Paturel tries to hold off MX2 title pressure
Benoit Parurel will be France's main hope in the 2 FIM MX2017 World Championship and hopes to live up to those expectations for the Kemea Yamaha team riding Rinaldi-tuned YZ250FM bikes. The always calm Paturel finished third in the 2 MX2016 campaign behind Jeremy Seewer and champion Jeffrey Herlings and, together with the Swiss and Pauls Jonass, is now one of the favorites to take over the vacated crown from Herlings.
“It feels OK,” says 22-year-old Paturel. “You just have to do your best in this sport, because everyone has the same goal when you are at this level. I have to take it race by race and try to match my driving from last season.”
Paturel works and trains very closely with team trainer Jacky Vimond and teammates Brent Van Doninck and Alvin Ostlund. These three riders have a good bond with each other, although it is Paturel who has the most ambitions to achieve top results in 2017. “We work together with Jacky and his ideas and we have a nice atmosphere together within the team. “ says Benoit. “It's great for me to have these teammates every day, when I have a bad day they pull me back up. We push each other during training and then everything becomes a little easier.”
“On paper he finished third last year and should be able to fight for first place, but that last step is the most difficult,” says former world champion and trainer Jacky Vimond. “The last step is not just about speed, but you also have to be mentally strong. Benoit is physically very good, he showed that this winter during the bike and fitness tests. He is also fast, but the stumbling block is his mind. He has done a good job so far, but now he has to do it in the races and then he has a good chance.”
Paturel took the bronze medal in 2016 with three podium finishes on the Yamaha despite his mother's illness mid-season. “It's different now… but the team helps me as much as possible,” he says after this difficult period. “I think a lot about what happened, but I will try to achieve my goal. Since I was born I wanted to become world champion and if it doesn't happen this year then maybe in the future. I live in the present and in each moment that comes.”
For the first time since 2009 we will have to do without sole ruler Jeffrey Herlings and the Red Bull KTM. This means that the MX2 category will have an open battle because the dominant Dutchman will move to the MXGP. But will Paturel be able to enjoy this Herlings emptiness?
"Yes!" he laughs. “But I know there will be a lot of drivers who will be very good and I know there will be a few who will take a step forward. It will be difficult like every year in the world championship and the level seems to keep increasing. I will not win the championship in Qatar, I just have to be there every race.”
Original: Adam Wheeler – ontrackoffroad.com – Dutch Version: @Kris…
Photo: Yamaha
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