Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider Gautier Paulin is very much making his mark in the 2017 MXGP series. After a couple of years of struggling with results, the Frenchman picked up his 12 Grand Prix victory with his 1-2 result in Valkenswaard last weekend.

Now in third place in the MXGP points standings, Paulin has finally started finding his mojo, and with his confidence building and the team-work with his factory team really moving forward, he knows that good performances will continue.

In his last six moto’s he has gone 3-3-4-6-1-2 and it’s those type of performances that have seen him return to the top of the GP podium. He was kind enough to give us five minutes of his time yesterday after his victory.

 

Because it’s been tough for you recently, and obviously the MXGP class just gets tougher and tougher, is this one of your most rewarding wins in your career?

Of course, it’s one of the best wins I have had. When you win with good racing, it isn’t like winning when you go from the front and win by 10 or 15 seconds. Of course, it was good for the fans. It reminded me of when I was battling Antonio [Cairoli] in Maggiora a few years ago, when everyone was cheering for him, now everyone was cheering for Jeffrey [Herlings]. It was also a very emotional win; my wife was crying when I was on the podium, she was with me a long time. Every GP I feel better. I felt disappointed in Arco that I wasn’t on the podium, because I felt really good there. It’s started paying off and the game is turning, and I am really thankful for the true people I have around me now. I really love the power of my Husky.

Gautier Paulin is the king of podium celebrations in our book.
Gautier Paulin is the king of podium celebrations in our book.

Can you explain your weekend for me?

It’s been an amazing GP. We started off with a good pace in qualifying. I was feeling good on the bike ever since I stepped foot on this track, so I was very positive of some good results. We had a perfect opening moto. I got a clear holeshot and managed to successfully defend my lead until the finish line. Despite not getting the best of starts in moto two, I stayed focused on the goal of winning the overall. I kept pushing and as soon as I saw other riders suffering physically I gave one last push for the overall victory. I honestly have no words to thank my Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team for all their hard work and dedication. This victory has given us a big confidence boost for the races to come.

 

MXGP is so much like MotoGP now, where every millimetre counts and to make ground or to pass is so difficult. Today was the perfect example of that with the closeness of the racing. So often in races lately we see six or seven guys all going for the same spot.

Yes, it is like this. When I watch the racing, its like this. Every second there is a rider. On Saturday I got into third in the qualification race, and there was nobody and I really thought to myself, now I have to rest and be ready for Sunday. I know that usually it’s a really tough battle with so many different riders. If you don’t get in a good position in the early laps, then everyone is taking the good lines, and everyone is pushing and everyone is more serious now. Everyone is working so hard, and I can tell you, it feels good to be in this sport, because I love racing and it feels good going to bed and being really tired and knowing I gave it everything. I enjoyed this season until Qatar and every race I leave smiling.

 

You have a lot of respect for Antonio, and you have had some great races with him. What he did last week, did you get to watch the highlights and what did you think of his performance?

Yes, of course I checked the highlights. He did it great, it was a bit dirty, but it was tough to pass. He did it and was able to pass riders, but I think I was the only one who didn’t give him the pass easily, and he knows I will be like that. I kept pushing, because I am not going to let him pass me easy and he knows me, and this was the way to pass me. I went into the bank and I was disappointed I didn’t get to pass him back with the scrub after the corner. This is racing and I didn’t feel bad about it, and if I was him I would have done the same thing. He did a really good race, but when I watched the race, I was pissed about the riding, they had flattened the track, and he managed to find some new lines and we stayed on the same lines. We are not used to Youthstream flattening the track, and it surprised us. But he did a great race.

With the big win, Paulin sits 3rd in the MXGP championship
With the big win, Paulin sits 3rd in the MXGP championship

Last question. You have showed in the past that you are good at Latvia, you showed it at the MXoN a few years ago. How much are you looking forward to going to this track, after getting this result in Valkenswaard?

Sure, but again, I wanted to be in front in Arco and I didn’t put everything together. We had to work on the bike, because I wasn’t happy about my start in Arco, and of course I am looking forward to Latvia, but not only Latvia, I look forward also to hard-pack, sand, mud, I just look forward to racing.

Images by Juan Pablo Acevedo

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