is only 2 behind in sixth. Paulin has reached eleventh in the standings and Kullas is just ahead by 12 points.

The Grand Prix of Italy at Fermo next week will represent round fifteen of the FIM Motocross World Championship and will be the last appointment for the MX2-GP riders this season.

Gautier Paulin, Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Team:

“My goal, as always, was to win and I had spent a lot of time on sand tracks this year - I think around three months in Belgium - and the work paid off. I am really happy to have won this race, especially being in the sand and me being a Frenchman from the south! I came close to Ken in the first moto but then he had the problem. I would have preferred to have had the fight with him but this is part of the sport. My start was not so good in the second race and I was third for a long time until I was able to reach Marvin on the last lap. We had a nice battle and I really wish I could have overtaken him at the line! Last year it was difficult for me in the sand, I think I barely scored and then had a DNF, and now I have a win so that’s fantastic.”

Harri Kullas, Yamaha Monster Energy Gariboldi:

“Yesterday we had problems but everybody worked really hard and things went much better today, the bike was awesome and I got good starts. I had a good battle with Tonus at the end of the first moto for sixth but he was just a bit stronger. I was really happy with my first holeshot in the second moto and it felt great to lead, if only for a little bit! Roczen, Musquin and Paulin passed me but they were so strong and fast so I let them go and focussed on my own race and speed to take fifth. To be fifth overall means this is my best GP. It was hard but really enjoyable and I have to thank my mechanic and the team who did a good job yesterday.”

Zach Osborne, Bike it Cosworth Yamaha:

“The first race was not brilliant but at least I got some points. In the second race I put in a solid charge and I think that was the benefit of the recent fitness work I have been doing and the effort to get back on form after the recent concussion. I’m pretty happy with the second race and have good momentum going into Fermo. I think I can be up there going for the podium again next week. Like a lot of people I have never been to Fermo but I seem to pick up new tracks pretty fast, we’ll see. I really want to get that fourth place in the championship.”