Desalle Victorious in Latvian Double MX1 Podium

Team Suzuki Press Office - June 27.

The Grand Prix of Latvia at the Kegums circuit was memorable for providing Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1 with a double podium appearance and the second victory of the year for Clement Desalle.

The Belgian went 1-2 in the two motos for his overall success and was backed up by Steve Ramon in third position for an excellent ninth round of 15 in the FIM Motocross World Championship for the Belgian team.

Dry conditions throughout the weekend meant that the loose soil of Kegums revealed a hard terrain underneath and mixed a fast and relentless course with physically-draining bumps. Hot sunshine on Sunday further increased the demands of the two 35 minute and 2 lap motos.

After earning his second pole position in succession on Saturday, Desalle made an excellent comeback in the first moto: The Belgian was outside the top 10 on the first lap but fought the entire race to reach second place and then chase Evgeny Bobryshev, who he overtook with three laps of the 20 remaining. The chequered flag represented the second win of the season for the 21 year old. In the second moto he again ran a sterling pace on the works RM-Z450WS and kept comfortably ahead of his team-mate and behind Tony Cairoli for second position. The result represented Desalle's fourth career triumph and second in Suzuki colours.

Steve Ramon felt an improvement in the arm infection that hampered his efforts seven days previously in Germany. The experienced Belgian was holding second place in the first moto until Desalle ploughed through and thereafter rode a solid race to finish third. A similar strong performance in the second sealed the former World Champion's second piece of silverware this season after his podium finish at round three in Holland.

Desalle maintains second place in the World Championship table and trimmed four points from Cairoli's lead with the gap now at 61. Ramon is fourth and 21 points from David Philippaerts.

Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1 now press onwards without respite as round 10 will take place next weekend at Uddevalla for the Grand Prix of Sweden.

Clement Desalle:

"I was close to winning here last year so I am glad I could do it this time. To take the GP is really good but I wanted to win that second moto as well but Antonio was too fast. I concentrated on my lines and did not want to make any mistake. The first moto win was good and I saw Bobryshev getting tired towards the end so I pushed hard and knew that I was taking seconds on him each lap. No crashes, my shoulder feels very strong and a lot of points; it was a good weekend."

Steve Ramon:

"It gives me a great feeling to be on the podium because I have been struggling with some injuries since Portugal and have been hardly riding during the week since then. The first moto was OK. The start was really good and Clement and Bobryshev were too fast to follow. My start was not great in the second race but I passed many riders and was feeling quicker and more comfortable. I came closer to Clement but then started to get a bit of pain in my hand and had to back off because I didn't want to take any risks."

MX1 Moto1: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1), 38:54.633; 2. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:12.451; 3. Steve Ramon (BEL, Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1), +0:24.131; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:33.514; 5. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:39.071; 6. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:44.621; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:46.826; 8. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Honda), +0:48.973; 9. Tanel Leok (EST, Honda), +0:50.444; 10. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Yamaha), +0:54.965.

MX1 Moto2: 1. Antonio CCCairoli (ITA, KTM), 39:44.581; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1), +0:13.410; 3. Steve Ramon (BEL, Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1), +0:25.118; 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:32.040; 5. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:37.404; 6. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), +0:41.379; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:42.842; 8. Tanel Leok (EST, Honda), +0:44.219; 9. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), +0:50.391; 10. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Honda), +1:09.611.

MX1 Overall Result: 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1), 47 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 43 p.; 3. Steve Ramon (BEL, Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1), 40 p. 4. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 40 p.; 5. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 31 p.; 6. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 31 p.; 7. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 28 p.; 8. Tanel Leok (EST, Honda), 25 p.; 9. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Honda), 24 p.; 10. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), 22 p.

MX1 World Championship standings (after 9 of 15 rounds): 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 384 points; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1), 323 p.; 3. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 298 p.; 4. Steve Ramon (BEL, Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1), 277 p.; 5. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 276 p.; 6. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Yamaha), 269 p.; 7. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 248 p.; 8. Tanel Leok (EST, Honda), 207 p.; 9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 189 p.; 10. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Honda), 189 p.