Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1 briefly forgot the anguish of the past week and injury to Steve Ramon thanks to a superb display of riding by Clement Desalle who posted his fourth victory of the season to win the Casino Bonver Grand Prix of Czech Republic today.
The Belgian scored second and first positions to earn the top step overall under cloudy skies and watched by a weekend crowd of 21,000 for the 12th round of 15 in the FIM Motocross World Championship.
Rain throughout the morning of race-day created two slick and muddy 35 minute and 2-lap motos but on a greasy course that was difficult for overtaking, Desalle was able to excel and record his first triumph since round six in Portugal. In the first outing he hounded the rear wheel of Rui Goncalves for the majority of what was a tense and entertaining battle for second spot. After winning the duel, the 22-year-old Belgian went one better in the second moto and, after finding an opportunity to demote leader Tanel Leok, rode on to take the chequered flag by a comfortable distance.
Kevin Strijbos stepped into the team to replace Ramon and immediately found his speed on the factory RM-Z450 at the place where he had tasted victory on two occasions (2005 and 2007; the '05 success was notable for being the first GP spoils for the four-stroke motorcycle). The Belgian was a decent sixth overall and can look to a positive ride in the first moto where he drew up to the back of the gaggle of riders disputing podium positions and crossed the line in sixth. He was eighth in the second race.
Desalle trailed Tony Cairoli by 52 points at the top of the MX1 table prior to Loket but now the gap has shrunk marginally to 48. Strijbos is 13th in the list and will now attempt the three remaining races in the UK, Germany and Italy from the confines of the Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1 awning.
The British Grand Prix at Matterley Basin will take place on August 21st although the team will enter the Belgian Championship meeting at Mol next Monday.
Clement Desalle:
"My shoulder is getting better and better but this track was really difficult, especially for passing. You had to fight really hard and be a bit aggressive. It was not so cool but you had to show that you were there to make a pass. It wasn't fun out there and if there were more lines then that would have helped. For the Championship...we can only look to the front and everything can still happen. I had to ride hurt and this is a part of motocross that I don't like! But the team has helped me deal with this situation and I have learned a lot."
Kevin Strijbos:
"I feel pretty good. In the first race I hit Tanel just out of the gate but the start was not too bad. I could push pretty good after that but there was a gap to the group ahead and I needed to close up. I tried not to go too crazy but I felt pretty tired afterwards. I was not great at the beginning of the second moto and while everyone managed to pass Boog, I struggled to do it. It was a shame because I lost the tow to the others. Overall it is OK. This was my first race with the team and now we have a bit more time to practice some more and test a few small things."
MX1 Moto1: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 40:32.283; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), +0:05.506; 3. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), +0:06.272; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:07.172; 5. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), +0:08.098; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), +0:11.839; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:13.689; 8. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:30.589; 9. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:35.142; 10. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Honda), +0:56.943.
MX1 Moto2: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 40:06.261; 2. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), +0:03.847; 3. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), +0:05.500; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:07.409; 5. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:08.391; 6. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:10.341; 7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:19.581; 8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), +0:21.471; 9. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Honda), +0:48.590; 10. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Kawasaki), +0:54.398.
MX1 Overall result: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 47 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 43 p.; 3. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 40 p.; 4. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), 31 p.; 5. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 29 p.; 6. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 28 p.; 7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 27 p.; 8. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), 25 p.; 9. Christophe Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), 24 p.; 10. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Kawasaki), 21 p.
MX1 World Championship standings (after 12 of 15 rounds): 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 509 points; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 461 p.; 3. Steven Frossard (FRA, Yamaha), 428 p.; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 387 p.; 5. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 378 p.; 6. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 349 p.; 7. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 308 p.; 8. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Honda), 268 p.; 9. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 262 p.; 10. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Kawasaki), 254 p. 11. Tanel Leok (EST, TM), 229 p.; 12. Steve Ramon (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 229 p.; 13. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 204 p.
