World MXGP Leader Desalle Hopes for More in Italy

Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP’s championship leader Clement Desalle dusted himself down from a first-lap crash during the qualification heat for the Grand Prix of Trentino at Pietramurata today and took 22nd place for the same slot in the gate for round four of 18 in the FIM MXGP World Championship tomorrow. Desalle set the second fastest lap in Timed Practice around the tight, narrow and slippery Italian course in the shadow of the Dolomite mountains. The Belgian immediately clicked on the works RM-Z450 in terms of his speed but wasn’t quite prepared in the vital seconds before the gate dropped for the 20-minute and two-lap sprint in the afternoon. His getaway was not up to the usual high standard and he circulated mid-pack around a venue that was busy and cloud-covered. The Italian soil was also a different prospect due to the wear of five racing classes in action throughout the day. Around the last corner before the end of lap one Desalle elected for the outside line but his manoeuvre and speed brought him together with Tyla Rattray on the approach to the final jump on the track and both crashed. Desalle was unhurt and managed to continue but obviously far behind the pack. Despite the adversity the MXGP Championship leader has an ideal chance to reverse his luck tomorrow in the two 30-minute and two lap motos with dry weather and sunshine forecast. Clement Desalle: “My day started well and Free practice and Timed practice was OK; everything was under control. I had a bad start in the Heat race because I was still too busy with 15 seconds to go. Actually, I did not have a bad start but I was stuck together with some guys and felt like I was mid-pack. I was eighth or 10th or something and on the corner before the finish I went to the outside. The guys on the inside came across a bit and I was already jumping down; I hit Rattray and we went down hard together. It was quite a big crash but I was able to get back on the bike and do the race as well as I could. I don't think being 22nd is such a big problem because anywhere near to 20 is fine for the start here. Tomorrow is another day.” MXGP Qualification Heat classification: 1. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 25:03.328; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:01.837; 3. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:03.865; 4. Ryan Villopoto (USA, Kawasaki), +0:04.775; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:06.154; 6. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), +0:07.060; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:08.192; 8. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), +0:25.535; 9. Steven Frossard (FRA, KTM), +0:28.968; 10. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:32.727. 22. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), +1:12.352.


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