Press Release

DESALLE GRABS 3RD MX1 POLE AT AGUEDA

ocscottie
6/11/2011 5:10pm

Rockstar
Energy Suzuki World MX1's Clement Desalle displayed what is now
becoming a ruthless streak in qualification for the third time from six
events in the FIM Motocross World Championship by earning Pole Position
for the Grand Prix of Portugal. 

The
Agueda circuit, 80km south of Porto was dry, bumpy, slippery and
challenging but the Belgian made a minor modification to his front
suspension, set the second best lap-time in pre-qualification and then
claimed victory in the Qualification Heat. Desalle shrugged off the
presence of Max Nagl and applied a lot of pressure to the rear wheel of
Evgeny Bobryshev until the Russian made a mistake and crashed. 

Desalle
picked up his third Lovemytime award to add to the spoils taken in the
USA and France last week. Team-mate Steve Ramon also adjusted his front
forks to deal with the quest for smoother lines. The Belgian made a
reasonable start but did not feel completely prepared to push harder
from the sixth position he held in the Heat sprint. 

The
sunshine and bright conditions are predicted to continue for tomorrow's
race-day and the first leg of two events on the Iberian Peninsula. 

Clement Desalle: 

"I'm
feeling confident. It is a good track but different to previous years.
You have to be careful because even the slightest mistake will put you
on the floor. There doesn't seem to be as much traction as in the past,
you really have to concentrate. I was coming closer and closer to
Bobryshev in the race when he made that strange crash. We went one click
different on the front fork but the bike has been good all day." 

Steve Ramon: 

"My
riding was OK for today. We had a small problem with the bike in timed
practice and I had to use the second one. Everything was back to normal
for the race and the Heat was OK but I didn't feel so comfortable. I
couldn't push that much. The track is difficult and bumpy. We still have
a little bit of work for tomorrow morning and the warm-up." 

MX1 Qualification Heat result: 

1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), 23:47.136; 
2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:02.201; 
3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:10.027; 
4. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Honda), +0:13.494; 
5. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:18.378; 
6. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), +0:20.886; 
7. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:24.779; 
8. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Honda), +0:31.571; 
9. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Suzuki), +0:32.017; 
10. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, Kawasaki), +0:35.418; 

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