If it wasn’t for bad luck in Bulgaria the Molson Kawasaki team would have had little to no luck at all as after Stephen Sword and Gautier Paulin raced their factory KX250F-SRs to fourth and fifth place in the opening moto at round four of the FIM World Motocross Championship in Sevlievo a double no score second time out tried and tested the team’s spirit to the max.
As early as in the first practice session on Saturday it was obvious that Sword and Paulin were in great form on the jump-filled, super-fast hillside circuit as they carved their factory bikes to great times in all sessions. Then in their qualifying heat the pair finished second and third to easily qualify and ensure they’d get a great pick at the start gate for Sunday’s points paying races.
When the gate dropped for moto one it was Sword who came out of the corner with the holeshot even though he’d been far from quickest out of the gate. “I didn’t get out of the gate so well but I got fantastic drive up the straight and through the first corner to take the lead,” claimed Stephen. “Once out front I had a bit of a dilemma on my hands as I wasn’t sure which lines to take. The outsides were drier and looked quicker while the inside looked slippery. I figured if I went on the inside to protect my lead they’d be able to blast around the outside of me so I went wide but a few riders went by me and blocked my line and I ended up fifth – I couldn’t believe it!”
One of the riders to take advantage of Sword’s ill-conceived line selection is team-mate Gautier. “In the first race I got a very good start mostly because my bike is very good,” said Paulin. “Stephen was in front of me and I passed him and after Searle and Cairoli passed me I found a good rhythm. It was a good race for me and I was catching the leaders for a while but then Stephen passed me and I ended up fifth. My speed was equal to that of the leaders but I just made too many mistakes and they were able to pull away.”
Sword was also affected by Gautier’s errors but eventually found a way past. “I got stuck behind Gautier who’d passed me on lap one for a little while and the leaders gapped us which is a shame because I know I had the pace to run with them,” added Stephen. “I finished fourth in the end and I was really happy with that.”
Paulin is equally happy to finish fifth, one place behind his team-mate. “I was really happy with that result,” claimed Paulin. “I feel it is the best I have ridden since my hand injury – Spain was a better result of course but that was in strange conditions.”
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12 maggio 2008 
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