Matterley offered the grip, lines and hefty jumps amidst a wide and open layout for the riders to enjoy and express themselves and the paddock were mostly unanimous in their praise of the massive facility.
Paulin rode to third position in Saturday’s qualification heat, just ahead of Bike it Cosworth Wild Wolf Yamaha’s Arnaud Tonus and was a constant threat for more silverware. A first moto run to fourth was repeated in the second race but the performance was more impressive considering a poor start that left him near the rear of the pack. The English dirt was also rougher and more technical later in the afternoon so Paulin’s trawl back in to podium contention was great to chart and excellent in its execution.
New MX2 British Champion Tonus was fifth overall but was hoping for slightly better after his encouraging start to the Grand Prix. Two crashes in the first moto and an off-track excursion in the second meant a scorecard of 9-5. Team-mate Zach Osborne was back in Europe but ultimately was unable to compete at his crew’s home event. The American is recovering from his shoulder injury and has continued to train. The 21 year old is hopeful of again riding his YZ250F in two weeks in Germany.
Paulin is 54 points behind Tommy Searle and third position in the standings with a grand total of 100 left on the table in 2011. Tonus is fifth and 11 points ahead of Max Anstie. Osborne is seventh and just in front of Kullas with Charlier eleventh on the fifth YZ250F.
The penultimate round of the FIM Motocross World Championship will take place at Gaildorf (Germany) for the Grand Prix of Europe in two weeks and then the final trip will be Fermo in Italy before the curtain-closing Motocross of Nations on September 19th. Paulin, Kullas, Tonus, Osborne (and in MX1 Frossard and Campano) will also represent their countries at the mammoth event that will take place at the French circuit of St Jean D’Angely.
Images and Content credits: Yamaha Racing
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