IN
THE
WIND
P54
DESALLE GRABS ERNEE MXGP VICTORY
M
onster Energy Kawasaki's
Clement Desalle and Red
Bull KTM's Pauls Jonass came
away winners of the GP of
France at Ernee, May 29, but
the big news was the early exit of
defending MXGP World Cham-
pion and former points leader
this season Tim Gajser, who
withdrew from the event citing
shoulder pain.
Desalle topped the qualifying
race on Saturday, but a poor
start limited him in the open-
ing moto on Sunday, where he
finished fourth behind a very
quick Max Nagl (Rockstar Energy
Husqvarna), who led every lap of
the opening moto. Behind Nagl
came eight-time World Champion
and points leader Antonio Cairoli
(Red Bull KTM), Monster Energy
Yamaha's Jeremy Van Horebeek
and Desalle. Behind them came
Cairoli's MXGP rookie teammate
Jeffrey Herlings, Gautier Paulin
and 2015 World Champion Ro-
main Febvre.
Cairoli got out front early in
moto two, but Desalle jumped
past the points leader on the
opening lap before checking
out for the win, while Cairoli
struggled. Cairoli eventually fell
into Paulin's hands, and Paulin
passed the points leader to finish
second in the moto and eventu-
ally third overall.
Thanks to his consistent finish-
es, and the withdrawal of Gajser
from the event, Cairoli now holds
a massive 50-point lead in the
