Clément wins the Keiheuvel, Dennis out!

Photo: CDS

LS Motors-Honda rider Clément Desalle was again in a league of his own on Saturday, during the fourth round of the Belgian motocross championship in Balen. The classic, demanding Keiheuvel event provided all the ingredients that have build his reputation: a demanding and technical sand track, a near 10.000 strong crowd, an incredible star-filled lineup and great weather!

Clément won the first two heats and had to settle for fourth in the final moto after crashing out of the lead. It was also the first time ever a french speaking Belgian has won the main event in the long history of the 'Keiheuvel'! To add the icing on the cake our 'MX panda' -as expected- will defend the national colours at the MX of Nations in Franciacorta.

Just days ahead of the event Dennis Verbruggen went down in practice and injured his arm. LS motors-Honda's MX2 contender hopes to be back for Lierop...

Clément Desalle: ”It was a bit of a shame to crash in the last heat, otherwise it would have been a perfect three out of three just like in Nismes. I felt good, but I knew right away that the Keiheuvel would suit me. Things turned out in my favour in the title race as well. I’m now leading with six points more than De Dycker. Besides that I have my mind set on the last two rounds of the Belgian championship in Wallonia as well. I really want to win there!”

LS Motors-Honda waves goodbye to Desalle

Photo: CDS

Belgian star Clément Desalle, currently fifth in the MX1 World Championship, and his team LS Motors-Honda have mutually agreed to end their relationship at the end of this season. In spite of a two-year contract that saw Desalle racing for LS Motors-Honda until the end of 2010 the rider will be released before.

The partnership between the leading privateer outfit and the ‘MX Panda’ has proven massively successful so far. From an 11th overall placing in 2008 Clément went on to guide his CRF450R to one heat win, four podiums and two pole positions in GP racing so far. The LS Motors-Honda rider is still fighting for the title in his domestic series as well and he’s also a favourite to be picked for the Belgian MX of Nations team.

Clément Desalle, rider LS Motors-Honda: ”I have to thank Steven and the LS Motors-Honda team for their trust and support. They have worked hard to provide me with the best possible equipment and create good conditions. On a personal level there is always been a good understanding between us and this has resulted in great results on the track. You will hear more about my future team and program in the next few days.”

Steven Lettani, team manager LS Motors-Honda: ”Of course we are sorry to see Desalle go, but unfortunately we

couldn’t offer him the long-term career options that he is looking for. Nor could Honda. I’m convinced that Desalle from his side will go on to do amazing things. As we will from our side for the years to come. But first let’s continue to kick ass together!”

Marnicq Bervoets, sports manager LS Motors-Honda: ”First of all I want to thank Clément and his family for their

professionalism and enthusiasm. They were a joy to be working with. It’s clear that the combination between Clément, the bike and the team gelled really well. Probably because we have so much in common: as a team LS Motor-Honda is young and hungry as well. We maintain a no-nonsense professionalism and give everything we got. That’s a part of the ’MX Panda’ style that will stay with us, so next year Clément will be gone but not forgotten!”

Successful MX2 debut for Verbruggen

Photo: CDS

LS Motors-Honda's MX2 rider Dennis Verbruggen rode to an excellent fifth overall in what was his first outing on the Honda CRF450R, yesterday in Nismes at the third round of the Belgian championship. Verbruggen jumps rom a tenth to a sixth in the championship standings..

In the first heat Dennis came back from seventh to fourth but would be overtaken by Josh Coppins in the last lap. Together with team mate Clément Desalle, Crusty would even dominate the opening stages of the second heat. While Desalle extended his lead lap after lap, Verbruggen was a shock third leaving many top MX2 regulars behind hilm. Unfortunately the former European champion was a bit to generous with the power of his CRF450R and lost his thirdposition to Josh Coppins. Dennis ended up fourth in front of Ramon and Priem.

In the last heat Dennis Verbruggen had his weakest start of the day and wouldn’t find the speed of his previous heats. This meant he lost every chance to be on the podium, although he would end the heat in sixth. His fifth overall was also a new career best for Dennis in the open class, who previously raced the United Telecom Trophy in 2007.

Dennis Verbruggen: “My first race on the CRF450R was definitely a confidence booster, although I had very few practice on the MX1 bike. Today, I felt good on it right away and I really enjoyed myself. Despite that the last heat was a bit of a bummer. I really felt that I could do better. I will do the rest of the Belgian Championship on my CRF450R. Mainly because it just increases my chances in the Open class, but also because I want to gain some experience before I could switch to MX1 full time in 2010. That's something I consider, but I haven't made my mind up yet.”

MX Panda dominates Nismes!

Photo: CDS

Top privateer outfit LS Motors-Honda struck hard during the third round of the Belgian Motocross Championship in Nismes. The first round of the year in Walloonia was also Clément Desalle’s home race. Desalle took three heat wins and became the dominant victor by doing so. Desalle is also closing in on championship leader Ken De Dycker.

Clément Desalle had been chasing Championship leader Ken De Dycker for almost a full first heat. With only two laps to go, it seemed that De Dycker would take another heat win in the Belgian championship. Desalle made a mistake but the 20 year old would turn the situation completely. In no time he came back, trailing in De Dycker’s wake. At the beginning of the very last lap the LS Motors Honda rider launched his attack. De Dycker would react prompt and professional, but to no avail as Desalle took the lead a few hundred metres further.

The LS Motors Honda duo would dominate the opening stages of the second heat. Desalle would break away from De Dycker and would build his lead lap after lap. Meanwhile Verbruggen was hanging on in third. Being a bit to generous with the power of his CRF450R caused him to lose that position to Josh Coppins. In the decisive third heat Desalle would get rid of holeshot winners Van Daele and Priem. With De Dycker just metres behind Desalle it looked like this would pan out as an absolute thriller. However, a small collision between both top Belgians meant De Dycker would lose valuable time. This enabled “MX Panda” to increase his lead and take his third heat win of the day.

Clément Desalle: “Today turned out to be really positive. Just like last year I won the overall in Nismes. My wins in heat two and three were fairly easy. In the first heat I crashed after I had been pressuring De Dycker. Luckily, I was able to come back and win. It was good to race this close to home, a lot of fans and friends showed up to support me. That makes it extra nice to win this race. Given the points standings I’m already looking forward to the Keiheuvel track.”

Can Desalle make it an encore in Nismes?

Photo: CDS

Next up on our schedule is the third round of the Belgian Motocross championship in Nismes. Nismes is an awesome, spectacular hard pack track near the French border. It was the venue for the 1997 MX of Nations and some GP's, the last one in 2005. It was also the place were Clément Desalle gave the Belgian stars somewhat of a shock by coming out (from racing the German series) and beating them all in a guest ride!

This weekend Desalle and his team mate Dennis Verbruggen will be back. However, this time around Clément is not only out for the win in Nismes is also fighting for the Belgian title agains De Dycker and Coppins. Furthermore some a couple of guys you might have heard of are making their comeback on Sunday: Steve Ramon and Kevin Strijbos. Add Aprilia factory rider Manuel Priem, KTM's Jeremy Van Horebeek and Patrick Caps to that and you know it will be quite an exciting race!

Clément and Dennis in MXoN pre-selection

Photo: Racing is an Art

Both Clément Desalle (MX1) and Dennis Verbruggen (MX2) have been selected for the Belgian MXoN team. Or at least to be part of the pre-selection for the final team!

On Wednesday the Belgian GP riders met for their annual team building day. This year’s program included mountain bike training, a BMX race session on the Joël Smets BMX track in Dessel and some log cutting. On the image you can make out a driven 'Panda' attacking some wood with the aid of Steve Ramon (right) and Ken De Dycker (middle) As always the day concluded with a barbecue at “Chez Joël’s”. Desalle is clearly in a strong position, he's the first Belgian in the MX1 GP's, for his first MXoN ride. However team manager Smets will only announce his team on the 15th of August during the fourth round of the Belgian Motocross championship at the Keiheuvel, Balen. Competition for the final selection is tough with Desalle, De Dycker, Strijbos and Ramon all competing for two places.

Clément claims second in muddy Kester

Photo: CDS

In spite of its splendid natural surroundings the Kester track -close to Brussels- has rarely been blessed with good weather conditions. The 2009 edition was no exception for this former GP track. True to form LS Motors-Honda’s Clément Desalle wasn’t complaining and aimed for his first ever win in Kester. Over 6.000 race fans saw how ‘MX Panda’ animated the races together with Ken De Dycker, although it was the latter who won the overall. Clément won the opener and took two seconds. The CRF 450 mounted Belgian is now second on 127 points, trailing De Dycker by 13 points. New Zeland’s Josh Coppins was third, Tanel Leok fourth.

Dennis ‘Crusty’ Verbruggen (eighth in qualifying) only marked points in the last heat with a tenth place finish. However Verbruggen showed more than decent speed, and he’s currently the second MX2 mounted rider in the series behind Joël Roelants. LS Motors-Honda’s support rider Dennis Dierckx best result in Kester was tenth in heat 1. The third race of the championship takes place on July 19 in Nismes.

Clément Desalle: ”All in all I did all right, but I couldn’t be satisfied with my last heat where I made too many mistakes and crashed twice. In the end the gap with De Dycker was too big and I had to settle for second. A pity really, because I felt I was fast enough today to beat Ken. It seems that the championship will be between me and Ken so that’s going to be interesting. I’m really looking forward to the next race in Nismes, where I won last year.”

Another podium for Desalle

Photo: CDS
In spite of the usual stiff competition in the Belgian championship Clément Desalle rode to an excellent third place in Beervelde, the opening round of the series. Desalle was consistent all day long and finished two times fourth and one time second. The overall winner was Suzuki factory rider Ken De Dycker ahead of David Philippaerts. Desalle actually provided the more than 5.000 spectators with a great battle fighting Philippaerts for second in race two. Onther attending top GP riders were Kevin Strijbos, Marc De Reuver and Josh Coppins.

Amidst all those big guns Dennis Verbruggen did a great job as well. Crusty came eighth overall, making him the second MX2 rider behind Joël Roelants. The second round of the United Telecom Trophy is Kester on June 14.

Clément has made another fan!

Photo: CDS

Today was the media day for the press just days ahead of the first round of the Belgian motocross championship. Of Course Clément -being one of the main men in his domestic series- was present as well. On the pic RTBF TV journalist Gérald Wery is having an animated conversation with 'Panda'.

It will actually be the first time for Desalle to contest the complete series (six races). As a youngster he mainly raced in France and as a professional he rode in Germany were he claimed the runner-up title last season behind Max Nagl. Our MX2 rider Dennis Verbruggen will race the open class as well. Both guys are looking strong for the moment so Beervelde, the first race, should be interesting!