On the weekend where both Rockstar Teka Suzuki World MX1 riders were confirmed to represent Belgium at the 64th Motocross of Nations, Clement Desalle and Steve Ramon showed why the works RM-Z450WS runners are considered among the top-three best motocross racers from their country.
Desalle (pictured) used the break in the FIM World Championship calendar to travel to New York for the ninth round of the AMA National Motocross series. The 21 year old enjoyed an excellent wild-card outing around the impressive Unadilla facility and finished as runner-up overall against the best of the US.
The Belgian champion fought with James Stewart and beat the former AMA MX and SX champ to second place in the first moto. Then, during the second outing, he fronted the field in sunny and good conditions for racing and was only pipped to the chequered flag – and the overall victory – by fellow Suzuki representative and series leader Ryan Dungey aboard his Rockstar Makita Suzuki.
“My day was really good,” he said. “I made the podium and also I didn’t crash today. It was really fun to have a nice track like that. All the time I look at the tracks of the AMA Nationals on TV and it’s different when you’re out here. It was a lot of fun to ride here.
“It was really good racing with Ryan. It was a strange feeling to be here, and we had some good racing – but most important, we didn’t crash. It was really fast, and although it’s better to be one position further, it’s still good.”
The trip was a positive one for Desalle’s profile, that of the team and the talent being plied in the FIM competition. The double GP winner in 2010, and presently second in the MX1 standings, will now head south to Campo Grande for the Brazilian GP and round 13 of 15 next week.
Meanwhile back in Europe, Steve Ramon won the fourth round of the Belgian Championship in the deep sand of Mol in Balen. The former World Champion grabbed third and first positions in a field that boasted the likes of Antonio Cairoli, Kevin Strijbos, Marc de Reuver, Ken De Dycker and Tanel Leok. Ramon has been prolific in his native competition and indeed his first race finish just inside the top three represented his worst result from the eight motos run so far. The second sprint triumph was the fifth of the term in which he has sampled success at each round to date. The 30 year old holds a 44 point lead over Leok in the standings.
“It was good to win and especially because I was able to keep the trophy from this event as I have now won it three times,” he remarked. “The day started badly as I had a crash in the qualification heat that hurt my back and also put me 27th in the gate. I worked my way to third in the first moto and closed a big gap to Kevin Strijbos; I was a bit disappointed that I couldn’t pass him in the end. In the second moto I started well and it was Marc and I out front. I was able to wear him down and went through for the victory. It was a tough but rewarding race because the sand was heavy-going.”
A South American adventure now awaits Rockstar Teka Suzuki WMX1 and final GP events will take place in Holland and Italy before the Motocross of Nations in Denver, Colorado on September 26th.
