The Yamaha factory motocross team will split its priorities to focus on a two-pronged assault on both the MX1 and MX2 world championships titles in 2010.

Yamaha has enlisted the services of French teenager Gautier Paulin to steer the revamped YZ250F in the MX2 class, while it has also extended its contract with 2008 MX1 world champion David Philippaerts on the YZ450F.

For Philippaerts (pictured above) it will be his third year with the Italian-based Rinaldi Yamaha set-up.

The 25-year-old Italian rode to the title in his first season with the team in 2008.

Paulin, a 19-year-old from Draguignan, raced a Kawasaki to lead the early stages of the MX2 title chase this year and he shows plenty of promise for the future.

Paulin burst on the scene with a flurry of superb wild-card rides in the 2007 season; the same year he won the European Motocross Championship.

“Naturally we are pleased to be able to count on the services of a rider of David’s capability for another season and his record with the Yamaha Monster Energy MX Team speaks for itself,” said Yamaha Motor Europe Racing Manager Laurens Klein Koerkamp.

“The addition of Gautier Paulin is a great asset to the team and his speed, ability and status as one of the main contenders in MX2-GP mean that we are sure to be pushing for the top in both classes in 2010.”

“No other manufacturer has won so many premier class world titles in motocross in the past 10 years as Yamaha and we have just clinched the MX1-GP manufacturer’s and rider’s standings again,” he added.

“For the future, we want to continue to be the leading firm in the motocross world. Importantly, having representation in two classes under the direct wing of the Rinaldi group, means that we can continue our technical evolution at the highest level.”

“Development of the 2010 GP machines has been extremely good so far and I am confident that the work we will do over the winter for next season will mean that we retain our exceptional standards in GP racing,” commented team principal Michele Rinaldi.

“We are pleased to welcome a rider of Gautier’s undoubted talent and determination to the team, and for us it will be interesting to compete in two classes for the first time since 2005.”

The Yamaha Monster Energy Motocross Team has an unparalleled record in the premier class of the FIM Motocross World Championship earning an amazing five MX1 crowns over the past six seasons; since MX1-GP was created by combining the old 500cc and 250cc divisions in 2004.

Belgium’s Stefan Everts won the MX1 crown for Yamaha in 2004, 2005 and 2006, while Philippaerts won it in 2008 and fellow Italian Antonio Cairoli won it this year.

Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com