Gautier Paulin leads TEAM France to 2nd at MXON

French motocross star, Gautier
Paulin, has led his country to second place at the 65^th edition
of the historic Motocross of Nations held in St Jean d’Angely in
France.   The team consisting of Paulin (OPEN), Christophe Poucel
(MX1) and Marvin Musquin (MX2) were touted as the strongest contenders to
topple the USA’s strong hold of the event but ‘Lady Luck’
would decide otherwise for the 3 talented racers.

Musquin’s 8^th
place in the first moto (MX1+MX2) set France up for a shot at the
chamberlain trophy even though Pourcel could not make the most of his first
moto result.

The 68.000 cheering spectators
 went mad when Gautier Paulin got the hole-shot in moto 2
(OPEN+MX2).  He lost the lead to Jeffrey Herlings and Ken Roczen but
then settled down and moved back into the lead which had the French
supporters back on their feet to cheer on Paulin.  He rode a
controlled race and managed to secure the victory in front of Herlings and
Ryan Villopoto to put France in the lead going into the final
moto.

Both Paulin and Pourcel were placed
well in the start and needed only to maintain their positions to secure
victory, however Lady Luck had other plans.  Pourcel’s rear
wheel mousse collapsed and forced him to the sidelines handing America
their 22^nd victory of the historic event.

Gautier Paulin:

“This has been an amazing
weekend for me and to win a moto again at the Motocross of Nations is very
special.  Of course it would have been great for Team France to win in
front of a home crowd but the result is what it is and we all did the best
we could.  It was great to see the French flags flying next to the
track and the people screaming and cheering us on.  It has been a once
in a lifetime experience and I’m proud to have represented my
country.” Explained Paulin.

Nations top ten: USA,
France, Australia, Great Britain, Belgium, South Africa, Germany, Spain,
The Netherlands, Estonia. 

Race 1 top ten: 1. Chad Reed (AUS,
Honda), 35:52.640; 2. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM), +0:03.485; 3. Ryan Dungey
(USA, Suzuki), +0:04.919; 4. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:21.469; 5.
Tyla Rattray (RSA, Kawasaki), +0:30.845; 6. Tanel Leok (EST, TM),
+0:32.870; 7. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Kawasaki), +0:38.278; 8. Marvin
Musquin (FRA, KTM), +0:44.042; 9. Dean Wilson (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:57.674;
10. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +0:58.484;

Race 2 top ten: 1. Gautier Paulin
(FRA, Yamaha), 34:14.392; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:02.424; 3.
Ryan Villopoto (USA, Kawasaki), +0:02.813; 4. Ken Roczen (GER, KTM),
+0:05.097; 5. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:19.281; 6. Gareth Swanepoel
(RSA, Yamaha), +0:45.403; 7. Brett Metcalfe (AUS, Suzuki), +0:45.914; 8.
Davide Guarneri (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:56.746; 9. Carlos Campano (ESP,
Yamaha), +0:57.873; 10. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, Yamaha), +1:07.283

Race 3 top ten: 1. Ryan Villopoto
(USA, Kawasaki), 34:51.718; ; 2. Ryan Dungey (USA, Suzuki), +0:00.465; 3.
Tyla Rattray (RSA, Kawasaki), +0:05.182; 4. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki),
+0:18.156; 5. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:22.628; 6. Evgeny
Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:24.594; 7. Chad Reed (AUS, Honda), +0:24.916; 8.
Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:25.740; 9. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM),
+0:26.356; 10. Brett Metcalfe (AUS, Suzuki), +0:27.098