with ... Clement Desalle
Saturday 30 July: Rockstar Energy Suzuki rider Clement Desalle will go into his home Grand Prix at the Lommel circuit this weekend with one thing in mind and that is to try and break down the last point’s lead of MX1 red plate owner Antonio Cairoli.
After a month recovering from his damaged
shoulder, which cost him the red plate and a lot of momentum, Desalle
knows that it’s an uphill battle to pull back the huge lead Cairoli has,
but Desalle isn’t a quieter and will continue to fight to gain points
on the Italian. Desalle was in the eyes of many the fastest
rider in the MX1 class until his injury, but since that crash in Belgium, the
Suzuki rider has struggled to get near his main rival. Even in Latvia, a circuit
Desalle likes, he was never in the hunt against the four times World Motocross
Champion.
For Youthstream, Geoff Meyer catches up with Clement Desalle.
How did you feel in
Latvia?
On Saturday in Latvia it wasn’t so
bad, but on Sunday it wasn’t so good, my start was okay, I was okay, but I
didn’t want to take risks in the beginning and I was fourth. Then I looked to
pass Steve Ramon and I attacked and I was on the way to pass him and he closed
the line and I crashed bad and lost a lot of time, then I finished
8th. In the second moto my start was good, but Bobryshev passed me
and he hit me in the air and the bike went away, I hurt my shoulder a little.
After that I was never in the rhythm again and I couldn’t find the good lines
and I didn’t take more risks because I was worried I would crash again.
Just a handful of rounds left now, how
strong is your shoulder now?
My shoulder is better, but I had two
hard weeks and no riding during the week and then just a little riding this
week. It’s not frustrating that I am so far behind, but I am more disappointed
with the situation. I mean, I can work hard and try and come back good on my
bike.
You were the fastest guy before your
crash; do you feel like you can come back and regain your
speed?
What does it mean to be the fastest
guy before? I don’t know if
it means anything now, but we still have some races and I will do my best to
come back to the top of the championship points.

Photo: Clement Desalle - Ray Archer image.