Italian-based outfit JK Racing Yamaha have officially confirmed that French rider Benoit Paturel will line up under their awning – starting this weekend at the Italian Championship round at Fermo.
The experienced Frenchman joins the team as a fill-in rider while regular rider Isak Gifting remains sidelined through injury recovery. The agreement will see Paturel not only race the Italian Championship this weekend but also contest the upcoming MXGP World Championship rounds in France and Germany with the team.
At this stage, the deal is only in place for those selected events, but a strong showing could potentially open the door for something longer term later in the season.
Paturel is no stranger to Yamaha machinery. Throughout his career, he has enjoyed some of his best years aboard blue bikes, most notably during his time with the factory Yamaha MX2 programme. More recently, he also represented the de Baets Yamaha squad in the MXGP World Championship before making the move stateside last season to race the AMA Pro Motocross Championship.
His return to the MXGP paddock will certainly be welcomed and the Frenchman will no doubt be motivated to prove he still belongs at the highest level. With opportunities limited in the current market, these next few races could prove crucial as he looks to secure a more permanent ride for the future.
Riccardo Boschi (JK Racing – team owner):
“Benoit had asked me if we had a place available for the time that Isak remained in recovery and that he would be happy to ride for us. For Yamaha Italy the Italian championship is very important, we have already missed two rounds, and so he will start with the Italian championship and then we will see how it goes. He will also certainly race two GP’s for us. I think for him it is a positive thing because he can compete with the others and we are present with a 450cc bike, which we are missing at the moment”.
