Joining his fellow countrymen Jean Michel Bayle, Sebastien Tortelli, Frederic Bolley and Mickael Pichon as a two times World Motocross Champion and stamp his place in French Motocross history.

The Grand Prix of Benelux really proved a tough day as the Lierop circuit remained the monster that it is as the bumps and holes made it (along with Lommel) the toughest sand circuit in the World.

Gautier Paulin did get the Grand Prix victory with 1-3 results, while Musquin was second overall and Roelants third overall. Paulin had spent two weeks living with his manager Glen Dempsey in Belgium preparing for the Grand Prix.

“The feeling is awesome,” Paulin said. “Last year it was difficult for me in sand, but now I am leading and winning. In practice I was always at the front of the riders and I am really happy to improve this much.”

MX2 Moto one started with Musquin taking an amazing holeshot, Ken Roczen was back in fourth but made some quick passes to get into second by the early part of the first lap. After one lap the two leaders were only a couple of bike lengths apart.

Roczen made an amazing pass on Musquin as the riders were travelling through the forest area as the two front men felt the heat of Paulin as he passed Musquin.

After four laps Roczen had moved to four seconds ahead of Paulin, while Musquin was a further three seconds back in third place. After Musquin came Roelants, Simpson, Frossard, Tonus, Kullas, Karro and Triest in 10^th place.

Roczen with his bike stopping on the circuit (as the chain fell off) was again left stranded as Paulin, Musquin and the rest of the field went by. At this moment the World MX2 Championship was placed into the hands of Musquin.

Just as Clement Desalle and his Suzuki team handed Antonio Cairoli the MX1 World Championship in Brazil two weeks earlier (Desalle also DNFed with a broken bike giving Cairoli and early championship celebration).

Roelants was making a move on Musquin as the two KTM riders fought for second place. Simpson was 18 seconds behind and Frossard who held fifth place a further three seconds back.

Roelants moved into second place as Musquin began to enjoy the final moments before he would be crowned by the KTM team.

Jake Nicholls had made a nice slice through the field to move into 12^th place just behind Zach Osborne, Nicholls has been as far back as 25^th in the early going.

With two laps to go the race still belonged to Paulin, with Musquin cruising behind in third and less than five minutes from being crowned World MX2 Champion for the second year running.

As Paulin crossed the finish line for the moto win all attention went to his fellow Frenchman Marvin Musquin who came around to be to the same celebrations his fellow Red Bull KTM team-mate Antonio Cairoli celebrated in Brazil. KTM’s World domination had been achieved.

The second MX2 moto and it was new World Champion Marvin Musquin who led the riders into the opening lap. A great battle between Roelants and Roczen for second, although once past Roelants Roczen quickly caught Musquin and worked on setting him up.

Roczen eventually passed Musquin in a wild pass, and as Musquin tried to fight back the two nearly collided. Paulin back in fourth place clocked the quickest time of the early stages of the race.

Paulin was making the most of some good lines and caught third placed Roelants and passed him at the back of the circuit.

With his bike bucking around like a wild horse Roczen began to make distance on Musquin although like in the opening moto the Frenchman had more to go for as he worked on trying to win the Grand Prix.

Further back came Kullas in fifth, then Simpson, Osborne, Nicholls, Teillet, Van Horebeek, Tonus, Larson, Van Wezel, Charlier and Pocock in 15^th place.

Not a lot happened in the mid-stages of the races, although Frossard did return to the pits on lap eight and Paulin moved into third and was looking to beat Musquin in the points race for the GP overall.

While Roczen rode away with the moto Musquin and Paulin were in a battle for second place. The two Frenchman finished 16 seconds behind the race winner, with Musquin second and Paulin third. Third was good enough for Paulin to win the Grand Prix.

Marvin Musquin comments

“This feels so good, I can’t believe it. To win my second World title with KTM and now go to America that is really special for me. I have to thank so many people, everyone in the team, my family and friends, everyone. I finished third and second today, but it was good enough to winning the title. I was disappointed for Ken (when he stopped on the track), it’s the third time he has had the problem with the bike, he is a good rider and he works hard in the sand and also the hard pack. The World title is a long series, I remember winning in France and America. It’s been a fantastic year, maybe near the end I got a little nervous, but I can’t wait to work with Roger De Coster in America. I want to thank so many people, everyone around me. The KTM bike is just amazing. I am so happy to continue with them in America.”

Joel Roelants comments

“The first race I was getting tired, but I told myself to ride my own pace, now I had a lot of energy and in the second moto I wanted to give everything."

Gautier Paulin comments

“For sure I am fit again, mentally I am strong again. I had good lap times and I feel so good on the bike, the Yamaha Monster Energy team have helped me so much, and I am so happy to win my first moto in the sand of Lierop. I want to congratulate Marvin on his World title.”

Results – Grand Prix of Benelux

MX2 Moto one: 1. Gautier Paulin (Yam); 2. Joel Roelants (KTM); 3. Marvin Musquin (KTM); 4. Shaun Simpson (KTM); 5. Steven Frossard (Kaw); 6. Arnaud Tonus (Suz); 7. Harri Kullas (Yam); 8. Nick Triest (KTM); 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (Yam); 10. Matiss Karro (Suz); 11. Zach Osborne (Yam); 12. Valentin Teillet (KTM); 13. Jake Nicholls (KTM); 14. Dennis Verbruggen (KTM); 15. Ceriel Kromhof (Yam)

MX2 Moto two: 1. Ken Roczen (Suz); 2. Marvin Musquin (KTM); 3. Gautier Paulin (Yam); 4. Joel Roelants (KTM); 5. Harri Kullas (Yam); 6. Zach Osborne (Yam); 7. Shaun Simpson (KTM); 8. Arnaud Tonus (Suz); 9. Valentin Teillet (KTM); 10. Jake Nicholls (KTM); 11. Michael Van Wezel (KTM); 12. Nikolaj Larsen (Hon); 13. Jeremy Van Horebeek (Kaw); 14. Glenn Coldenhoff (Yam); 15. Nick Triest (KTM)

MX2 O/A: 1. Gautier Paulin 45pts, 2. Marvin Musqin 42pts, 3. Joel Roelants 40pts, 4. Shaun Simpson 32pts, 5. Harri Kullas 30pts, 6. Arnaud Tonus 28pts, 7. Ken Roczen 25pts, 8. Zach Osborne 25pts, 9. Valentin Teillet 21pts, 10. Jake Nicholls 19pts

MX2 World Championship points: 1. Marvin Musquin 613pts, 2. Ken Roczen 524pts, 3. Steven Frossard 446pts, 4. Jeffrey Herlings 391pts, 5. Zach Osborne 368pts, 6. Joel Roelants 366pts, 7. Shaun Simpson 361pts, 8. Arnaud Tonus 356pts, 9. Jeremy van Horebeek 345pts, 10. Harri Kullas 310pts, 11. Gautier Paulin 298pts, 12. Christophe Charlier 222pts, 13. Jake Nicholls 217pts, 14. Anthony Lupino 173pts, 15. Dennis Verbruggen 155pts