Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1 is currently in transit across the Atlantic and to the city of Guadalajara for the very first Grand Prix of Mexico, where the event will be played out at the Nico España circuit this weekend.
The fourth round of 16 in the FIM Motocross World Championship will be the first of a two-leg, back-to-back South American stint of the calendar with a stop in Brazil, at Beto Carrero, following directly after.
With two podium results in the three events run so far, Clement Desalle will be hoping for further consistency and success on his factory RM-Z450 as he looks to improve on his fourth position in the standings. Only 12 points separate the 22-year-old Belgian from second spot in the series; even though the former national champion is impatient to claim his first chequered flag of the year after the six motos run so far.
"I've made some mistakes in the first few Grands Prix but I will continue to keep being positive and give my very best every race," he said. "The tracks have been a bit strange, a bit tricky, so far. I need to have fun on the bike and I've been missing a little bit of that.
"I spent the break after Italy doing some physical preparation with my dad and rode yesterday on a hard-pack track some 70km from my home...just the normal routine really," he added.
Guadalajara is the second biggest city in the country and the centre of the Jalisco region, home to some five million inhabitants. The Nico España layout will be a new test for Desalle and team-mate Tanel Leok but from internet videos and recent photos, a jumpy and sandy terrain lays in store.
"Going to a new place and a new track is always a challenge but I always seem to suffer with the long haul travel," Desalle added. "I cannot sleep on the plane and usually need a bit of time to recover and acclimatise; as do most riders I guess. I haven't been able to test the other fuel spec yet but it will be good to have another option and we have two practice sessions before the qualification heat to get everything ready."
Desalle is referring to the possibility of being able to use fuel sanctioned by the FIM under AMA ruling and the team have sent two different provisions for the Mexican and Brazilian rounds to be able to optimise set-up according to the climate.
Tanel Leok will be entering his fourth event with the Belgian crew and after a small respite in which he was able to further recover from his left ankle injury. The Estonian will have to brace himself for a hot and difficult meeting at Guadalajara with forecasted temperatures hitting 30 degrees and the location of the circuit in this area of Mexico touching 5000m above sea level.
MX1 World Championship standings (after 3 of 16 rounds): 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 133 points; 2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Kawasaki), 116 p.; 3. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 106 p.; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 105 p.; 5. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 95 p.; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), 76 p.; 7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 72 p.; 8. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 69 p.; 9. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 69 p.; 10. Tanel Leok (EST, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 62 p.
