1-2 and historic GP success for Kawasaki in Bulgaria

Gautier Paulin and Christophe Pourcel scored a resounding 1-2 success for Kawasaki in the
second round of the FIM World MX1 Motocross Championship at Sevlievo in Bulgaria.

With a magnificent display the two Frenchman truly dominated the Bulgarian GP, taking first and second places in both strenuous motos. The Kawasaki riders took a race victory and a second place apiece; the overall GP victory went to Paulin for the Kawasaki Racing Team though Pourcel recorded an identical points score for Team CP377 Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit.

Both Paulin and Pourcel are contesting the complete MX1 world series for the first time, and their
successes were an emotional affair for each of their teams. Team CP377 is a new team this year, whilst the Kawasaki Racing Team has been desperately unlucky with injuries in recent years;

Paulin´s success was the team´s first GP victory since 2008.

The superiority of Kawasaki´s KX450F-SR was displayed admirably as both riders moved quickly to the front in both races and neither Paulin nor Pourcel were ever seriously challenged by their rivals. Paulin is now second in the world standings, just nine points from the lead, whilst Pourcel, despite his disappointing display two weeks earlier at the series opener, is already back to fifth in the points.

Xavier Boog of KRT and Sebastien Pourcel of CP377 added to the celebrations by each returning a top six finish, and Boog is now only two points away from placing no less than three Kawasakis in the first six of the championship.

Gautier Paulin: “It´s a very emotional day for me to win my first GP for the Kawasaki Racing Team. I knew when I joined them that this was the right team for me and we have all worked hard all winter for this result. Even though I finished second in the first race I rode a little tight, but I felt good, the bike was perfect, and I really enjoyed my riding in the second race.”

Christophe Pourcel: “I knew that I had to get back on the box here after my bad weekend in the
Netherlands. We made some changes to the settings of the bike since then as it was actually too powerful for me and I couldn´t give my all. And it worked. I got two great starts and was soon able to build a gap in the first race, but Gautier surprised me in the second race. He was quickly five seconds ahead and we had the same speed so I couldn´t catch him, but this is a great result for Team CP377.”

Xavier Boog: “My starts weren´t so great this weekend, but I found a good rhythm and that was important. I lost too much time behind Karro in the early laps of the second race, but once I got past him I moved strongly to seventh. After two GPs I have made a solid start to the season and can build from there.”

Sébastien Pourcel: “It was great to race again for a top six result in the second moto. I got a great start and soon found the same rhythm as the top guys, but after fifteen minutes I started to feel tired; I know that I’m not yet as fit as I want to be, but we’re working on it and I can feel the progress we´re making every week.”