Completing a three week test schedule in the harsh Dutch sand, Gautier Paulin, raced his last Open Dutch championship event in Mill over the weekend and looks confident going into the first GP in Valkenswaard in two weeks time.
A third in moto one after grabbing the hole-shot saw Paulin battle with Strijbos and Dedycker in the closing stages of the moto. When Dedycker and Paulin bumped and went down it allowed Strijbos to get past and Paulin quickly remounted and regained 3rd position at the checkered flag. Making some key changes to the suspension Paulin looked confident in moto two. His start was not the best yet he quickly moved through the pack and closed Bobryshev down before a back marker got in his way sending Paulin to the ground. After losing a lot of time to get re-started Paulin decided to retire from the moto.
Gautier Paulin: “The result could have been better, but I’m confident as for the first time this season I had a perfect feeling during the races. I have been working together with the team for four months now, we know each other very well and we proved it again this weekend. The sand was different than usual, but we found the best settings on the bike and I was pleased with my KX 450F. The first race was decent, but I lost time when I collided with De Dycke. In the next race I came back second and was following Bobryshev quite easily when we joined some lappers. I had to take a new line to pass them and suddenly I was thrown from my bike. I think we’re ready for the GP’. Now I go home for one week and then I will be back in the Netherlands the week prior to Valkenswaard.”
