Gautier Paulin announces retirement from motocross
By Andrew Hill on 29th Oct 20
Gautier Paulin has today announced his plans to retire from motocross racing at the end of this season.
As the new guys get faster, the old guys (relatively speaking) find it harder to get the big deals. It's the cold hard reality of the sport. And while some find a way to keep going others like Clement Desalle and now Gautier Paulin say enough is enough.
In a heartfelt message on social media Gautier wrote: "It is with a great deal of emotion that I have decided to call time on my career. I have dedicated my whole life to my sport and it has made me the man I am today.
"I had a wonderful awakening in 2007 when I signed my first pro contract and won my first title. It set me on a path I had dreamt of. I'm so grateful that I got to fight with the best riders in the world, gain the trust of the most prestigious companies and brands, wear my nation's jersey for 11 consecutive years at the Motocross of Nations and win the event.
"I love challenges, performance, hard work, and having the desire to give my best.
"Ive experienced indescribable feelings of joy, Ive led the MX2 and MXGP world championships, sang the Marseillaise with the public, and lived through strong emotions that have marked me forever. I also have the most unbelievable fans and I humbly thank every single one of them as well as every single person that helped or believed in me for the last 15 years and more. Sport unites us.
"Now it is time for the next chapter."
Paulin celebrated his first MXGP race win since 2017 on his way to second overall at the 13th round in Lommel, Belgium and currently sits sixth in the standings.
Ben Watson has signed with Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP for 2021 for his first year in MXGP and the team confirmed that 26-year-old Swiss rider Jeremy Seewer will stay on for another term. They also revealed a third rider would be announced soon.
There is a lot of speculation that Glenn Coldenhoff will be that third rider. The Hoff's current team, Standing Construct GASGAS Factory Racing, announced that they had signed two new riders to complete their 2021 line-up (Pauls Jonass and Brian Bogers). So indeed, it looks like things are lining up for Coldenhoff to join the Factory Yamaha outfit.
As for Paulin, the Frenchman has had a fantastic career he was European champ in 2007 and made his MXGP debut season in 2008 with Molson. And let's not forget his FIVE MXoN gold medals, equal to Stefan Everts and David Bailey and only bested by Roger De Coster's six and Jeff Ward's seven.
It's a shame MXGP is losing another top-10 guy but that is the way of things. It must also be disappointing for him to not have the fans there for his last motos. GP21, I hope you get to go out on a high in Trentino.
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