Molson Kawasaki triggered their 2008 racing campaign last weekend with an appearance at the 25th Mantova Starcross International. The Italian venue has become the traditional curtain-raiser on the European off-road racing schedule in recent years. New team recruit Gautier Paulin took decent second place overall in his ’euro’ debut for the British crew.
Paulin, with his typical loose and exciting style, followed up his win in Japan last year with solid performances in the three 20 minute and 2 lap motos. The races took place under bright sunshine all weekend long but temperatures still revealed the drags of winter.
The highly-rated French teenager – working with former world champion Jacky Vimond – placed 2nd, 4th and 4th in his class during the sprints and reached the final of the ‘One to One’ against Tommy Searle but fell off his KX250F-SR in the first few corners.
Paulin...
It was a good weekend for me here in Italy, the first opportunity to test the Molson engine under race conditions rather than on a test track, I started well in race one and was fifth amongst the larger 450cc machines which made me happy. For sure the bike is good and I am very happy with the set up. I finished the day second overall in the MX2 category which is a very good start. I know where I am weak at the moment so I need to train more with the bike as a mainly did physical training rather than riding but for sure in two weeks after more time on the bike I am looking forward to the race at Valance in France”.
Gareth Swanepoel was only able to take fourteenth overall after scoring points in just two motos, in one he had to recover from a first lap crash. Mantova was very much a dusting-down session for the South African as he only returned from his native country last week
Swanepoel...
“I just arrived back from South Africa, it’s a little bit colder here than there but I am looking forward to getting the new season underway. Things didn’t go to plan during Saturday’s practice session, I was a little unlucky and crashed and again I crashed this morning in the first practice and hurt my back pretty badly, I didn’t want to race but then thought I’d better go out and just use it for practice and help to set up the bike so long as my back didn’t start hurting. The moto’s turned out OK but again in the last race luck just wasn’t on my side. I made a very good start but De Reuver made contact with another rider and came back off the berm and slammed into me. I suffered a cut in my arm which was pretty deep so I had to go to the doctor, not a pleasant end to my weekend.”
