The Grand Prix of France represented almost the mid-way stage of the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship and it was a weekend to forget for Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP as Clement Desalle was forced to withdraw from the motos on Sunday at Villars sous Ecot with a weak right shoulder.
Although the Belgian suffered a blow to his title aspirations there was a consolation for the Suzuki camp as Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Glenn Coldenhoff posted his best results yet in the class with a ninth and a sixth position.
Desalle made life difficult after a relatively slow-speed tumble in Timed Practice on Saturday that yanked his shoulder. The ‘#25’ then suffered a tough landing in the Qualification Heat and jarred the joint once again and this led to a sequence of incidents in which he was hit to the ground and then struck by another rider.
Battered and bruised, but aiming to attempt the motos around the compact and short layout on the steep French hillside, Desalle took to the line in the first race but only managed a lap before he had to pull in, unsure of the stability and strength of his shoulder.
Team-mate Kevin Strijbos was not able to compete due to the continuing problem with his right thumb and is seeking more specialist advice while also resting his hand. The Belgian now has a fortnight to recover further before considering a second return to active GP duty this season.
Coldenhoff was the bright light. The Dutch rookie improved his starts compared to the British Grand Prix last week and this was key to his results. He pushed up from the top 15 to ninth in the first moto but was lively out of the gate in the second – watched by 45,000 spectators - and was troubling the leaders in the opening corners. The former MX2 GP winner needed some time to find his pace but then circulated in a tight group with Evgeny Bobryshev and Dean Ferris, finally taking fifth for a personal best.
After the weekend’s events Desalle now sits third in the MXGP championship standings and 41 points from re-owning the red plate. Coldenhoff’s 28 points from Villars’ means that he keeps ninth spot. The Grand Prix of Italy – the second of three trips to the country this season – will take place in two weeks time with the inclines of Maggiora ready to host round nine of MXGP in 2015.
Clement Desalle:
“There is nothing to say. I’m really sad. Yesterday it happened in half-a-second. There was a stone on the take-off and I was on a slow lap. The bike reacted strangely because of the stone and I felt my shoulder go. It was like it came out a little bit but I popped it back immediately. I strapped it and tried to ride in the qualification but did not feel comfortable. I was scared that on every take-off it might come out because I damaged the muscle again. I don't really have any more words at the moment. I want to say that the track was not at the level for a Grand Prix. When you see the take-offs then it is like it was made yesterday by an amateur. I will see the doctor tomorrow and we will know more. Compared to my other injuries, then it doesn't feel too bad, but I need to see if I have strength in the next few days. I would like to have some scans to see what is going on in there.”
Glenn Coldenhoff:
“Yesterday we were struggling a little bit and we made a lot of starts on the test track. I went from 16th to ninth in the first moto and my feeling was good. I could ride strong and aggressive. Finally in the second moto I pulled a start and I was a bit unsteady at the beginning. I had to find my rhythm and when I had that; then I went for it. I passed a few guys and got to fourth. I was pushing Bobryshev and felt I was faster on some parts but then I almost had a big crash and went over the bars. I got a bit dizzy after that and I think the ‘moment’ cost me that fourth place. Anyway ninth and fifth is a really good day. It is the best GP so far and pretty special on a track like this for a Dutch guy. I’ll take a lot of confidence from this.”
MXGP Moto1: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 34:07.793; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:03.893; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:25.131; 4. Dean Ferris (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:30.105; 5. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:32.380; 6. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:37.604; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:42.512; 8. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +0:43.953; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), +0:52.376; 10. Gregory Aranda (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:57.131; 31. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), -20 lap(s).
MXGP Moto2: 1. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), 34:41.009; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:03.574; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:25.199; 4. Dean Ferris (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:27.686; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), +0:31.461; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:38.026; 7. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:43.190; 8. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +0:47.747; 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:52.688; 10. Tyla Rattray (RSA, Kawasaki), +0:54.542;
MXGP Overall result: 1. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 47 points; 2. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 40 p.; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 39 p.; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 37 p.; 5. Dean Ferris (AUS, HUS), 36 p.; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 28 p.; 7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 28 p.; 8. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 26 p.; 9. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 24 p.; 10. Todd Waters (AUS, HUS), 17 p.; 32. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 0 p.
MXGP World Championship Standings (after 8 of 18 rounds): 1. Maximilian Nagl (GER, HUS), 332 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 313 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 291 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 282 p.; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HON), 252 p.; 6. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, HON), 247 p.; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), 169 p.; 8. Todd Waters (AUS, HUS), 138 p.; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 134 p.; 10. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 133 p.; 17. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), 78 p.
