The new Monster Energy Yamaha team is preparing for the MX2 season with the Starcross International event in Italy this weekend. Gautier Paulin, Harri Kullas, and Crhistophe Charlier will test the limits of their YZ250FMs at the Italian circuit this weekend, as they prepare for the 2011 season.Paulin, who will be embarking on his second year with Yamaha, has been working with the Rinaldi faction of the MX2 crew in France for the last couple of weeks. Paulin, 20, will be competing in the 2011 Grand Prix campaign which starts in Bulgaria on April 10th.
Charlier has also been busy over the Winter. Charlier, the 2009 European Champion, will be racing at all four Italian events.
“I have been working hard and been riding in the sand twice a week,” Charlier said. “I have tested the bike once and I already find it improved to 2010 but we will work more in March, before, during and after the Italian Championship events, so that we are ready to go in Bulgaria. I don’t have a specific aim for 2011 other than to go as fast as I can, but to get inside the top five of the championship with some podium results would be good.”
Kullas will be starting his sophomore season at the premier level this year.
“Training has gone well,” Kullas said. “I have changed my trainer this year but not really any of the methods. We had five weeks in Spain with good weather and decent tracks and then I headed back to Finland before moving to Belgium where I am based for the season. Getting good riding time is now my priority. We go to Italy next week and we will work more with the race bikes; I have been using the stock version until now and it has been absolutely fine.”
Charlier has also been busy over the Winter. Charlier, the 2009 European Champion, will be racing at all four Italian events.
“I have been working hard and been riding in the sand twice a week,” Charlier said. “I have tested the bike once and I already find it improved to 2010 but we will work more in March, before, during and after the Italian Championship events, so that we are ready to go in Bulgaria. I don’t have a specific aim for 2011 other than to go as fast as I can, but to get inside the top five of the championship with some podium results would be good.”
Kullas will be starting his sophomore season at the premier level this year.
“Training has gone well,” Kullas said. “I have changed my trainer this year but not really any of the methods. We had five weeks in Spain with good weather and decent tracks and then I headed back to Finland before moving to Belgium where I am based for the season. Getting good riding time is now my priority. We go to Italy next week and we will work more with the race bikes; I have been using the stock version until now and it has been absolutely fine.”
