American video starring "MX Panda"

Photo: CDS

Clément Desalle certainly made an impact on the US scene with his ride in Washougal last weekend. Check the Alliance of Action Sports video here: http://www.allisports.com/videos/rider-week-clement-desalle

MX Panda on the podium in Washougal!

Photo: Ray Archer

LS Motors-Honda rider Clément Desalle came ninth overall yesterday in what was his first race on American soil, in Washougal (Washington). However the twenty-year old Belgian made a huge impression on fans and media throughout the day. The ‘MX Panda’ posted a strong third time in qualifying behind series leader Chad Red and Andrew Short. Desalle backed his qualifying pace up in moto one with an excellent third place. Adding a career first AMA moto podium to his fast growing tally. The stage was set for a memorable second moto, but this time Desalle struggled with a bad start, a crash and technical woes. Still Clément kept on fighting in the sweltering heat to finish 25th.

Clément Desalle: ”To ride in the US for the first time was really a big thing for me so it was very cool to be on the podium! Racing in Washougal was a great experience, and the weather was very hot but I felt quite strong actually. Away from the bike it was also a little bit stressful and overall the result coud have been better. We had quite a lot of trouble with setting up the bike and I had some bad luck in the second moto. Still I wanted to continue after the crash I had, but I suffered some technical problems and couldn’t push like I wanted to. I know I can do more when I arrive better prepared.”

Moto 1: 1 Chad Reed (AUS-Suzuki), 2 Tommy Hahn (USA-Kawasaki), 3 Clément Desalle (B-LS Motors-Honda), 4 Matt Goerke (USA-Suzuki), 5 Josh Grant (USA-Yamaha), 6 Jake Moss (AUS-Honda), 7 Andrew Short (USA-Honda), 8 Jimmy Albertson (USA-Yamaha), 9 Justin Brayton (USA-KTM), 10 Jason Lawrence (USA-Yamaha) / Moto 2: 1 Chad Reed (AUS-Suzuki), 2 Josh Grant (USA-Yamaha), 3 Jason Lawrence (USA-Yamaha), 4 Michael Byrne (AUS-Suzuki), 5 Jarred Browne (USA-Suzuki), 6 Nick Wey (USA-Yamaha), 7 Davy Millsaps (USA-Honda), 8 Justin Brayton (USA-KTMi), 9 Ben LeMay (USA-Yamaha), 10 Jimmy Albertson (USA-Yamaha), 25 Clément Desalle (B-LS Motors-Honda),

Washougal overall: 1 Reed 50, 2 Grant 38, 3 Lawrence 31, 4 Brayton 25, 5 Byrne 25, 6 Albertson 24, 7 Wey 23, 8 Hahn 22 9 Clément Desalle (LS Motors-Honda) 20, 10 Tedesco 20

Clément off to a flying start!

Photo: CDS

Washougal MX Park seems to hold few secrets for LS Motors-Honda's Clément Desalle! Clément immediately felt at home on the scenic and fast track. The Belgian qualified third behind Short and Reed. Pretty impressive out of the box, because 'MX Panda' wasn't able to practice this week. It's literally going to be hot for the moto's, because the temperature is 32° C and rising! Full results here:

1. Chad Reed, Australia, Suzuki, 2:11.449
2. Andrew Short, Smithville, Texas, Honda, 2:11.673
3. Clement Desalle, Belgium, LS Motors-Honda, 2:12.107
4. Michael Byrne, Australia, Suzuki, 2:12.944
5. Thomas Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Kawasaki, 2:13.264
6. Jason Lawrence, Carlsbad, Calif., Yamaha, 2:13.306
7. Josh Grant, Riverside, Calif., Yamaha, 2:13.316
8. Ivan Tedesco, Tallahassee, Fla., Honda, 2:13.432
9. Justin Brayton, Murrieta, Calif., KTM, 2:13.643
10. Cody Cooper, New Zealand, Yamaha, 2:13.767

Clément off to the US

Photo: CDS

At 4 AM on Monday morning LS Motors-Honda team rider Clément Desalle has left his native Belgium for the US. Twenty-year old Desalle has been the MX1 sensation in Europe this season. He's currently fourth in the MX1 world championship and second in the Belgian Nationals. Desalle will compete in the eighth round of the 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. With the next GP on the 1st and 2nd of August in Lommel, 'MX Panda' was keen to get his first taste of racing in America and Washougal is the perfect occasion!