Gautier Paulin's Qualifying Race Crash

That was nasty! Nothing he could do

OnTrackOffroad reports that he has no broken bones and no concussion, which is a very lucky escape. It was a horrific crash. Says he's going to see how he feels tomorrow and see if he can race

Could have been much worse. I think he was lucky to kind of slide off the bike as he was going down instead of being ejected up and over the bike. Hope he in form top tomorrow.

Really interesting crash. Almost seems comparable to the chadapult incident, as well as Tomac last year.

GP was extremely lucky to not get seriously hurt! That was a huge crash!

So slick and unpredictable, I am glad he is ok !

I hate seeing those rag doll crashes and glad Paulin's ok. I'm surprised he wasn't transported off the track on a Mule or a Polaris.

Damn, hes one lucky guy

Wow! Kind of reminded me of the Tomac crash. I said kind of.

Wow so scary. Trying to come back from a long lay-off and I'm sure regain a bit of faith in the bike etc... really not what he needed. All the best to Gautier, I look forward to seeing him back in contention for the title at some point.

You're right with the analogy - it's the shear vicious suddenous of it all that connects Tomac's and Pauline prangs. Just so instantaneous.

I thought he was seriously injured, the way he rag-dolled, and , ended so awkwardly lying at the finish of it all.

Bloke just seems to have so much go wrong - he has so much talent and determination, but looks like he'll end up with no WC MX title.

Seems like when they rag doll they come out generally better than someone who stiffens up and cartwheels across the ground.


That was nasty. Those crashes suck. Bang the ground so hard so fast. It's like what the hell just happened?!

Somehow he was pretty lucky with how he went down after the bike got sideways. He slided a bit with it before he really got thrown off. It was still a hard hit but it could have been a LOT worse imo

Hence the very exact reason why people that are drunk tend to have less severe injuries during car crashes, but I know you know that.

You're right, its so fast. Seemed like to me my only sensation was sound. Took a few to figure the rest out.

DV posted this on IG to which Chad Reed simply responded, "air fork".

The way the front end caved makes me this he's onto something.

No way He got knocked out and wasn't concussed.

Bobryshev looked quite concerned. Was looking back around the next corner and over the next jump.

I like that gear!

The fuckin Zamboni just put a fresh coat of ice on that section.

Me too and looks like the MIPPS System in the helmet worked = no concussion (so far)

Yarp... Kinda reminded me of Reed's 11 crash at Millville... Front end under load, loses traction to rear end swap.

Yup. He was clearly out when he stopped sliding.

Pretty sure the ragdoll occurs due to unconsciousness. Do you see how the handlebar comes back to give him an uppercut to the jaw after he lost his grip? No way he's not concussed. Lots of denial going on in motocross/Supercross right now about concussions.

PR from the team...


Paulin ruled out of MXGP of France

After yesterday’s crash whilst leading the qualifying race for the MXGP of France, Gautier Paulin will not race today in front of his home crowd.

Crashing heavily on the landing of the fast downhill section just after the finish line, Paulin and his bike took a heavy impact.

He walked away from the crash and physically the Frenchman is fine, and was keen to ride again today, but he sustained a cut above his right eye which required stitches and this morning the associated swelling is enough to compromise his vision.

By mutual agreement between the medical team, Team HRC and Paulin, GP21 will not participate in the MXGP of France today.

Gautier Paulin 21
“I had a good night of rest and this morning physically I feel fine, but just I can’t see properly with the swelling in my right eye. I woke this morning and I really wanted to be on the bike. I did my routine, warmed-up and wanted to race. I went to see the medical team and they checked me and I’m fine, physically. There’s no damage to my body, and my eye is also fine, but I just have the swelling above it from the impact. We discuss a lot with the team this morning and we all agreed that I will not race today.

“It’s such a shame and I’m sorry for the team and for the fans, but this is racing and it can happen. It was so good leading yesterday, being at the front again, especially with the French fans, and I’m super motivated for Matterley. I’ll be back there for sure as they say the swelling will reduce in 3-4 days, but just today it’s impossible as I can’t see fully. Yesterday I was riding to win, and today I wanted to ride to win but my condition won’t allow that. I’m gutted to not be able to race today as we had a really good chance this weekend, but this is the only option.”

It would be hard to dispute not having a concussion on that one. I mean he may not have been fully unconscious but he definitely rung his bell good which would still qualify as a concussion. From a visual standpoint, any time your arms/hands end up flat backed on the ground like that... It's pretty common knowledge that you have been concussed to some degree.