Press Release

SUZUKI RM-Z450 ON FRENCH MX1 POLE

ocscottie
6/4/2011 3:31pm


Rockstar
Energy Suzuki World MX1's Clement Desalle produced an exciting and
accomplished performance in the 'sauna' of St Jean D'Angely to capture
his second pole position of the year on the factory RM-Z450. The Belgian
will enter the start gate first for the Grand Prix of France and the
fifth round of the FIM Motocross World Championship.

The
sun-baked course near the west coast of France was excessively watered
during the first part of the day and the practice sessions became more
about exercises in caution. Come late afternoon and the rough and drier
mud offered varying degrees of grip. Desalle excelled during the 20
minute and 2 lap qualification heat where he chased down Max Nagl and
enjoyed a brief battle with the German and Antonio Cairoli in the
closing stages.

Team-mate Steve Ramon was a steady sixth. The
Belgian - a former moto winner at St Jean D'Angely - still wants to
refine the set-up of his RM-Z450 and was also struggling with a painful
right thumb after a rock smashed his hand.

As the Saturday
programme came to a close the forecasted rain for the evening started to
coat the venue. More showers are predicted tomorrow for a likely wet
race.

Clement Desalle:

"I saw that I
could take a different line to Max entering the start straight with
three laps to go and took the chance. It is a hard track for overtaking
so you really have to make the most of any opportunities. It could be
wet tomorrow but it will be the same conditions for everyone to deal
with; you have to be good everywhere! In Brazil I made too many mistakes
and I don't want this to happen again."

Steve Ramon:

"The
race was OK but the track was difficult with the one line. I didn't
push too hard but I know I can ride faster and smoother. We will work a
little bit on the set-up of the suspension just to find a bit more
traction. Whether it is wet or dry tomorrow the start is going to be so
important."

MX1 Qualification Heat Classification: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 25:16.274;
2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:01.371; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA,
KTM), +0:01.919; 4. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Honda), +0:29.690; 5. Evgeny
Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:36.953; 6. Steve Ramon (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), +0:38.746;
7. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:43.562; 8. Rui Goncalves (POR,
Honda), +0:45.884; 9. Benjamin Townley (NZL, Kawasaki), +0:48.882; 10.
Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:49.596.



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