XL Christmas interview with Gautier Paulin!
2017 was an important year for Gautier Paulin (27). After two tough years at Honda, the French superstar led to the resurrection of the Rockstar Energy Factory Husqvarna team. That resulted in a GP victory, a third place in the World Championship final standings and his fourth consecutive MXoN victory as captain of the French team!
A while ago we had the opportunity to sit down with Gautier and his wife Clémentine. There we sat opposite a relaxed rider, away from the distractions and stress of a race weekend. It became a captivating and candid conversation with GP21. Feel free to call it our Christmas gift from under the tree, freshly served with lovely photos!
Gautier, how does it feel when you stand on the podium at Matterley Basin after your MX of Nations victory. What is going through your mind at that moment?
Gautier Paulin: "That it is a great achievement. We just won a world title for our country, for my team. It is an achievement for the country and the Motocross of Nations is one of the biggest races in the world. It is a competition that all riders are enthusiastic about. The course at Matterley Basin was great. Okay it was raining, but they did a really good job with the track. When you stand on the highest scaffold, it is always a great feeling.”
Is that different from winning a Grand Prix? Because you do that alone?
Pauline: "It is different. At the MXoN you have to get along with your teammates. You have to help them further. Especially for me as captain of the French team, there is more organization involved. I try to make everything work for the benefit of the riders. So that it becomes easier to go racing. We've been working that way for a few years now and it's been several years that we've been winning. We won't always win, of course, we know that. But you'll never get used to it. But it works the way we do it now and it's my job to share with the riders. It is also my job to ensure a good atmosphere in the team. Sometimes you don't drive individually. You can't just ride at your own risk like you do at a GP when you start badly. If you are driving as a team - and the team is winning and you get a bad start - you don't risk everything yourself. You look at the bigger dream: winning as a team. It's also a different feeling to share a victory than an individual victory. But it's a cool feeling. It's the end of the year and there are so many good riders. So if you are part of the team, you have a good season and you are strong. Especially in France where there are so many fast drivers. I enjoy riding in the Nations.”
You made it a point to actually be a captain. So you also feel responsible for the atmosphere and to do more within the team?
Pauline: “Yes, normally we ride together for two to four days. Unfortunately, that was not possible this year, but we did try to establish good cooperation with the French federation. They put a lot of effort into this competition. But for every GP rider it was difficult to fit everything neatly into the program. If you can write history, the reward is even greater.”
Have you consulted with team manager Pascal Finot about using Christophe Charlier? Sometimes the selection even becomes political with riders who do not get along well with the federation...
Pauline: “It is true that there is some history with politics. But speaking of Christophe; I was in the US at the time for the American GP. When they started talking about riders, no one even had Charlier in mind! But I knew that Christophe was a factory rider for Husqvarna a year earlier as a motocross rider and this year was a factory rider in Enduro. That's how I knew it would have factory support. I told the federation that I would choose the best bike for MX2. That's KTM or Husqvarna and Christophe was the best profile. I said that's why I would choose Charlier. They trusted what I said and they made it happen. But in the end it was the federation that decided.”
What did you take away from your time at Honda. What did you learn from it?
Pauline: “I learned a lot about life, a lot about myself. It was an important experience. I started working with the best trainer in the world. And I did everything I could. When push came to shove, the click with the engine turned out not to be optimal.”
What is it like to get a new motorcycle and the combination does not run as expected? How do you deal with that?
Pauline: “As a driver you start something and you believe in the best scenario. That's determination. For my part, I worked as hard as I could: with the best trainer, with the best plan… I hurt myself very much (ed. during the French GP). Still, I came back to take podiums and win again. Of course I also had very bad moments and it was not easy. But that's behind me now and I'm completely erasing that part of my career. The only goal I had was to sign with Husqvarna and this year was all about my comeback. As a result, we now have a strong basis to work for next season.”
Ice One also has its own trainer. How does that work in terms of preparation, do you work as a team or individually?
Pauline: “I have my trainer, I still work with Aldon Baker a little bit. I also work with the team and train with the team. To test the engines together.”
You have gone through all the ranks in the sport yourself. What's the worst advice you've ever heard?
Pauline: “Sometimes you see that the child doesn't want it and that it is just the father's passion.”
At the age of ten you became BMX world champion. Three years later you switched to motocross without your family having experience in the sport. How confident were you that it would work there too?
Pauline: “When I started, I had to learn how to use the clutch! So I wasn't sure if it would work out. I was just sure that I would have fun. I drove until the tank was empty and only thought about engines. I did everything alone. I was a professional in four years and it felt good to achieve that. It's nice when you make progress. You learn to take turns better, jump better, your driving skills become sharper and I haven't been hurt during that period. My first injury was only in the world championship. I felt good, but it was a huge amount of dedication. I couldn't drive much. I just rode on Saturdays and Sundays because my father worked. But I fully committed myself. I wasn't hanging out with friends or anything. I just thought about driving. That was my goal and it paid off.”
Were you a good student or just good at sports and completely focused on life as a professional athlete?
Pauline: “It was sport before anything and my goal of becoming a professional took precedence. That was all I thought about. I had good facilities at school. I went to a private school, it was really strict. I was there from 8 to 12 and from 1 to 5. It was hard for me to sit there and concentrate. I could have stayed in school, but when the teacher asked me if I wanted to do something, I said I wanted to be a motocross rider. Then they told me: 'That's not work.' They tried to destroy your dream. But I think it's good to get an education at school. I can read and write well. When I went to MX1 I took a course to become an MX trainer.”
What is that little bit extra you will need to beat Herlings and Cairoli and become world champion?
Pauline: “Better starts, better speed, better cornering. I have to improve in every area.”
How do you approach that, which is many different things at the same time?
Pauline: “It's being dedicated to what you do day and night. That is the only way to become one of the best in the world. Even if I become world champion, it will still be important to improve. We also need to improve on the bike and I think we have already done that.”
In what areas did you improve the engine?
Pauline:“The starts, the suspension and the power. The engines change a lot in terms of stiffness every year. But I really like the spirit of Husqvarna. They are really, really involved in competition and they can react and change things very quickly. As a rider you feel that they really have your back. Racing also makes them sell more. I ride a standard motorcycle at home. Those series engines are strong and are in turn derived from the factory bike.”
What do you think of the new starting grid behind the fence?
Pauline: “I think it's good, it's more professional. I think we should pay more attention to them because they are sometimes full of mud, making them slippery. With the MXoN you kept slipping on the grid and there isn't much you can do. But it was the first year in the GPs and I think it is a good choice.”
What do you really believe in? What is an inner belief that you have?
Pauline: "Hard work. When people say to me you have so much talent... I don't believe in talent! In BMX people said I had so much talent, but I was on my bike every day. Talent comes from hard work.”
What do you think talent is?
Pauline: “Of course, when I see Usain Bolt running, it is unmistakable that he has more talent for sprinting than me. That's a fact. There are some riders in motocross who are talented, they have their dreams and they try to chase them. You also need a little luck in life, things have to coincide. But every top rider and manufacturer works very hard. My vision of talent is more that of a process.”
If you could go back to your 16 year old self and give him advice what would you say?
Pauline: “I have no regrets about what I have achieved. The story behind me has made me who I am today. I have been with my wife for ten years. I'm 27 years old, I have a great family, I do what I love for work and I always try to achieve big goals. I try to take care of my body every day with my workouts, that's what I love. You can always do better, it can always be worse. You have to take what comes, we don't know what the future holds.”
How does the collaboration with your team manager Antti Pyrhonen work?
Pauline:“He is a hard worker, he works as hard as a driver. It's good to have him by my side. He is a great personality. I've known him for a long time and we have a great relationship.”
Many people do not know the team owner F1 pilot Kimi (Raikkonen). He often appears mysterious. How do you work with him?
Pauline: “He is very interested in motocross. I like his mentality. He loves motocross, he also likes to ride and he is in a position to have his own team. I think that will also bring a lot to the MXGP paddock. I believe this team is the very best and brings that spirit of F1 to motocross. It's great for motocross and we have to thank him for that. By the way, Kimi is a good motocross rider herself!”
You used to dream of moving to America. Do you regret not doing that?
Pauline: “It was more of a dream to race there because you always want more. If you look at the evolution and the level in MXGP, things have certainly gone in the right direction. I love supercross and that's what I wanted to do. But on the other hand, MXGP is becoming more and more professional and with 20 laps it is no longer possible to do anything wrong. I definitely love what I'm doing now. I love the sport, supercross, but living in the US is a different story. I am where I am and I have chosen to stay here. It's not that there weren't teams (in the US). I had many options to go, but I want to stay here.”
Do you still ride BMX?
Pauline: “I ride some BMX, I just do it when I want. Sometimes I don't drive for a whole year. Sometimes I ride two or three times a week.”
Do you feel like your height is an issue on the 450?
Pauline:“I've had that on a few bikes, but on this bike (the Husky) I feel really good.”
Is it important for a rider to make the team work together and also be a leader in the team?
Pauline:"I'm just myself. I try to be honest and sincere. I am honest with the people around me. I train hard and spend many hours on the bike. From January to May the mechanics have no life. I have a lot of respect for them. The best way to thank them is to win and never give up. The relationship is true and real, that's how I am with them and vice versa.”
Do you have something like a life motto or a quote that inspires you?
Pauline: “There are a lot of quotes I like for inspiration. There was one I saw at the KTM dinner yesterday, “Work hard in silence and let success speak for you.”
People expect riders to return 100% to their old level after being hurt, but how difficult is that?
Pauline: “There is a saying that it makes you stronger when you are injured – but it doesn't! There are always traces of any injury and it's damn hard to come back. You succeed, which increases your positivity and determination, but injuries take a heavy toll on your body.”
If I were to get injured as a non-professional athlete, what advice would you give me?
Pauline: “You have to listen to your body, you have to give your body time. We try to speed up the (recovery) time, but sometimes you have to wait. The mind and body are separated. I have done everything I can to get back faster. Sometimes you just have to wait for the body. Motocross is a tough sport. I have a lot of respect for Valentino Rossi, the way he came back from his broken leg was phenomenal. But in motocross he wouldn't have been able to do that. There are also things that don't work out.”
When Jorge Lorenzo broke his collarbone in Assen in 2013 and raced straight back, he said off the record that he would never do it again. It was difficult to concentrate on those speeds with painkillers and the risks were simply too great.
Pauline: “It comes down to the determination and goal you want to achieve. He wouldn't do it again, but he did. Sometimes you just have to do it.”
If you could do something crazy or borrow an unusual toy, then...
Pauline: “I would like to drive a rally car or F1. Flying a helicopter also seems cool to me.”
Any last words?
Pauline: “I think motocross is going in the right direction. Hopefully in the future more tracks will open than close and people will have more respect for motocross and give it a good image.”
What do you think of electric motors?
Pauline: "I am fine with it. You could just ride in the yard with your kids, it would be great. But we will be nostalgic about the sound of a four-stroke!”
Tekst: Tom Jacobs
Photos: shotbyBavo, JP Acevedo, CDS
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