MOTOCROSS MXGP OF QATAR 2015

GP1: Qatar

Podium for Desalle, Lieber, and Ferrandis 

Belgian’s Clement Desalle (450 Suzuki), Julien Lieber (250 Yamaha) and Dylan Ferrandis (250 Kawasaki) all finished in podium spots at the season opening Grand Prix in Losail (Qatar).

As usual, the races took place under the spotlights in Losail with a lot of excitement as the gate dropped after months of winter training and preparation.

Clement Desalle

After a couple podiums and wins in the pre-season, Clement Desalle was a strong competitor all weekend finishing twice as the runner up behind Max Nagl. “It is a strong result and I am happy with my riding and my feeling with the bike and the new stuff. We try to improve every year and this was a good beginning to the season. My starts can be better; this is something we can work on for the next race. We will fly back now and benefit from the time at home to get ready for Thailand,” explained the factory Suzuki rider. Newcomer in the Scott family, Shaun Simpson entered the top ten of the event with a strong seventh position in the first race and a fourteenth place later.

Julien Lieber

For youngster Julien Lieber, who moved during the winter to the new Yamaha Standing Construct team, this GP was his first opportunity to enjoy the podium celebration. “The beginning of the weekend was difficult for me. I was low down in the practice sessions and managed to recover to seventh for the qualification race but my start was bad! My speed was good in the race; I could come back from some bad starts quite well and gained some important positions. I’m really happy and I want to thank the Standing Construct Yamaha team because they did a really good job in the winter.” Dylan Ferrandis also enjoyed the podium with a third overall; second of the opening race, the French rider crashed early in the second heat but came back fifth.

The series will now move to Thailand for the second round next weekend.

Results MXGP

1.Nagl (ALL, Husqvarna)

2.Desalle (BEL, Suzuki), Scott Athlete

3.Paulin (FRA, Honda)

10.Simpson (GBR, KTM), Scott Athlete

MXGP World standings:

1.Nagl, 50

2.Desalle, 44

3.Paulin, 38

10.Simpson, 21

Results MX2.

1.Herlings (PB, KTM)

2.Lieber (BEL, Yamaha), Scott Athlete

3.Ferrandis (FRA, Kawasaki), Scott Athlete

9.Tixier (FRA, Kawasaki), Scott Athlete

10.Covington (USA, Kawasaki), Scott Athlete

MX2 World Standings

1.Herlings, 50

2.Lieber, 42

3.Ferrandis, 38

9.Tixier, 27

10.Covington, 21