Gautier Paulin was the star of the remarkable French victory at the 2014 Motocross of Nations with a double moto success. This year hadn’t been too kind for ‘21’ prior the ‘Nations. After winning the opening Grand Prix of the year, he suffered mechanical trouble at round four in Italy and then crashed in the second moto at Valkenswaard in Holland for round six, which caused a broken thumb and shoulder dislocation, and also kept him from racing and challenging Tony Cairoli for the title. Paulin came back to form in the final Grands Prix of the year and claimed the closer at Leon. His speed in Mexico was a preview to the authority seen in Kegums last weekend.
The former European champion and winner of MX2 and MXGP Grands Prix first marked a notch in his ‘Nations post in 2009 (Franciacorta, Italy) and then in 2011 (St Jean D’Angely, France), but the 24-year-old’s Latvian performance was on another level.
Racer X: How does this achievement today compare to what you have managed so far in your career?
Gautier Paulin: For a few moments on the podium, I was thinking about my win and I was a bit sad because this should have been my season. I was injured and no luck. I pushed hard to get back to my best level before the end of the Grand Prix season, and I’m happy that the French Federation had confidence in me. To win in a dominant way like that this weekend is almost beyond words. I was dreaming when I watched Ryan Villopoto on the television at Budds Creek in 2007 and he was crazily fast…and now I’ve made the same thing. I dominated qualifying and both motos. I didn’t get the holeshots, but I fought to the end. I feel like I deserve it and all the French fans also. It is just amazing what I’m living now.
Where did that speed come from? It was there from the first laps for the weekend.
It’s my style! Sometimes I cannot show my speed on some GP tracks but that place [Kegums] was fast and getting rough. There were some good lines; you could pass riders and improve throughout the weekend. I don’t think you saw any trains of riders just following each other. I think it was the perfect track for the Motocross of Nations, and hopefully we can have more like this. It shows something good when the guy who starts at the front doesn't necessarily stay there and the guy who starts near the back can make forward progress if he is good enough.
You won at Franciacorta on your first ride on a 450. It was five years ago, but did you have that same excitement today?
I was 19 in Italy and now I’m 24. It was much better today. I’m more in control. I know who I am; I know what I need to do during the week. I just love riding that motorcycle. Every win feels good, but to have the perfect weekend is just amazing. I’ve had it before but not like today, and it sets up a great winter for me.
There are not many riders who win two motos and also the ‘Nations on the same day.
I think in a few weeks something like that will sink in. I’m a professional sportsman, which means I know what it is like to be in hospital, hurting, and waiting for an operation, but moments like this almost make the other stuff disappear. I’m just so happy the team could get up there, and apart from Jeremy [Martin, with a broken foot], all the guys were 100 percent, so we deserved it. I think to dominate at the ‘Nations and to win as well is a dream for many riders and to make it is pretty crazy.
What’s next? Some supercross or a holiday?
No, to a holiday. I was injured, so I’ve had enough time off the bike. It was around three months. People were saying that I was taking it easy and that I didn't want to get back on the track. It was not that at all. It just took a while to get through those thumb and shoulder injuries. I didn’t say when I was racing the last GPs, but I still have a bit of pain and need to have another operation, something small on both shoulders that should bring an improvement. I will have a cool beer tonight and then get back to work next week.
You’re a man who likes the finer things in life, and I know you like to treat yourself after a good result. Tag Heuer just presented you with a new watch, so any ideas?
I don't know what I will do. I will get home as soon as I can. We’ve been at our second house in Belgium for a long time, so I’m keen to get back to the South of France to see the family and our little dog, Jackson. He’s getting bigger, and we’ve been posting photos on Instagram and Twitter. When I was injured I couldn’t play much with him… overall it will just be good to get back to the house. Work will start soon though. I just love riding the motorcycle.
