MXGP Insider No.23 presented by Kawasaki – Bulgarian Winners
Geoff Meyer
Welcome to our web-exclusive weekly column: Transmoto’s MXGP Insider, presented by Kawasaki.
Frenchman Gautier Paulin and British rider Tommy Searle proved that their 2012 season is going to be a good one as they walked away from the Sevlievo circuit in Bulgaria with victory. Amazingly both riders have now won two of their last three Grand Prix, with Paulin and Searle not only winning the second round of this year’s series, but also the last round of the 2012 series in Fermo, Italy.
With the FIM World Motocross Championship heading to Fermo this coming weekend the two Kawasaki riders must be excited and confident to continue their blistering form. Paulin knows that winning for Kawasaki will bring huge confidence to the team.
“I am very emotional for the team,” Paulin said. “We did a great job together. I knew when I signed for the Kawasaki team we could do a great job. We worked hard in the winter, also people from Japan and Yves Demaria and all this support has paid off. I know the championship is long and in Holland I did good results. I feel really good and am happy to be here. The first moto I rode okay, but I was not riding really good, I was tired and not feeling great, and then second moto I had a good start and riding like I was in training, and I was pushing and riding well, that is why I got the win.
“I want to be safe and do a great job with the team. I really love what I am doing, being a professional rider in Motocross. If I do a race like this I can win a lot. I just expect to go to Italy and do my best and that is my plan to do that moto after moto. I was unhappy to be 7th in Holland; I wanted to be up the front. I try to enjoy myself and ride smooth. I am so happy to be racing with these MX1 riders, they all show respect and these guys are not 16 or 20, they have experience and it’s harder to win in this class.”
Searle picked up his second victory at the Sevlievo circuit, adding to his 2007 victory. It could have been a lot easier had he not suffered brake problems in the opening moto.
“The weekend was good,” Searle said. “I am happy how it turned out. I got a holeshot in the first moto and I think we will get more this season. I was pulling away from everyone easy, but then I lost my brake and I had to settle in and just rode my own race. I couldn’t push because I couldn’t take the lines I like. Joel and Jeffrey came past and I did what I could and got a third.
“In the second moto I got the holeshot again and we had a battle at the start. I felt steady and comfortable. We made the engine faster for this year and that is showing. I was on the inside and I watched a lot of races and whoever turned tighter got the holeshot. Because of my cold I felt a little concentrate loss and then I fought through and I enjoyed it. I was getting a buzz and wanted to win the GP. Jeffrey is unbelievable in the sand, I don’t even think about winning there, but everyone said this is where the season starts. I should have gone 1-1 and be leading the points. I am looking forward to winning more GPs.”
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