Gautier Paulin will miss the Monster Energy Cup and Bercy-Lille Supercross after undergoing surgery on his knee last week, he announced on Instagram.
Paulin, a two-time winner of the Motocross of Nations with Team France, has been dealing with the injury since a crash at round 13 of the FIM World Motocross Championship at the MXGP of Czech Republic in late July.
Paulin would finish the season second in MXGP behind country mate Romain Febvre and help France to second consecutive Motocross of Nations win at Ernee.
The Honda HRC rider has supercross experience, riding three rounds of the 250SX West Region in 2010 with Star Racing. His best finish was a sixth at Anaheim 2.
He released the following statement on Instagram today.
Hello everyone,
Just a quick update from my side : last week I had a surgery on my knee - everything went well and i'm recovering pretty good. I crashed in the GP of Loket in a right corner. When I got up immediately felt that there was a problem. The force of the crash bruised the bone, meniscus and there was some cartilage damage. After meeting all my medical staff we decided to continue the championship because I could not aggravate the injury but enduring the pain would be my biggest enemy. The doctors said that i would not ride Lommel, the pain would stop me. It was the most difficult race of my career and i finished 2nd. I ride with this pain untill the Nations. I decided that I would not give up until the end!
I love riding Supercross and I was super excited about the idee of riding Monster cup and Supercross of Paris/Lille but I will still be in Lille to meet you. I start rehabilitation and already can't wait to be back on my bike !!
He is expected to be ready for the 2016 FIM World Motocross Championship opener in Qatar on February 27.
