|  | Yamaha Monster Energy MX Team's Gautier Paulin is close to making his debut for the squad and on the new YZ250F after recovering from a broken left fibula. The exciting Frenchman will not be fit enough to return this weekend for the Grand Prix of Portugal and the fourth round of fifteen in the MX2-GP World Championship but the Catalan event, at Bellpuig, the following week could see the number '21' machine turn a wheel for the first time in 2010.
Paulin was today (Thursday 6th) given the all-clear by doctors to commence riding again for the first time in more than one month after x-rays revealed the leg bone had healed well. The 20 year old is now making plans to steer his Yamaha and begin an intense period of preparation for Spain if his initial laps on the practice track go according to plan.
"My leg was much better last week but I was advised to wait until this week to have another x-ray and let the bone consolidate," he said. "After the x-ray today and some examinations of my foot in which I had no pain, the doctor said I could get back on the bike. He asked me to hold-off from running but I will step-up my cycling."
"I am very excited because I had more than one month of not being able to walk properly and having to watch the GPs on television; it was a hard time mentally," he added. "I now have to take things step-by-step, especially psychologically because I know it might be hard to find my rhythm and technique again on the bike in the beginning. My goal is to be ready for Spain. If everything is alright on Friday then I will get some more riding done over the weekend and again next week. It is actually a bit strange because I am ready to ride again but I have nothing planned. I wanted to do some enduro with my friend Antoine Meo but he is not around and the weather is really bad in France at the moment. I might have to head to Italy and give some people a call."
"I want to try and get in that rhythm and zone that I had in the winter," he continued. "I think Bellpuig is OK for me to come back to the GPs. If it were a place like Mantova or Latvia then this is tougher. I have some really good people around me and now I just want to play on the bike."
If Paulin can return for Spain then he should also be in good shape for round six of the calendar, the first USGP this century at Glen Helen near Los Angeles on May 30th. "I think it is important for quite a lot of European riders to want to feel 100% for this race," he offered. "It is a big event and something new for most of the current GP guys. I hope everything will be going well for me by then." |
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