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Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, 1 Wrzesień 2018

Clément Desalle qualifies sixth in Turkey

Clement Desalle of the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team qualified sixth for the Turkish round of the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship at the Afyon Motorsport Centre.

The Belgian didn't found his usual rhythm on the new track one thousand metres above sea level in the central highlands of Asia Minor. Clement, eleventh in practice, sprinted into fifth place on the opening lap of the qualifying race to decide start positions for tomorrow's two GP motos. He surrendered one position two laps from the end but is in an excellent position to once again challenge for honours tomorrow.
 
Clément Desalle: « I didn't find a good feeling for this fast track in practice, but my start in the qualifying race was pretty good and after a few corners I was in fifth position and kept it for most of the race. I made a small mistake just before the end of the race so Cairoli passed me but sixth is a good position for the gate. The start will be very important as it’s very difficult to pass here; we’ll do our best tomorrow.”
 
Gebben Van Venrooy Kawasaki's Alessandro Lupino was impressive in training with sixth and seventh best times in the two sessions but had to be content with thirteenth place in the qualifying race as he sub-consciously protected the knee he injured last week in Bulgaria.
 
Alessandro Lupino: “The practice sessions were very good for me; I had a good feeling with the track to post sixth and seventh best times but when I sat behind the gate for the qualifying race my mindset changed as I was scared to hit my knee. I was too slow during the first few laps as I didn’t want to put the right knee I injured last weekend on the ground; I will try to get better starts tomorrow from the thirteenth gate.”
 
Tommy Searle of Bike It DRT Kawasaki just missed the top ten in qualifying with an advancing ride to eleventh place, five ahead of Desalle's KRT teammate Julien Lieber.