Clément makes Brazilian dreams come true!

Photo: CDS

Clément Desalle (20) ended his sensational breakthrough season on a spectacular high note, similar to the Faenza podium that kickstarted his GP campaign with LS Motors-Honda! More than 20.000 spectators witnessed how the Belgian rode his CRF450 R to a moto win and a second. Not only was it the second GP win of the season for Clément, his Brazilian victory also secured a brilliant overall podium in the final standings of the FIM MX1 World Championship. After 15 GP’s Desalle actually landed just 17 points away from runner-up Max Nagl. The spectacular rider from Gouy-Lez-Piéton also collected an impressive tally of seven podiums...

Due to exceptional rainfall the format for the GP of Brazil was changed drastically with both practice and qualifying taking place on Sunday rather than Saturday. However the organizer’s decision turned out to be a masterstroke, because today weather conditions were sunny and the track improved as the day wore on. Desalle seemed to gel immediately with the supercross styled track and he was only denied pole by Cairoli who was just three tenths quicker. More proof of Desalle’s riding skills followed in the opening moto. From fourth in the start he made headway rapidly, passing Dereuver and Ramon on the opening lap. With only Nagl in front of him, Desalle started to produce one fast lap after the other. By half race distance the ‘MX Panda’ not only caught up with the German ace he passed him cool, calm and collected. The LS Motors-Honda thus scored his third moto win of the season.

Moto two might have turned out a carbon copy of the first for Desalle. If it hadn’t been for a weaker start and the extra ground to make up as a result. Although the leading privateer was yet again the fastest man on track. After three laps Clément was in third and another three laps down the line he passed De Dycker for second. However by that point the race leader Ramon had build himself a respactble margin and Desalle decided to settle for second. In the closing stages Clément expertly withstood Coppins‘ final push to finish the job.

Clément Desalle: ”I’m really pumped with my second GP win. Even more because it’s always special to win an overseas event and certainly in front of this big and passionate crowd here today! So capping of my season in third overall was just perfect. Today was also the birthday of my sister Cloé and I’m dedicating my victory to her, because she’s always been very supportive of my career.

It’s true that compared to other GP’s we had less time to familiarise with the track, but that didn’t matter to me. I had the idea before that the track would suit me and that turned out to be correct! In the second moto I tried to hunt down Steve (Ramon), but he was just too strong. Ramon was too far off and I need all my focus to stay on two wheels and defend my position from Coppins.”

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!”

Desalle writes history in Loket!

Photo: CDS

LS Motors-Honda rider Clément Desalle wrote history today in the Czech Republic. The talented Belgian youngster was in a league of his own on the tricky and slippery Loket track. Desalle rode his CRF 450R to second in the first moto and won the second moto. Not only was this a career first GP win for the 'MX Panda' it's also unique for the fact that only a selected few riders have succeeded in winning GP's without factory backing. Now, that's what we call privateer power. Congratulations Clément!

More to follow later.

Crusty podiums in Lommel!

Photo: Ray Archer

LS Motors Honda rider Dennis Verbruggen (22) took his first ever GP podium by finishing third in today’s GP of Limburg- Belgium in Lommel. A fifth and third place in the heats meant Verbruggen ended up on the third step of the podium behind Joël Roelants and Marvin Musquin.

As often Verbruggen experienced some problems during the opening stages of the first heat. Laying in 27th after the first lap, the sand specialist cut once again through the field. Lap after lap Verbruggen gained some valuable positions to finally finish fifth. In the second heat Verbruggen found himself fourteenth after lap one. “Crusty” would once again work his way up to the top 5, whilst duelling with KTM Factory Rider Rui Goncalves in the process. In the final stages “Crusty” got rid of Gonçalves, who wasn’t capable of keeping up with the Honda rider’s speed. In the very last lap “Crusty” even passed Nicolas Aubin to take third in the heat and third overall. Dennis Verbruggen his now 15th in the World MX2 standings, just 4 points off 13th placed Anthony Boissière.

Dennis Verbruggen “I’m really happy with this result, to take your first podium in front of your home crowd is unbelievable! However I don’t think this is just because I’m strong in the sand. My riding has consistently improved over the last few months and my fitness has never been better. So I think I can aim for a strong result in Loket as well. Today it was the battle of the fittest out there, especially the first race was hard with my bad start and the rain. I had to take off my goggles early on, but I kept on pushing. In the second race I was gaining ground on Musquin and Roelants, unfortunately I crashed and lost all the time that I had made up. That’s when I decided to settle for my podium finish.”

Heat 1: 1 Musquin, 2 Goncalves, 3 Roelants, 4 Van Horebeek, 5 Dennis Verbruggen (BEL-LS Motors Honda), 6 Roczen, 7 Guarneri, 8 Jorgensen, 9 Monni,

10 Larrieu / Heat 2: 1 Musquin, 2 Roelants, 3 Dennis Verbruggen (BEL-LS Motors Honda 4 Aubin, 5 Schiffer, 6 Roczen, 7 Jorgensen, 8 Goncalves,9 Guarneri, 10 Monni

GP of Limburg classification: 1 Musquin 50, 2 Roelants 42, 3 Dennis Verbruggen (BEL-LS Motors Honda) 36, 4 Goncalves 35, 5 Roczen 30, 6 Jorgensen

27, 7 Aubin 26, 8 Guarneri 26, 9 Monni 23, 10 Van Horebeek 23

MX2 World Championship standings: 1 Musquin 421, 2 Goncalves 383, 4 Paulin 372, 5 Guarneri 357, 6 Frossard 284, 6 Roczen 269, 7 Aubin 229, 8

Roelants 222, 9 Moni 222, 10 Boog 197, 15 Dennis Verbruggen (BEL-LS Motors Honda) 143