Benoit Paturel Wins Round 4 of French SX
Lyon welcomed this weekend the fourth round of the French SX Tour, and Benoit Paturel couldn’t miss this event at home. Back on a 250 Kawasaki, Benoit claimed a great victory in the SX2 class on Saturday, during his first and last SX race this year. Always third in the SX1 standings after this race, Gregory Aranda added another strong result for team Rockstar Bud Racing Kawasaki.
Back on a Kawasaki, Benoit Paturel had an emotional night on Saturday as the public of the Palais des Sports (full stadium both nights) was cheering him as never before during the SX2 races. Benoit started his weekend on Friday night with a crash in the first final, but proved with a fourth place in the second race that he had the rhythm and speed to get some good results. Working alongside Jacky Vimond, he impressed a lot of people on Saturday; second behind SX2 series leader in the first race, Benoit grabbed the holeshot in the second one. The race was the most exciting of the season, as five riders were together during most of the period; Benoit led half of the race, but came only fourth at mid race! He never gave up and passed back his rivals, to win the race with the support of the complete stadium. With this result Benoit confirmed that he is one of the strongest new talent in France, and next season he will be back in the European MX2 series aboard a 250 Bud Racing Kawasaki.
Unable to train as normal for personal reasons, Gregory Aranda confirmed that he remains one of the fastest riders on a Supercross track. Fastest both nights during the timed practice period, Greg won twice his semi final and got a holeshot in the main event on Friday. Leading half of the race, he finishes in second position behind Cédric Soubeyras, winner of all the main events so far! On Saturday he lost time when he crashed after two laps, and finished sixth; currently third of the SX1 classification, he is tight in the series with Fabien Izoird before the last two rounds (Geneva in two weeks and Grenoble at mid December).
Benoit Paturel: “What a crazy night, I never had such a great feeling after a race! I’m’ not so used to Supercross, and I came here to have fun and to learn. The first night was Ok with a fourth place, I learned a lot and was more confident on Saturday. The second race was unbelievable, we passed each other’s several times and it was great to win with all my fans, friends and family around me. We worked a lot with Jacky this year and this weekend I got a reward; I felt comfortable on my Kawasaki and I can’t wait next season, as I want to show what I can do. This year I got some good results in the French Elite, but not in the European MX2; I want to thanks Bud Racing and Jacky Vimond, who always support me.”
Gregory Aranda: “On Friday I could have win the main event as I was racing with Cedric, but when we joined the lappers I lost time. Second was not so bad as I couldn’t train as usual, and I was confident before the second night. My start was not as great on Saturday, I was fourth and tried to move ahead when I crashed after two laps. I lost some positions and finished sixth; I’m close to Fabien Izoird in the standings, it will be difficult to fight for the title as Soubeyras is strong but even if Fabien is a friend we’ll fight together in the next rounds. Hopefully I will be able to train before Geneva, the penultimate round of the series.”
