Press Release

SWEDISH GP NEXT FOR SUZUKI MX1

ocscottie
6/29/2011 6:09pm


Round
eight of 15 in the FIM Motocross World Championship at Uddevalla in
Sweden might be coming around just a bit too soon for the Rockstar
Energy Suzuki World MX1 team as Clement Desalle faces a fitness battle
after dislocating his right shoulder in Belgium last Sunday.

The
factory RM-Z450 rider heads to the town north of Gothenburg just one
point ahead of World Champion Antonio Cairoli but determined to put the
inconvenience of his smash at Tongeren behind him and aim for a maximum
haul.

Desalle will take some solace from his performance in
Portugal last year that occurred just two weeks after a similar
dislocation at the Dutch Grand Prix and at which the Belgian was able to
emerge victorious with two runner-up positions in the motos. There is
bound to be a strategy of caution at Uddevalla however as the
Scandinavian challenge is the first of three in a row with visits to
Germany and also Latvia to negotiate in the coming weeks.

"The
difference with last year is that I had two weeks to try and recover;
this time it is so close and I really don't know what I will be able to
do," said the Belgian who has amassed three victories and five podiums
from the campaign to-date. "The crash happened when I was moving up
positions in the moto. I had fallen already, behind another rider at the
start, and was gaining ground but not taking any risks at the same
time. I passed Van Horebeek and he must have jumped too long because he
almost landed on me, on my left side, and I crashed onto my right
shoulder. I knew what had happened right away. I got back to the van and
was able to put it back in.

"It is incredible. It is almost
hard to accept it has happened actually," he added. "I read on the
internet that I am OK to race but moving the arm is one thing and then
racing a 40 minute grand prix moto is another. We will have to see in
Sweden."

The climbs, banked turns and fine soil of Uddevalla
have been a staple fixture on the FIM schedule this century. The tight
layout can be home to grippy and loose sections but then also slippery
hard-pack. The Swedish trek has provided recurring success for Steve
Ramon who will be hunting his fifth podium finish in six years. The
former World Champion heads to Uddevalla on the back of a victory at
Tongeren, an improving right groin-strain; and with the knowledge that
his pace and considered line-choice has delivered trophies in 2006, '07,
'08 and '10. Indeed the Belgian only missed out in 2009 when he was
absent from the Grand Prix through a neck injury that forced him to
sit-out half of the season.

"I'll be going through the same
routine this week of some physical training and then maybe some riding
because I still have to be a bit careful with my leg," the veteran
commented. "Uddevalla doesn't change that much but it is a track I like
and where I usually find a good speed right away. Everything went well
in Tongeren and I took some confidence from that race so I hope I can
continue in the same way."

An early weather forecast for the weekend predicts cloudy but warm conditions with the chance of rain.


MX1 World Championship standings (after 7 of 15 rounds): 1. Clement Desalle (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 285 points;
2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 284 p.; 3. Steven Frossard (FRA,
Yamaha), 250 p.; 4. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), 225 p.; 5. Evgeny
Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), 204 p.; 6. David Philippaerts (ITA, Yamaha), 199
p.; 7. Rui Goncalves (POR, Honda), 192 p.; 8. Jonathan Barragan (ESP,
Kawasaki), 164 p.; 9. Xavier Boog (FRA, Kawasaki), 161 p.; 10. Steve Ramon (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1), 149 p.

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