The Belgian star made a top six start aboard his KX450F-SR but surrendered several places on the opening lap of qualification in treacherous conditions as a bitterly cold East wind created icy patches at the end of a day of sub-zero temperatures. After the initial hectic laps the twenty-eight-year-old was able to call on his skill and experience to regain two places to finish seventh, an excellent starting point for tomorrow's two strenuous forty minute motos in the deep energy-sapping sand, after setting similar lap times to the winner throughout the second half of the race.
Clement Desalle: "My start was pretty good, about sixth or seventh, but I lost a couple of places on the first lap; the track was getting very dangerous with icy patches and I didn't want to take any risks in qualification. I simply concentrated on my own race and was able to regain some positions to finish seventh which gives me a good gate for the two GP motos when we race for points tomorrow."
Tommy Searle of Bike It DRT Kawasaki put a second Kawasaki in the top ten with a strong ride from fourteenth to ninth, and fellow Brit Adam Sterry proved that the finger he injured two weeks ago in Argentina has healed well as he placed eighth in MX2 qualification aboard the KX250F of the F&H Racing Team.