Image: Supplied.

Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha’s Gautier Paulin is pleased with Team France’s efforts at the weekend’s 2019 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) in Assen, the squad seeing it’s five-year winning streak come to an end as the Netherlands earned the crown for the first time ever on home soil.

In rain-soaked conditions, Paulin came from outside the top 10 in the opening MXGP/MX2 encounter to finish fifth, while his second outing in the final race of the day saw his YZ450F run out fuel on the final lap, denying France of a podium result.

His French teammates, former world champion Jordi Tixier (KTM) and Maxime Renaux (Yamaha), put in respectable performances alongside Paulin, granting Team France fifth in the Nations classification.

“We have won five times in a row, this was a big highlight of the Motocross of Nations for Team France, but all good things come to an end and today we have to accept the fail,” Paulin explained. “For myself, I was very happy with my teammates, we put in a good amount of effort to be on the podium and on the second to last lap, I run out of fuel.

“It’s tough to accept, but I had a great experience this weekend. The track was gnarly, the atmosphere and fans were incredible. Thanks to the public, and congratulations to The Netherlands on the win. It was a wet and gnarly weekend, but as always, it was a weekend we all enjoyed and it will give us a lot of memories.”

Paulin is set to remain with Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha in the 2020 MXGP World Championship, which will become the official factory Yamaha team.