Gautier Paulin made a successful comeback to MXGP at the Grand Prix of Trentino over a week ago and is content with his speed and potential after returning to racing earlier than planned from his rib and vertebra injury.
The 26-year-old French HRC rider ran some training motos this week with MotoGP star Marc Marquez and also joined the Spaniard at his Rufea facility to practice some dirt track before heading to Talavera de la Reina, south of Madrid, for round eight of 18 in the MXGP campaign.
An MXGP title contender since entering the class in 2012, Paulin has been out of action since round three in Valkenswaard, Holland after a training accident led to a broken rib and vertebra. “With this type of injury they normally say three months or 90 days and I came back riding after 45 – so really early – and after ‘okays’ from doctors and surgeons,” he explained exclusively. “It was a big impact from the bike so I had a lot of contusions and it was tough to adapt again to riding and it took me a little bit of time.”
Paulin rode to ninth place in the second moto in Italy. “Arco went well,” he said. “I’d only been riding the bicycle on the road so I missed a bit more training but I had the speed. The first moto ended with a broken throttle body and I had some arm-pump in the second but I think this was to be expected as I wasn’t totally ready for a full 30+2. I am now back training for Talavera and hope I can have a full routine and be 100 per cent after France.”
