Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1 was able to celebrate its first win of the season as Belgian Champion Clement Desalle shook off the disappointment and discomfort of a dislocated right shoulder sustained two weeks ago in Holland to take two second positions at a rough and rutty Agueda circuit for the Grand Prix of Portugal, toasting his first overall victory for the team this year and his maiden triumph on the RM-Z450WS.
After the deluge of rainfall on Saturday and some light showers on Sunday morning the race programme was graced with sunshine and patchy cloud. 14,000 spectators surrounded a drying course with a wet and greasy first moto of 35 minutes and 2 laps preceding a rippled and harder terrain later in the afternoon.
A gate malfunction caused a brief delay to the first moto but the distraction did not deter Desalle who started well and rode unhindered to the runner-up position. With no ill-effects from his shoulder, Desalle altered his objective towards a possible podium finish. The second race entered a dramatic final phase with a three-rider tussle for second spot. Desalle almost lost the GP when he tumbled from the factory machine exiting the wave section but then recovered superbly to pass two riders and again reach second.
Team-mate Steve Ramon was ninth overall. The Belgian suffered a hefty crash on Saturday while fighting for second place in the Qualification Heat and was nursing a sore hip and arm as well as a head-ache. The former World Champion could not overtake as he wished in the first moto and finished seventh. A bad start and then a fall in the second race robbed the veteran of a front brake and he managed 12th by the flag. The 30 year old will now have an easy week ahead of the next Grand Prix.
Ramon is fourth in the World Championship standings, 55 points behind leader Antonio Cairoli, and one point head of Desalle in fifth.
Round five will take place next weekend at the Bellpuig circuit, over an hour west from the city of Barcelona, for the Grand Prix of Catalunya.
Clement Desalle:
"I hadn't ridden since Valkenswaard and came here to get as many points as I could, so to win is a surprise and feels very good. After the first moto I did not have any pain in my shoulder and I saw it was possible to win. When I crashed on the waves in the second moto I thought 'No! This is not possible' but I pushed hard to reach second again and I'm very happy. This is my first win for the team and for Suzuki and even though it came at an unexpected time I am enjoying it a lot! I am still recovering with my shoulder so I must not get carried away."
Steve Ramon:
"It was tough out there and I had a lot of pain. My riding was not too bad but my start position meant the races were difficult. It was not easy to pass in the first moto but things were ok. In the second I was feeling good with the bike and was passing people but then I made a mistake and lost the front wheel before the finish-line jump and the front brake lever bent; so I could not use it anymore. I finished 12th and I'm not happy with that but I have to accept it because the GP went wrong yesterday for me. It is shame because things were going so well before the crash in the Heat. I think I will need a few days to rest as my leg is quite sore. Let's hope Spain is a bit better."
MX1 Moto1: 1. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 40:37.687; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Teka Suzuki WMX1), +0:14.633; 3. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:17.055; 4. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:18.870; 5. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:20.685; 6. Tanel Leok (EST, Honda), +0:22.020; 7. Steve Ramon (BEL, Rockstar Teka Suzuki WMX1), +0:45.869; 8. Seebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:53.096; 9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +1:04.235; 10. Marc de Reuver (NED, Suzuki), +1:06.660.
MX1 Moto2: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 39:57.508; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Teka Suzuki WMX1), +0:02.809; 3. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Yamaha), +0:04.569; 4. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:06.537; 5. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:09.288; 6. Tanel Leok (EST, Honda), +0:12.826; 7. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:23.894; 8. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:28.727; 9. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:51.791; 10. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Honda), +0:52.578. 12. Steve Ramon (BEL, Rockstar Teka Suzuki WMX1), +0:56.710.
MX1 Overall result: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Teka Suzuki WMX1), 44 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 41 p.; 3. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 41 p.; 4. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 36 p.; 5. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 33 p.; 6. Tanel Leok (EST, Honda), 30 p.; 7. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 26 p.; 8. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 25 p.; 9. Steve Ramon (BEL, Rockstar Teka Suzuki WMX1), 23 p.; 10. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Yamaha), 20 p.
MX1 World Championship standings (after 4 of 15 rounds): 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 179 points; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 161 p.; 3. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 133 p.; 4. Steve Ramon (BEL, Rockstar Teka Suzuki WMX1), 124 p.; 5. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Teka Suzuki WMX1), 123 p.; 6. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Yamaha), 114 p.; 7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 106 p.; 8. Tanel Leok (EST, Honda), 96 p.; 9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 79 p.; 10. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 75 p.
