Press Release

Desalle 4th in Lommel MX1 Qualifying

ocscottie
7/30/2011 3:21pm

Rockstar
Energy Suzuki World MX1's Clement Desalle recovered from two small
slips during the MX1 Qualification Heat in the bumpy sand of Lommel to
secure fourth position in the gate for tomorrow's Grand Prix of Limburg
and the 11th round of 15 in the FIM Motocross World Championship.

Team-mate
Steve Ramon was hospitalised after crashing at high speed on the
opening lap: The Belgian hit the ground head first and was originally
taken for scans lacking feeling in his legs and arms. Thankfully the
former World Champion was starting to regain sensation in his limbs at
the time of undergoing an MRI on Saturday early evening. He appears not
to have broken any bones and to have only suffered nerve damage in his
neck.

The Lommel sand - lit by a dark, overcast and cold sky -
was as treacherous as ever and the constantly-shifting ruts, bumps and
lines punished the smallest moments of indecision or error. Desalle was
third and sixth fastest in Free Practice and the Pre-Qualification
session and then started with the holeshot at the first time of asking
for the Qualification Heat. Ramon's fall brought proceedings to a halt.

Desalle
launched from the gate brightly for the restart but dropped his works
RM-Z450 on two occasions while challenging for a top-three placing. The
three-time Grand Prix winner this season was finally able to establish a
decent tempo to cross the finish line in fourth.

Clement Desalle:

"Not
so bad today but obviously with the sandy track everything becomes a
bit more difficult. The break between the Grands Prix helped with more
recovery and I'm quite pleased with the riding and the race today. I
made a couple of mistakes but I was able to catch up quickly at the end
so I feel pretty happy. I will try to do my best tomorrow...and avoid
more crashes! We hope everything is OK with Steve."

MX1 Qualification Heat:
1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 25:55.701; 2. Steven Frossard (FRA,
Yamaha), +0:01.337; 3. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:30.757; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), +0:34.117;
5. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Honda), +0:38.896; 6. Maximilian Nagl (GER,
KTM), +0:39.787; 7. Marc de Reuver (NED, Yamaha), +0:41.068; 8. Tanel
Leok (EST, TM), +0:45.975; 9. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), +0:50.048; 10.
Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:58.047. DNF: Steve Ramon (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1).
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