By winning the Casino Bonver GP of Czech Republic Paulin came back to victory after a long absence, as the French won his first and only GP at muddy Faenza. Bud Racing Kawasaki PSM's Paulin, who had a tough qualifying yesterday and was forced to start from 16th, made a strong recovery in moto one to take an eventual fourth. In heat two Paulin managed to take the holeshot and ran away with the lead, wrapping up the overall.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Goncalves brought the bike home in second courtesy of two third place finishes. The Portuguese, who struggles with stomach problems since Lommel, had a great start in heat one but was passed first by Roczen -winning the heat eventually- then by Musquin, who performed a superb last lap move. In heat two he was again a solid third.
Coming back after a recent appendix operation, Frenchman Boog went straight to the podium finishing in third overall. The Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2 rider was fifth in heat one but ended second to Paulin in a fantastic moto two.
Team mate Roczen looked like the one to beat once the first moto started, as the youngster went on to take his second career moto victory on the Czech hard pack course. A bad start in the final moto changed things for Roczen, who struggled to finish ninth. Being fourth overall in the Grand Prix Roczen made into the top five of the Championship, overtaking Frossard.
KTM Factory Junior MX2 team mates Teillet and Roelants ended fifth and sixth overall ahead of Swiss Tonus with last year's European EMX2 Champion Teillet taking his best career result since his GP debut this year.
Championship leader Musquin was ninth overall despite a second place finish in heat one. Musquin's bike broke in moto two when he was giving Paulin chase for first as he was forced to pull out, losing important points in the Championship.
Aubin was another rider with bike issues this Sunday, as a technical problem spelled an early end to a very good first heat. Despite taking fifth in moto two Aubin dropped down to 13th overall.
Michek ended 20th overall being the best placed home rider.
Zach Osborne was another individual cursed with misfortune. The American was hit in the early stages of both motos and left stranded down the field. He was 25th overall.
Gautier Paulin: 'It was important to react this weekend, to prove that the team and I are better than what we got in Lommel were we had a couple of problems. On Monday morning I was training and the technical staff was working on the bikes to prepare this GP. Everyone in the team trusts me, mentally I always believe that I have a chance to get the title and when I got the holeshot in the second heat I knew that a win was possible. I didn't take too many risks as the track was slippery. This win is great for the team because everyone works so hard. Now my goal is to reach good results in Lierop, I want to show that I can ride fast also on a sandy circuit; this coming Monday I will be training in Hossegor, and so on during the next three weeks.'
Rui Goncalves: "It was a good GP but a tough weekend when it comes to my physical condition, I managed to pick up a lot of championship points and it was nice to be on the podium. I was in front in the first moto then I made a small mistake and I lost the drive going uphill and Marvin went past me and I finished third. I didn't feel that good in the second race but I still managed to finish third so now I'm only 20 points behind Marvin. Overall it's has been a tough season because many people had written me off after the first few races but I'm still in with a good chance for the title. Now I'll concentrate on getting well and be very positive going to Lierop."
Xavier Boog: "It is a good feeling to be on the podium. I worked a lot in the last ten days to be fit for this GP and this result is very welcome! My start was very good in the second moto and for sure it is easier when you are at the front in the beginning. I tried to push a lot and stay close to Gautier but he was a little bit too fast for me. Overall though I can have no complaints from this GP."
Zach Osborne: "In the first race I had a decent start but was T-boned by Schiffer on the first lap. Everyone was going the same pace out there so it was hard to come through. In the second race I managed a whole lap and a couple of corners before I was taken out again. When I got up I did not have a front brake lever so it was pretty gnarly doing the rest of the race like that. I want to apologise to the team for the results but I got some more time on the bike to try and come back to the pace and fitness that I know I can run."
MX2 Race 1 top ten: 1. Ken Roczen (GER, Suzuki), 39:15.961; ; 2. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), +0:05.598; 3. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), +0:06.420; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:17.945; 5. Xavier Boog (FRA, Suzuki), +0:21.079; 6. Valentin Teillet (FRA, KTM), +0:23.027; 7. Manuel Monni (ITA, Yamaha), +0:28.750; 8. Stephen Sword (GBR, KTM), +0:32.980; 9. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +0:34.937; 10. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, KTM), +0:39.048;
MX2 Race 2 top ten: 1. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 40:16.555; ; 2. Xavier Boog (FRA, Suzuki), +0:03.669; 3. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), +0:04.985; 4. Valentin Teillet (FRA, KTM), +0:12.512; 5. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:23.197; 6. Jeremy van Horebeek (BEL, KTM), +0:28.303; 7. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), +0:37.799; 8. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, KTM), +0:39.236; 9. Ken Roczen (GER, Suzuki), +0:39.556; 10. Jake Nicholls (GBR, KTM), +0:44.187;
MX2 Championship top ten: 1. Marvin Musquin (FRA, KTM), 443 points; 2. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), 423 p.; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 415 p.; 4. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Yamaha), 373 p.; 5. Ken Roczen (GER, Suzuki), 306 p.; 6. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), 294 p.; 7. Joel Roelants (BEL, KTM), 248 p.; 8. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), 245 p.; 9. Manuel Monni (ITA, Yamaha), 245 p.; 10. Xavier Boog (FRA, Suzuki), 235 p.;