Frenchman Gautier Paulin has really shown great speed in 2012. The Kawasaki mounted rider contin-ues to show why so many see him as a future World Motocross Champion as he fights for every point. Paulin has already won Grand Prix’s and his form in this year’s FIM World MX1 Championship has given the class a big boost.

Sitting in fourth place in the MX1 Championship points Paulin is in no man land as he is 21 points behind third placed Christophe Pourcel and 58 points ahead of fifth placed Ken De Dycker. Improvement can happen, but a top five in his first season in the MX1 class is very impressive.

We asked Paulin about his race weekend in Sweden and what it will take to improve his position in the MX1 Championship.

Q: How did you find Sweden?

Paulin: Conditions were not easy in Sweden. I didn’t get a good start in the first moto, I was stuck in the mud and I didn’t have good power. The track was difficult, I wasn’t riding too bad and then made a mistake and Simpson passed me back. Then the last few laps I couldn’t see anything and I crashed and Leok passed me. In these types of races anything can happen.

Q: Of course Antonio Cairoli did not finish the opening moto or the second moto; giving everyone a chance to pull back his points lead. What did you think when you saw Antonio on the side of the track?

Paulin: Tony is the leader and five times World Champion and we know he is fast. I had bad luck in Mexico, and he is scoring points all the time. I don’t look at him; I am busier with myself. When I saw he was out of the race I didn’t like it, I prefer to race with him. I know I can be quick out of the start then I can race for the win.

Q: You have shown great form this year on the 450cc machine, did you expect so much success so quickly?

Paulin: It was pretty important to win a Grand Prix and I want to win more GPs. The team is working to be in the front positions in the races and for sure I didn’t make it a goal to win a Grand Prix so early in this season. I am really pushing and it will only get better as this season moves on.

Q: The next Grand Prix is the Grand Prix of Latvia, and then we moved onto Russia. Do you like the Kegums circuit and how do you feel about going to Russia?

Paulin: I really like Kegums and I was really fast in qualification there last year, but I had a big crash in the first corner and in the second moto I was really tired, but I really love the Grand Prix of Latvia. It’s always cool to go to a new track and I look forward to seeing Russia and enjoying a new track. Whenever we go to places like Latvia or Czech Republic, these places really put in a big effort and the events are always fun to race.

Photo: Gautier Paulin - Sarah Guiterrez image

Read the next news: Swedish GP winners – Desalle and Searle (03 Jul 2012)

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