Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1's Clement Desalle picked up his first GP podium finish of the season with second overall at a wet and windy Valkenswaard for the Grand Prix of the Netherlands and the opening round of 16 in the FIM Motocross World Championship.
The RM-Z450-mounted Belgian launched his GP campaign with a strong showing in front of 23,000 spectators at the bumpy and slick course. Although a sustained rain shower dispersed the public towards the end of the second of two 35 minute and 2 lap motos, Desalle had already danced in between the drops on his works motorcycle to score results of 2nd and 2nd to lift a trophy behind Antonio Cairoli and in front of Steven Frossard.
The 22 year old was a protagonist from the early stages of both races thanks to two bright starts and a smart but efficient pace that kept him in contention at the front of the pack. Desalle fought with Cairoli and Frossard in the first and the second sprints. The highlight was perhaps the intense spat with Frossard in race two and his successful plight to keep the Frenchman in his wheel tracks for the latter half of the duration. After a mishap in 2010 and fifth position in 2011 at Valkenswaard, Desalle has captured silverware from the word 'go' for his third attempt at the premier MX1 crown in 'yellow'.
New team-mate Tanel Leok had a tough debut as a Suzuki factory rider. The Estonian is not 100% fit although any discomfort from his injured leg was not apparent in his resilient charge from the rear end of the field to 9th position in the first moto. Leok claimed that he struggled with bike fitness in the second race but his spirit was evident again and he manfully completed the race in 11th for 9th in the final MX1 classification.
With Desalle and Leok filling 2nd and 9th in the early Championship Standings the racers and the Belgian team will head next to Bulgaria (Sevlievo) and then Italy (Fermo) for rounds two and three in the coming three weeks.
Clement Desalle:
"I'm satisfied because I feel good; I rode pretty safe and at my own speed. The pace was good, the track was bumpy and difficult, but it is not like Lommel. We had four categories this weekend and the track was managed for all that racing so there were not many bumps inside the actual corners. I gave the best I could and this is OK for the moment."
Tanel Leok:
"Already yesterday I had reinjured my leg and I found in the first moto I couldn't attack the left corners and then in the second one my race fitness was not the best it could be because I haven't been on the track all that much in the last weeks. I lost my goggles at the beginning...I need to heal-up because I know I can be much better. The results do not make me happy at the moment and so many things are wrong physically, so I know what needs to be done before the next race."
MX1 Moto1: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 40:34.863; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), +0:18.926; 3. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), +0:19.932; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:31.610; 5. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +0:35.025; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +0:39.092; 7. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:52.810; 8. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:59.049; 9. Tanel Leok (EST, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), +1:01.702; 10. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), +1:09.215.
MX1 Moto2: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 41:14.597; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), +0:13.554; 3. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), +0:20.857; 4. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), +0:32.973; 5. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +0:59.751; 6. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +1:04.839; 7. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:10.455; 8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), +1:12.160; 9. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:16.549; 10. Matiss Karro (LAT, KTM), +1:17.996. 11. Tanel Leok (EST, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), +1:25.294.
MX1 Overall result: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 50 points; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 44 p.; 3. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), 40 p.; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 32 p.; 5. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), 31 p.; 6. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 31 p.; 7. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 29 p.; 8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), 23 p.; 9. Tanel Leok (EST, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 22 p.; 10. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 20 p.
MX1 World Championship Standings: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 50 points; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 44 p.; 3. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), 40 p.; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 32 p.; 5. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), 31 p.; 6. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 31 p.; 7. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 29 p.; 8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), 23 p.; 9. Tanel Leok (EST, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 22 p.; 10. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 20 p.
