Desalle wins French GP
Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Clement Desalle has won the MXGP Grand Prix of France with a solid days riding. The tough Belgian scored 4-1 results to beat home Antonio Cairoli, who went 2-3, and third was Gautier Paulin with 6-2.
Cairoli extended his lead over Paulin in the championship points to 50 points, as Tim Gajser dropped out of the second place in the championship, after failing to be able to race today due to injury.
Despite being possibly the fastest rider on the track, Jeffrey Herlings also had a mixed day as his starts were not great, and he crashed in the first corner of the second moto, coming back for 5-5 results and seventh overall.
Clement Desalle: I am really happy to win the second moto and overall. I was struggling and couldn’t find my lines in the first moto. It was tough, finally it is paying off a bit. The work we have done, the training and also the work on the bike. The start was good and it would be great to be on the podium at least once this year. I am really happy, waiting a long time. Two times fourth in the last two races. I thought shit, but I am happy with my day here. I was disappointed for the first moto, but happy with the second one.
Antonio Cairoli: I am happy, positivbe weekend, The track was tricky and I struggled with some lines I nthe first moto, I finished second. Second moto I had a good start, but Clement was fast here and I thought about the championship points and what I could gain on Gautier.
Gautier Paulin: I wasn’t feeling good, but we found the best set-up in the end. The first warm-up was tough for the first moto and some days you have to finish second and it gave me a podium for my crowd. It was a strong weekend and we came from a bad situation, so I am happy about this.
MXGP Moto One
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider Max Nagl won the opening moto of the MXGP class after a strong performance by the veteran German. Nagl who had taken the lead early was passed by Antonio Cairoli, but the Italian made a mistake and handed the lead back the Nagl.
In the opening MXGP moto, Nagl led from Cairoli, Van Horebeek, Paulin, then came Despray, Guillod, Coldenhoff, Desalle, Herlings, and Anstie.
Cairoli was quickly into the lead, as Desalle moves into fourth. Nagl gets past Cairoli after the Italian makes a mistake. Van Horbeek also close to Cairoli and Van Horebeek goes past. Herlings up to seventh place. Febvre around 24th.
Nagl continued to lead, and Cairoli getting a lot of pressure from Desalle, while Herlings all over Coldenhoff. Febvre into 12th place as he fights for positions.
Not a lot happening up front as Nagl leads Van Horebeek after two laps, then its Cairoli, Desalle, Paulin, Coldenhoff, Herlings, Tonus, Febvre, and Anstie.
Febvre and Anstie all over each other in a nice little battle. Febvre now needs to pass Tonus, as Herlings struggles to get past his countryman Coldenhoff, but does make a pass on the fourth lap.
Nagl is gone, and Van Horebeek also riding a lonely race, as Desalle is all over Cairoli for third place. Herlings onto Paulin and looking for a way past. Febvre working hard to pass both Tonus and Coldenhoff.
After seven laps it was Nagl with a lead of nearly five seconds, then Van Horebeek, Cairoli, Desalle, Paulin, Herlings, Coldenhoff, Tonus, Febvre and Anstie 10th.
Nagl got out of shape, but controlled it and kept his lead. Tonus passed Coldenhoff, and Paulin keeps Herlings behind him. Febvre also passed Coldenhoff, and Anstie is right behind the Dutchman.
Desalle made a mistake and Paulin went past, but the Belgian passed him back soon after. Herlings closing in on Paulin and Desalle. Making another charge at the end of the race. Herlings all over Paulin, and Febvre passed Tonus for seventh place.
Herlings goes down, slipping over in a corner, and he wouldn’t seem to be passing Paulin any time soon. Sixth probably his final position. In the late stages though Herlings made a beautiful pass on Paulin, but the Frenchman then pushed his way past. Herlings thought fought back and passed Paulin again.
Everything happening now as Van Horebeek goes down and Cairoli moved into second. Amazingly Desalle is onto Van Horebeek, and Herlings and Paulin are not far behind.
Nagl wins it from Cairoli, Van Horebeek, Desalle, Herlings and Paulin.
MXGP Moto Two
Cairoli led moto two, followed by Desalle, Paulin, Nagl, Coldenhoff, Butron, Tonus, Febvre, Imbert and Guillod. Herlings crashed out in the first corner, down in 23rd place.
Cairoli continued to lead, with Desalle all over him. Big battle for third as Coldenhoff holds out Paulin and Nagl. Van Horebeek and Febvre all over Nagl, as the frantic action continued in MXGP. Herlings up to 18th place and charging hard.
Both Yamaha’s went past Nagl, and Desalle all over the leader Cairoli. Herlings up to 15th position.
Desalle goes past Cairoli to not only lead the race. Herlings up to 12th place and 19 seconds behind the leader. Herlings passed Guillod and then past Anstie, the Dutchman moved into the top ten.
Paulin goes past Coldenhoff as Coldenhoff made a mistake. Herlings passed Butron and was closing on Tonus and Nagl. Paulin all over Cairoli, as he blocks the move by the Frenchman, and then Paulin moves into second and the GP overall is open for Desalle or Cairoli.
Herlings catching everyone as he burns through the pack and he picks up two seconds in one lap on the leader Desalle. Herlings now just 15 seconds behind Paulin in second place.
After six laps its Desalle, Paulin, Cairoli, Coldenhoff, Van Horebeek, Nagl, Febvre, Herlings, Tonus and Butron. Herlings now 13 seconds behind Paulin, and 16 seconds behind Desalle.
Herlings goes after Febvre, Nagl, Van Horebeek and Coldenhoff and is closing fast.
After seven laps its Desalle, Paulin, Cairoli, Coldenhoff, Van Horebeek, Nagl, Febvre, Herlings, Tonus, and Butron. Herling was now just 12 seconds behind the leader.
Van Horebeek passed Coldenhoff as Nagl and Febvre are all over the Dutchman, and behind them Herlings is looking to pass them all. Febvre passed Nagl. Herlings passed Nagl, and is now onto Febvre and Coldenhoff.
After 10 laps its Desalle by one second over Paulin, then Cairoli, Van Horebeek, Febvre, Coldenhoff, Herlings, Nagl, Tonus and Butron. Herlings past Coldenhoff and nearly past Febvre, this is a brilliant charge by the MX2 world champion.
Van Horebeek, Febvre and Herlings are all closing on Cairoli. Maybe Herlings can out point the Italian after all?
Febvre now on fire as he passed Van Horebeek, and can see Cairoli just ahead of him. Herlings seems to have lost some ground, maybe tired from his own charge.
Febvre is now just 11 seconds behind Desalle, how is fighting off Paulin. Herlings in sixth and 16 seconds back. Nagl slips over and drops back. Herlings onto Van Horebeek.
On lap 12 its Desalle by one second over Paulin, Cairoli a further six seconds back, then Febvre, who was right onto the Italian, Van Horebeek, Herlings, Coldenhoff, Tonus, Nagl, and Butron.
The crowd going crazy as Febvre pulls up on Cairoli. Really a great race this one. Herlings seemingly spent is once again onto Van Horebeek.
After 16 laps the lead is two seconds as Desalle leads from Paulin, Cairoli, Febvre, Van Horebeek, Herlings, Coldenhoff, Tonus, Nagl and Butron. Cairoli and Febvre are now moving in on the two leaders, but it is too late. Herlings all over Van Horebeek.
Desalle win the moto and the Grand Prix. Second in the moto was Paulin and then Cairoli.
MXGP – Overall Classification
1 25 Desalle, Clement BEL FMB KAW 18 25 43
2 222 Cairoli, Antonio ITA FMI KTM 22 20 42
3 21 Paulin, Gautier FRA MCM HUS 15 22 37
4 12 Nagl, Maximilian GER DMSB HUS 25 12 37
5 89 Van Horebeek, Jeremy BEL FMB YAM 20 15 35
6 461 Febvre, Romain FRA FFM YAM 14 18 32
7 84 Herlings, Jeffrey NED KNMV KTM 16 16 32
8 4 Tonus, Arnaud SUI FMS YAM 13 14 27
9 259 Coldenhoff, Glenn NED KNMV KTM 10 13 23
10 99 Anstie, Max GBR ACU HUS 12 10 22