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MX2, Uddevalla: Gautier Paulin back in the standings

In Offroad

08 luglio 2009

MX2, Uddevalla: Gautier Paulin back in the standings

At the Swedish Grand Prix Bud Kawasaki’s Gautier Paulin was able to finish third overall to enter the summer break only thirteen points behind series leader Marvin Musquin.

For several years now Uddevalla has been the single Scandinavian round of the Motocross World Championship, and will entertain the Swedish Grand Prix for another five seasons after an announcement was made during this eleventh round of fifteen in the series. It was the third event in a row for the teams on their northern European trek, just before a welcome break of four weeks.
Qualifying in fourteenth position after being part of a pile-up at the start of Saturday’s qualifying race, Steven Frossard had a great start in the opening moto and arrived at mid-race in third position behind Ken Roczen and Rui Gonçalves who made the best launch from the gate. Too far from the leaders when he reached third to expect a better classification, Steven secured his slot and deflected the comebacks of Manuel Monni and Joel Roelants in the last ten minutes. Fifth on the grid, Gautier Paulin was fourth when he crashed after a few laps. Losing some positions he rejoined the race in ninth place and then passed Jake Nicholls and Matiss Karo to get seventh spot, only four hundredths of a second behind Guarneri.

Starting the next race in third and fourth, Gautier and Steven pushed up to second and third positions behind Goncalves. While Paulin made a gap with his rivals to ensure the runner-up berth, Steven hurt his ankle and had to slow down before retiring with half the moto over.

Seventh and second in today’s races, Paulin grabbed third place in the GP behind Goncalves and Roczen; he reduced the gap in the standings to Musquin from 49 to 13, as the leader of the classification was not allowed to ride in Sweden due to a legal predicament after his switch from one team to another. The third Kawasaki rider involved in the MX2 class, Loic Rombaut didn’t complete a lap as he received a stone in the face during the opening circulation of the first race.

The championship will have a four week break, with the twelfth round of the series scheduled early in August on the famous sandy track of Lommel (Belgium) for the Grand Prix of Limburg.
Gautier Paulin: ‘During the first race I was fourth when I crashed pretty hard in a long and sandy corner; I took the inside line but it was slippery and I fell at high speed. I had some pain in my back and neck, but I re-started quickly in ninth place; unfortunately it’s difficult to make the difference on this track, and there are not many spots to pass. I lost some points with my seventh position, maybe a podium was possible in this race. My second start was better, I made some good moves during the first lap and I came to second; then I tried to come-back on Goncalves but I had some troubles with the lappers. The bike was perfect. I had a lot of fun this weekend and due to the fact that Musquin was not racing the championship is closer now. I’m thirteen points behind him, Gonçalves is only ten points from me, and everything is possible with four more races to go. We’ve three weeks to prepare Lommel; I will be ready for it.’

Steven Frossard: ’On Saturday I had some trouble during the qualifying race. I crashed at the start with other riders and then crashed again during the Heat. Fourteenth was not such a good position on the gate but twice I had perfect starts in sixth and then third position. In the first moto I came back to third, but the first two riders were far away and I just controlled Monni and Roelants behind me to score my ninth top three result of the season. Once more I was third in the following race. I was not pushing too hard when my right foot went under my rear wheel. Of course it was the ankle that I twisted last week in Latvia and it was so painful that I had to retire. I lost points again for the championship and I’m frustrated as I was fast enough to be on the podium at this GP. I will rest next week to recover from this injury, and then we’ll continue to work In Belgium to be competitive in Lommel.’

Loic Rombaut: ‘I was unlucky this weekend and it’s a shame as I like the track even if it’s strange when you ride it for the first time. I had a good feeling during the warm-up but my first race was short, as I took a stone to the face during the opening lap. I was slightly concussed and didn’t remember what had happened for a few minutes so I came back to the pits. I try to race the second heat, but I had headache and painful teeth and it was impossible to ride. Now we’ll go back to Belgium and will continue to work on sandy tracks.’

Jacky Vimond (trainer team Bud Racing): ‘For three GPs now we’ve seen the same Gautier as earlier this season. He is happy with the improvements we made on the bike and rode smoothly and confidently. Automatically, the results are better! It’s a pity for our sport that Musquin couldn’t race this GP, I don’t know exactly why but we keep the same attitude as always because there are other fast rivals such as Gonçalves or Roczen.’
Jean Jacques Luisetti (owner Team CLS): ‘Once more we’re disappointed that Steven only scored points in one race, he was on the podium of the GP before he retired in the second race. When he crashed last week in Latvia he twisted his ankle and during the second heat he hurt it again with too much pain. He will rest and have a special treatment in order to be fit for the final round of the French series at the end of July. Loic didn’t do one lap on Sunday as a stone hit his face, now all the staff will enjoy the break of one month to prepare the last part of the season.’