Following two seasons with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, Gautier Paulin has inked a deal with Wilvo Yamaha for the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship.
The 28-year-old Frenchman has won 11 Grand Prix rounds (three in MX2; eight in MXGP) and has stood on the podium 52 times (18 times in MX2; 34 in MXGP) and is currently sixth in MXGP points with one round remaining. Paulin is also scheduled to ride for France at the upcoming Motocross of Nations at RedBud for a tenth time. Paulin has been a member of the last four Chamberlain Trophy winning French teams.
"We are very excited to have Gautier back on Yamaha and in Paddock Blue,” said Yamaha Motor Europe MX Racing manager Erik Eggens. “He has always been a rider that can fight for podiums and he is definitely capable of challenging for race wins as well, and we saw that a few years back when he joined Yamaha and won his debut Grand Prix on a YZ450F, which is an outstanding achievement and something that not many riders can say they have done. We believe that with the support of the Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP team he can still achieve these results, and this is something we look forward to. The team is very motivated and is a team that has shown great improvement and stability over the years, which is something a high caliber rider such as Gautier needs. With that said, we wish Gautier a warm welcome back, and we look forward to having him back on blue."
Paulin joins the previously announced Arnaud Tonus on the team for next year.
