Benoit Paturel has had some strong results contesting the MXGP World Championship over the past two seasons but is currently without a ride for the 2025 season. The French rider is motivated to continue racing and is just waiting on an opportunity…
On his determination to remain racing at the highest level…
“I continue to maintain myself, work every day. I do physical sessions 2 to 3 times a day to keep fit, and so it’s not too complicated to resume when I get back on a motorcycle. It’s to try not to lose too much of the physical base, but also keep a goal in mind and tell me that a door will open. It helps me stay motivated. You always have to fight, like I always did. Now the cards are not in my hands. I don’t want to stop right now, so we’re going to continue like this while remaining confident. I hope a door will open soon.”
On what is required to race MXGP…
“People do not realize, but behind it, it is a whole organization to train at that level. There is no question of taking your van and going to drive, it would be too easy. It takes a big budget parts, but also a large stock of parts, because our trainings are a lot. You pass between 2 and 3 tires at each training, chain kits, clutches and everything that goes with it. You need a skilled mechanic by your side to be able to keep up, because we are talking about 4-5 rides per week. We are no longer in the spirit of leisure, we are not here to have fun; it is really very fastidious. So there is also the maintenance of the motorcycle behind. It’s impossible to do a good job on your own and focus on the professional level, the MXGP level. It’s complicated to go from everything, to nothing, but for now, that’s how it is”.
On how he finds himself without a ride for 2025…
“Actually, I was supposed to be engaged with De Baets in 2025. That was the deal, it had to continue for me. The team let me know they were stopping, and finally I just learned that it would continue. The plan was to go back with me, and maybe a European rider in 2025. So people expected me to continue with De Baets next year and in the end, I wasn’t in the team discussions. There have been some misunderstandings over the past year. It was not very clear with the team: they stopped, then they found solutions to start again. I think if people had interest in me for next year, they did not show up because I had to leave with De Baets”.
“Very surprised, I was at the Paris Supercross and about twenty people came to see me saying that it would continue, they were surprised because I was no longer in the plans. I was the first surprised that it will go back, because I was really in the initial plans. With De Baets, it was supposed to continue only for me and another rider, but apparently not. In fact, the team had to stop as you reported in previous weeks and now, finally, it would start again… but without Paturel. So very surprised, very disappointed too. Even after 10 years of GP, we still learn every season; it’s a medium that is like this. But we continue our way, each on our own”
On wanting to secure a team for 2025…
“It will be necessary to see the doors that will open for me in the future, since it has just been announced thanks to Kevin from DailyMotocross, Andy at GateDrop, and others in the press… For now I remain open to all proposals, they are all good to consider, and good to take. We will see what comes for me. After the main objective, as I’ve said many times, is the high level. That’s what interests me. But in itself, the National, it could be a temporary solution, so let’s see”.
“After that, I remain open to other proposals in other continents, in other countries. I am not closed to the MXGP project alone, but my goal is to evolve at the highest level; it’s a certainty. If a good ride is offered, I will be the first to jump on it”.
