There are always bumps in the road for any motocross team. It can’t be all be smooth riding, to butcher a phrase, and it looks like the BOS Project KTM Team are experiencing some rocky times at the moment.
The Grand Prix team backed by BOS Suspension consists of former MX2 world champion Jordi Tixier and fellow Frenchman Benoit Paturel. And while testing appears to be going well for Tixier, as you can see from his social media post below, things with Paturel don’t appear to be on song, so to speak.
The team themselves felt so strongly about the issues they’ve experienced with him that they have taken to social media to air their frustrations with Paturel. “We have still not convinced Benoit Paturel to train and test our machines in good conditions,” they wrote.
And it gets worse for the relationship between the team and rider. “After a few days of riding, Benoit and his entourage decided that the 450F (world championship winning bike) and the [metal] chassis did not suit him, without possible discussion.”
The team are clearly upset with the situation and perhaps feel at their wit’s end with the first Grand Prix of the new season set for Patagonia, Argentina on March 4.
“This is a very big disappointment, you can imagine, for all the members of the team, especially knowing the excellent times achieved by Jordi at this very moment at RedSand Mx Park,” they continued.
“But the rule is simple in GP: no training, no testing equals zero results. It is too late now to go back.
“The investment conceded by the team to take Benoit was consistent, and we mistakenly thought that helping a rider back to the wall would be a positive option for everyone. This is not the case.
“We will do everything to get out of this situation as soon as possible, in order to avoid disrupting Jordi Tixier’s MXGP season and service to our growing number of customers.
Although BOS don’t actually say they have split from Paturel, it’s hard to see a way back from here. Keep it locked to dirtbikerider.com for more on this as it develops and other top moto news.
BOS Project KTM Team social post in full
Sorry for the little information given about our second driver, but for now, the tests are only done with Jordi Tixier, and some test-riders …
Indeed, we still have not managed to convince Benoit Paturel to train and test our machines in good conditions.
After a few days of driving, Benoit and his entourage decided that the 450F (world championship winning bike) and the [metal] chassis did not suit him, without possible discussion …
This is a very big disappointment, you can imagine, for all the members of the team, especially knowing the excellent times achieved by Jordi at this very moment at RedSand Mx Park …
But the rule is simple in GP: no training, no testing equals results. It is too late now to go back.
The investment conceded by the team to take Benoit was consistent, and we mistakenly thought that helping a driver back to the wall would be a positive option for everyone. This is not the caseā¦
We will do everything to get out of this situation as soon as possible, in order to avoid disrupting Jordi Tixier’s MXGP season and service to our growing number of customers.
Our return to Mx has made known our technology, and the first drivers are satisfied, in the sand as on the ground: it must continue, we will not let go!
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