Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha MXGP returned to normality this past weekend, as the thirteenth round of the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship was held at the picturesque circuit of Loket in Czechia. There were no surprises for Arnaud Tonus and Gautier Paulin upon arrival, as everyone is extremely familiar with the slick surface.
That was reflected in the practice times, as both guys wasted no time on Saturday and posted some of the quickest times in the premier class. It was then Tonus, who is on quite the roll, who fared better during the qualifying heat, as he was fourth and chased the current series leader across the line. Tonus did not get off to the best of starts in the first points-paying race though and paid the price. After starting well outside of the top ten, he rebounded to clinch tenth at the chequered flag. That also gave him eleven valuable points.
Tonus improved in a big way in moto two, as he got a stronger start and held on for fifth. The sixteen points that were gained in that one gave him eighth overall and helped him maintain fourth in the series standings, which means that he is one spot behind Gautier Paulin. Paulin had a very strong weekend on the hard-pack surface of Loket, as he secured an impressive fourth in the first moto and was just four measly seconds behind the eventual winner! The result set him up well for the second moto, where he impressed yet again.
Another fourth in moto two, after starting in the same spot, left Paulin in fourth in the overall classification as well and helped him jump from fifth to third in the championship standings, a position that he hopes to hold onto with five events left in the current season. Paulin is six points ahead of his teammate and trails the rider in the runner-up spot by twenty-six.
There will be more points available when the Grand Prix contingent hit the bottomless sand of Lommel, in Belgium, for round fourteen next weekend. It will be another event that is close to home for Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha MXGP.
Gautier Paulin: “4-4 was my place today. I was fast all weekend. Starts were key on this track. I did make a few mistakes, but that is part of racing. I am happy with the full crew and I am happy to be back at a good level and to be pain free, which is a big deal. Fourth was my place this weekend, so it was a good weekend overall.”
Arnaud Tonus: “With how I felt, this weekend was quite okay. I was really sick for a week and a half. I had a bad bacterium that infected my body and made me very sick. In the last ten days I could only ride once, so I knew it was going to be a tough GP. To come away with a tenth and a fifth in the races was not so bad considering how I felt.”
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