Steven Frossard rejoins the Kawasaki Racing Team
Thursday 12 September: Former GP winner Steven Frossard will complete a formidable twin spearhead alongside Gautier Paulin as the Kawasaki Racing Team seek yet more success in the 2014 FIM MXGP Motocross World Championship.
Gautier Paulin, Thierry Chizat Suzzoni and Steven Frossard.
Since becoming involved with KRT at the end
of 2008 as team owner, Thierry Chizat Suzzoni has been looking at every
detail to bring back both the team and Kawasaki to the winner’s circle.
Thanks to Gautier Paulin who joined the team last season for his debut
in MX1, the team has won a number of GPs during the past two seasons and
is now looking for even more success. For the first time KRT will
line-up two former MX1 GP winners next season, as Steven Frossard joins
Gautier Paulin for his return to the Green family. After a top three
world ranking during his last MX2 campaign three years ago with
Kawasaki, Steven has enjoyed some successful moments in the MX1 class
but has also struggled with injuries.
Steven Frossard: "It was
not so easy to make my decision as I had a strong relationship with my
former team, but during the last two years I didn’t finished either
season due to injuries and it was time to give my career a new impulse.
Mentally the last two seasons have been very difficult; each time I got
hurt I tried to recover quickly to get back to racing but in the end it
didn’t happen despite all this efforts. I started my professional career
with Kawasaki, and I already rode a KX450F Kawasaki at the end of that
stage of my career, so I know the bike. I also know many members of the
KRT staff so it will be nice to again be with Thierry, who helped me
when I first turned professional. The first goal is to recover
physically, to work hard this winter and to be ready for the first races
of next season.”
Thierry Chizat Suzzoni: "I’m very happy to
bring Steven into the team next season; it’s a great satisfaction as we
know his qualities. I was involved with him when he raced his first GP
season in 2007, and we have taken this great opportunity to work with
him again. He had several injuries during the past two seasons, so next
year his goal will be initially to rebuild his confidence, to enjoy
riding again and to complete a full season. Gautier has been working
with us for two seasons now and he helped us to make a step forward;
we’re very happy with his work and results. Our goal as a team is to
continue our progression, to win GPs and to be a title contender, so
we’re pleased to have two GP winners with us. I’d like to thank Kawasaki
for their continued long-term involvement with us; I’m sure we have the
right package to do even better in the coming seasons.”
Steve
Guttridge, Kawasaki Motors Europe: "I’m really happy to have Steven back
in the Kawasaki family; he spent a significant part of his career on
green bikes and got really good results in the MX2 class with the brand.
He is a good guy to work with and has already shown his potential in
the MX1 class but I’m sure we’ll see a lot more from him on a Kawasaki.
The KRT team take it step by step to upgrade every year and challenge
for the top positions on the podium; they have now two proven winners on
a 450 who for sure can challenge for podiums at every GP and ultimately
battle for the world title for Kawasaki.”
|