The factory Suzuki ace, who still has to be officially confirmed by the manufacturer as their rider for 2012, has spoken for the first time after fracturing his left shoulder at Mol a Belgian Championship round held just one week after the Czech Grand Prix…that Desalle had won.
The Belgian led six of the first seven rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship and won four events, taking eight podiums and was in pole position to threaten Tony Cairoli’s crown until a crash and right shoulder dislocation meant three tough meetings at less than full fitness during mid-season. Cairoli was leading the standings by 48 points over Desalle (a GP carries a maximum of 50) after the latter’s victory at Loket and just prior to his accident at Mol that ended his campaign with three Grands Prix remaining.
Here are a few comments from the 22 year old, including some assertive feelings over the collision with Honda World Motocross team’s Evgeny Bobryshev that led to the Mol accident – although photo and video footage are inconclusive about who is to blame. The incident was one of the defining moments of the world championship…and it didn’t even happen at a grand Prix.
‘After the crash at Mol I had the operation on my left arm because it was fractured and needed surgery right away,’ he recounts. ‘Everything went well and I had a plate inserted and was able to start some physio soon afterwards. I then had to wait for the operation on the right shoulder. It was an arthroscopic procedure because the shoulder had been separated and was coming out easily. When the doctor looked inside he told me there was more damage than he thought with the ligament and tendon but he managed to clean it all up and now I have to wait three to four weeks before I can do anything. I have to be careful with the right shoulder but I can do things with the left now, no problem.’
‘The season started well but I knew it would be a long year and in the end it would finish in such a disappointing way. The bad luck started at Tongeren and it was my mistake; I had to accept that. The shoulder was painful and weak but I started to come back to form and finally felt good again on the bike at Loket in the Czech Republic where I won the GP but then the accident at Mol happened. I went there with good intent. I was prepared. I wasn’t going to take risks but I was still focussed.’
‘The crash was not my fault and I have the opinion, like Sylvain [Geboers, Team Owner], that at these national events some riders could be a bit more careful or show some more respect on the track. We do a sport that is dangerous enough without having to worry about what the other guy is going to do.
On next year’s Belgian Championship: ‘I will not do it. I think it is easy to see that if you are pushing for the top five or three in the world that you have to have your priorities in the right place and for me now the World Championship is everything.’
