First Grand Prix win for Splitstream rider Gautier Paulin of the Bud Racing Team
After missing most of the 2008 campaign due to several injuries, Gautier Paulin made a sensational come back in the World Championship, winning the opening Grand Prix in Italy.
The 2009 Grand Prix season kicks off this weekend in Faenza, home of the final round of the previous series. The track has been unchanged since last September, but unfortunately the weather conditions had been worst than six months ago as heavy rains came on Saturday evening and transformed the hard pack circuit into a muddy surface.
Involved in a pile up at the start of the qualifying race on Saturday, Gautier Paulin had a tough qualifying race on the sunny layout but proved his determination as he came back from last to twenty fifth with the best lap time in his pocket. He picked up a bad position on the grid, but on Sunday came among the top fifteen after the opening lap. Riding smoothly and looking for the best lines among fallen rivals in the uphills, Gautier made his way through the pack and collected the second position after thirty minutes of racing. The racing conditions came worst as the rain didn’t stopped but the 07 European Champion never gave up, and put a series of fast laps to come back right behind the race leader; Gautier made a successful move in the penultimate lap and got, one week after his first French series win, another important success.
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