Suzuki’s Clement Desalle is almost certain to return for the Grand Prix of Czech Republic this weekend after missing the last three rounds of the 2015 MXGP term with a left knee injury.
The Belgian was set for his first training motos in anger on Tuesday after five weeks recovering from a damaged medial cruciate ligament. “I have been training the best I can and the idea in my head is to go to Loket and find the best feeling on the bike possible,” he said. “I have been improving step-by-step but it is still not 100 per cent”.
Desalle is one of three riders in the current championship term to have held the red plate but has slipped down to sixth in the standings and 163 points away from leader Romain Febrve after sustaining his injury at the Grand Prix of France in early June.
The 26-year-old will steer his RM-Z450 on the Czech hard-pack and at the venue where he claimed victories in 2009, 2011 and 2013 and finished on the podium in 2010 and 2012. He missed the 2014 edition through a broken scaphoid. Two of those wins were with Suzuki in a six-year stint with the Belgian factory crew.
Rumours surrounding the Motocross of Nations winner and his future have virtually vanished from paddock talk at the last two rounds. It is widely accepted that Desalle will join the Monster Energy Kawasaki team for 2016 but the duration of the contract is not known. In line with the recent trend of contract announcements concerning riders changing teams and manufacturers, confirmation of Desalle’s movement might not be made official until after the Motocross of Nations or the end of October.
The Belgian has won Grand Prix every season since 2009 and is missing just one more success to total 20 in the premier class.
