Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Clement Desalle had to deal with another bout of frustration at the Grand Prix of Europe when ‘conditioning’ problems struck the Belgian as well as his race machine.
The 25-year-old came to Valkenswaard suffering from a cold and his efforts to post two top 10 finishes for the first time this season were ruined by a technical issue in the second moto that saw him classify down in 19th place.
Desalle has been steadily recovering from the left arm he broke at the Valence International in pre-season and claims he should be near full race fitness and speed after the latest brace of flyaway events this month. “I hope after Argentina and Mexico I can come back closer to being 100 per cent with my body but let’s see,” he said.
“Three days before [Valkenswaard] I started to get sick and this was after two weeks of good, hard physical training. So I knew it would be hard at Valkenswaard and then in the second moto I had a technical problem. It seems like one problem after the other at the moment and it is pretty difficult actually.”
“My arm is not 100 per cent but it is going in a good way,” #25 added. “I feel that I don’t have all my strength and flexibility yet but we will work on it.”
Desalle has won Grands Prix in the premier class every year from 2009 to 2014 and missed out last year when shoulder and knee injuries ultimately curtailed another attempt at the MXGP crown.
Having ridden Suzuki and Honda machinery in Grands Prix he is negotiating his first term with Kawasaki. Clement and girlfriend Andrea are expecting their first daughter, Emma, in the coming six weeks. The period could coincide with Desalle hitting his stride this term in MXGP. “I don’t think things can go much worse with my riding and the bike so we will improve…and of course I am excited to meet my daughter!” he commented.
