Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Gautier Paulin returned to the top step of the MXGP podium at Valkenswaard on Sunday in his first overall aboard the factory FC 450.

Paulin won the opening moto and then backed that result up with P2 in the second, securing the overall ahead of Jeffrey Herlings (Red Bull KTM) and Jeremy Van Horebeek (Monster Energy Yamaha).

Pole-setter Antonio Cairoli (Red Bull KTM) fell victim to a bad start in the opening moto and claimed ninth, before bouncing back to win the second outing and land fourth overall.

Defending champion Tim Gajser (Team Honda HRC) went 6-4 for fifth overall, now carrying a 14-point advantage over Cairoli, with Paulin third and Herlings now moving into fourth.

In MX2 class Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass completed the perfect weekend again this season going pole in Saturday’s qualifying race and following it up with two race wins for the overall ahead of Jeremy Seewer (Team Suzuki) and Brent Van doninck (Kemea Yamaha).

Leading Australian was Hunter Lawrence (Team Suzuki) in sixth via a 10-5 scorecard, while Jay Wilson (iFly JK Racing Yamaha) was credited 29th and Caleb Ward (8biano Racing Husqvarna) 37th.

The second EMX250 moto was taken out once again by Miro Sihvonen (KTM), while an 11th-place result placed Jed Beaton (Carglass Honda) in 13th overall for the round. The MXGP World Championship will now move onto Kegums in Latvia on 7 May.