Rockstar Energy’s Suzuki’s Clement Desalle just missed out on the win in the second Moto in Brazil, after bad luck saw him struggle to 13th in race one.

In the opener, MX1 rider Desalle hit the floor twice in the opening corners, giving the Belgian an immediate handicap.

But he continued, and set some impressive lap times to reach fourth position. However, on the penultimate lap an overheating problem in difficult conditions for rider and machine saw his race end in 13th.

The weekend’s torrential rain saw the red mud become clumpy and swampy and placed even further emphasis on the importance of a decent start.

In the second Moto Desalle did jus that, and managed to get himself into second place, hounding the rear wheel of race leader Xavier Boog, but couldn’t find a way past, and had to settle for second.

Desalle said, “I crashed at the start of the first moto and it was Philippaerts that caused it all but that’s racing. It is just bad luck, again!

“I then crashed about another 300m after that. It was a really bad start to the moto! But I just concentrated on my riding after that and came back to fifth until the engine stopped.

“Normally I try to ride in a way that is not hard on the bike, especially in those conditions, so it was pretty bad that happened. I lost the chance to make some good points in that first race.

“In the second my start was better but Barragan fell in front of me and I had to brake. I was mid-pack and I couldn’t believe my luck again.

“Once more I had to push and recover and climbed up to second but it was not easy to pass Boog on the last lap. I was also feeling pretty tired because everything was heavy with the mud. I have to keep on focussing on my work now.”

He finished seventh overall and still sits second in the championship.

Teammate Tanel Leok also suffered some bad luck, catching his leg in qualifying and having to start from 14th.

He also suffered the same problem has Desalle int he first Moto, and failed to finish, before finishing seventh in the second race after leading the way for the opening stages.

He said, “We had a bike problem in the first one and there was not much I could do. And I also injured my right leg in that race.

“I just pulled the muscle and there was so much pain I was even in doubt about whether I could make the second moto. Every time I put my right leg out I felt a big jolt, despite some painkillers.

“I couldn’t ride like I want even though I had a great start. It is a bit frustrating because I was held back by an injury that I shouldn’t really have.”

In the MX2 class Harri Kullas rode his RM-Z250 to a 10th and ninth, coming away with a tenth overall, while teammate Petar Petrov took two fourteenths, finishing there overall, too.

Kullas said afterwards, “There was so much mud on top of yesterday’s lines with the rain we had.

“It was OK at the beginning of the first moto but later I started to ride too carefully and was too slow. I lost positions and finished 10th.

“I had a little bit of a better start in the second moto and passed a few guys and tried different lines but it was not easy at all and with a few mistakes I lost a lot of time.

“I was disappointed I couldn’t pass Anstie or Lupino because it was all mainly one line. I’m not really happy with the weekend. We just have to look to France now.”

Petrov added, “I don’t know what to say; the track was so gnarly and difficult.

“I started the first race with fifth position but then I crashed on the third lap. It was not easy and I had to stop in the Pit Lane for more goggles and gloves. I made it up to 13th but had a few technical problems and took 14th.

“In the second race I caught the green fence in my rear wheel on the first lap and that meant I had virtually the whole of the moto without a rear brake.

“It was not the best weekend but I was happy on Saturday with two eighth positions in practice and a seventh place in the Heat race. It is getting better and better for me each Grand Prix and I hope I can continue to improve and take higher results.”