After finishing with 11th place in the 2008 FIM World MX1 Championship, Belgian hard man Clement Desalle has proven to be very consistent. Going 3-2-3-2 in the end of season MX1 Championship points in the last four years, the Suzuki factory rider is very much the next man in line when it comes to winning the FIM World MX1 Championship.

Despite his runner-up finish in this year's FIM World MX1 Championship, Desalle is a rider who hasn't really found his best form in 2012. After battling hard with Antonio Cairoli in 2011 and looking like a serious chance to win that season’s World MX1 Championship, he has found the Italian rider to be a little too strong this year.



After winning the Grand Prix of Portugal and the Grand Prix of Sweden Desalle regained the red plate from Cairoli, but since that GP win in Uddevalla, it's been downhill all the way for the tough Belgian.



Desalle also picked up an injury at the Grand Prix of Great Britain, which hampered his chances of winning in Lierop, The Netherlands, and Faenza, Italy. He was able to make the podium in Italy, but still wasn't 100% happy with his result.



"It was good to come back on the podium in Italy after I hurt my hand in England, which has been . I hurt my hand in England and it was painful in for the next following two races. I found some mobility in my hand in Italy and that helped a lot of course."



"In general the track was good in Italy on the Saturday; they just needed to make some modifications. Faenza is the type of track that should stay hard pack. After England I couldn't train on my bike and I feel better and better. I start training more and more, so the last round in Germany should be okay."



With the FIM World MX1 Championship already in the hands of Cairoli and Desalle slowly recovering from his hand injury, there could be fireworks at the next Grand Prix as Desalle shows his liking for hard pack ground in Germany.



After Germany Desalle will put on the colours of his country as he represents Belgium in the Motocross of Nations, set for Lommel, Belgium, during the 30th September weekend. With large crowd expected and a strong Belgian team, many people are tipping Team Belgium to take out the event.



"Everyone wants to win," Desalle told the Belgian press recently. "We have a good team, and Lommel is very good for the riders riding styles. I think we have a good chance, but so do many teams. I go there and try and do my best and ride the best I can, that is all I can do."



So with just two races to go in the 2012 season, Desalle can rest assured that his body will then have months of recovery and he can enter the 2013 season with that dream of winning a World title for himself and also for Belgium, who have not had a World Motocross Champion since Steve Ramon in 2007.

Photo: Clement Desalle - Ray Archer image

Read the next news: British MXoN Heroes - Dobber and Maler (19 Sep 2012)

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