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Five minutes with ... Clément Desalle
2016 has been a season of change for Monster Energy Kawasaki ’ s Clément Desalle . With a new factory team , bike and even an expanding family , we
spoke to the 26-year-old Belgian about adapting to a few new demands .
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IT WAS A LESS-than-auspicious start to 2016 for the MXGP ’ s number 25 , with a broken arm in pre-season proving to be the first of several hurdles . Having worked hard to overcome physical issues , Desalle enjoyed a few podium finishes but also missed some rounds through injury - ending the season sitting out both the final MXGP round and the MXoN after a crash at Glen Helen . Not a season to write home about then – but that doesn ’ t mean it was a waste . So what did he learn ?
After breaking your arm just a few weeks before the start of the MXGP campaign , followed by another crash in Latvia that wasn ’ t your fault , how did you go about keeping your head straight for the season ahead ?
I don ’ t like to dwell on the old stories ! I don ’ t think it is good for the head to think too much about what happened . Of course it was very sad and I wanted the reverse : that I was able to start the season fit and good . The championship was over so I started to look raceby-race and to work on set-up and information with a view towards next year . That ’ s the plan .
What impact did that have on your relationship with the new team ?
It was difficult in the beginning because I needed time and hours on the bike to get a feeling for the new machine . It was a new base so you need that period to make adjustments and maybe some big changes to things like engine , suspension or whatever . I had to have that time , but I couldn ’ t because of the injury , so building-up was not that easy . It got better and some better results were coming .
The level of competition in MXGP had changed compared to previous years . There have been some new [ fast ] guys coming into the class . Overall there has been a lot of things [ to consider ].
How does your new Kawasaki team compare to your previous setup at Suzuki ?
Everybody is different and has their own style of working . Team Suzuki were really good and now I have a really good feeling with Kawasaki . I am with Francois [ Lemariey , Team Manager ] who I knew before and who knows me well . There are a lot of young guys in the team who are very motivated and that is good as well . We are professional and each of us can improve . I would say we have a good ‘ rhythm ’ now because it is impossible for everything to click right away when you change teams , bikes and everything . Now after days , weeks and months we have gelled and I ’ m glad we have found our rhythm .
What about the bike ? Has it taken longer to make it yours ?
I think it is easy to find a bike – with any brand - that is at 90 % and you can go fast with . The difficult thing is finding that last few percent which allows you to make podiums and win motos and GPs . It was a good base with the new Kawasaki but sometimes it takes time to find and adjust those small details and make good choices . It has been going well in the last few weeks and I have been testing more . Suspension and the effect on the chassis was the main point for us .
Tim Gajser said he is still amazed how well he is doing against legends in the class like you and Tony Cairoli . 2016 has been a bit more competitive , how have you found it ?
Yeah , you said it ! I think if you look back three years ago then there were less guys and it feels like we – Cairoli , Max [ Nagl ], [ Gautier ] Paulin – have not changed much . We might have changed the brand of bike but we are always there . Two young guys came into the class [ Romain Febvre and Tim Gajser ] and pushed the level up and we have to fight more for it .
2015 and ’ 16 were your only years since 2008 without a win , how far from fighting for the top step do you think you are ?
Ha ! Well , I do my best every time I race , so it is hard to answer . I am trying to improve all the time and with the team . We keep making ideas to move in that direction . I don ’ t think it is a matter of two days or two weeks but moving through those small important details like I mentioned earlier . At this level it is about marginal things . You are not making big changes . You always remind me I am on 19 GP wins ! So I need to find that twentieth !
Your daughter , Emma , came along a few months ago . Is it what you expected ?
Yes , it ’ s good , something so good in life and more responsibility . We have seen some really nice things and shared some very nice moments . She is healthy and that ’ s the most important . [ With fatherhood ] You also need to find a good rhythm ! I would not say we have changed our lifestyle too much it is just the organisation that is different and also giving more importance to some things against others . When you see that little smile then it helps you remember the parts of your life and your priorities . T