Paulin is easily one of the most famed riders on the gate. The 29-year-old Frenchman already has an incredible list of achievements that includes 12 Grand Prix wins. He has stood on the podium 56 times. In that time, he has won 19 races. In addition to his individual achievements, the French phenomenon has had the honour of representing his nation at the prestigious Monster Energy Motocross of Nations on ten occasions, each time playing a vital role in the teams' success, that includes five gold medals, in 2014, '15, '16, '17, and ’18, and two silver medals, in 2009, and '11.
In 2011 he stepped up to the premier class formerly known as 'MX1' and now named 'MXGP', where he won the opening round in Fermo, Italy, onboard a Yamaha YZ450FM, and took the same bike to victory at the 2011 Motocross of Nations in Saint Jean d'Angely, France, where he was the captain of the 'Home Team'.
After moving on to face new challenges in racing from 2012 through to 2018, Paulin made his return to Yamaha in 2019 with a satellite team and instantly stunned on his production YZ450F, aboard which he celebrated four podium finishes and fell a slender 8-points short of the bronze medal.
His immediate success meant that he was fast-tracked into the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team for 2020, where he believes that even a one percent improvement in the bike can be the difference between winning and losing.
"I know what I want and, actually, I can really have what I want right now," explained Paulin. "Being back with the factory team is a big step and it brings with it that extra one percent, which in racing is big because we're all at 100 percent. Being on the top step of the MXGP class means being involved every single minute of your life, to be the best."
And last but by no means least is the 2019 MXGP runner-up, Seewer. Over the past four years, the young Swiss rider has been the ‘bridesmaid’ but never the bride.
Throughout his Grand Prix racing career, he has led 127 laps, won 15 races, including qualifying races, celebrated five Grand Prix victories and 32 podiums. After finishing eighth in his rookie season in the premier class, the ‘91’ was drafted into the Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team where he was able to ride the works version of his trusted YZ450F.
His enormous improvement since lining up on the YZ450FM was evidenced by his six podium appearances on his way to finishing second overall in the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship, which raises the age-old question; what will it take to go one better?
"After being vice-world champion, of course, there is only one more thing to achieve," says Seewer. "It's super tough out there to win. There are so many guys who are world champions, so many guys winning Grands Prix, so it's a huge amount of work and a big story behind to actually become a world champion. I visualise what it would be like to be on the top, to be world champion. And I think it must be one of the most amazing feelings, just to be the best at what you do."
