News and Events: Victories for Paulin and Italy Showdown
After winning back-to-back Grand Prix motocross races in April (Bulgaria) and May (Portugal), THOR-sponsored motocross rider Gautier Paulin continued his winning ways in June with a resounding victory at the Grand Prix of Italy. Paulin’s win in Bulgaria was impressive, but when he repeated in front of 15,000 spectators in Agueda, Portugal, the statement was made that he was a threat to reigning MX1 world champion Antonio Cairoli for the 2013 title. In that race, he came from behind and made a pass on the Italian champion in the early going of Moto 1, then sped away to victory. Cairoli slipped back to 3rd place, giving Paulin a clear path to the overall win if he could finish at least 2nd in Moto 2. That is exactly how Paulin played it and the THOR-sponsored Kawasaki rider from France was crowned champion of Bulgaria. Fellow THOR-clad riders Jeremy Van Horebeek and David Phillipaerts had good days as well in Bulgaria with 5th and 8th place finishes respectively.
The champagne has been flowing lately for THOR-sponsored Gautier Paulin of France. Overall victories in Bulgaria, Portugal and Italy have him very much in contention for the 2013 FIM Motocross World Championship.
After his defeat in Portugal, Antonio Cairoli was surely looking to get his championship march back on track at round 9 of the FIM Motocross World championship held on the soil of his home country, but again Gautier Paulin had other plans. The Factory Kawasaki racer went head to head with Cairoli on the historical Maggiora circuit in Italy and came out on top in an epic final moto battle in front of almost 40,000 spectators. Paulin started his Italian GP off with a bang as he cruised to victory in Saturday’s MX qualification race. The fans at the tricky hillside circuit witnessed an exciting first MX1 moto as Paulin had
to come through the pack after being pushed wide in the first turn. Belgian Clement Desalle took advantage of a good start and took the victory while Paulin put in a last minute charge to catch second place man, Ken Dedycker, but he could not break the Belgian giant and had to settle for 3rd. Fellow THOR teammate Jeremy Van Horebeek finished 5th after occupying 4th place for most of the moto until he let Cairoli pass by. The final MX1 moto would be one for the history books as Gautier Paulin grabbed the hole-shot and put a quick 3-second gap between his Factory Kawasaki and the rest of the pack. Cheered on by an electric crowd, Cairoli got two breaks when Van Horebeek and Dedycker let him by and he managed to close down Paulin’s advantage. With 3 laps remaining, Paulin changed his lines to defend the Italian’s attack and with one lap to go he pushed hard to break his nemesis and take an emotional moto and overall victory, which had the Frenchman holding back tears on the podium.
Gautier Paulin from France on the top step of the podium at Agueda, Portugal, with runner up Antonio Cairoli from Italy to his right and 3rd place finisher Clement Desalle of Belgium on his left.
