As the teams warm up for the MXGP season ahead, it seems Belgian pair Clement Desalle and Kevin Strijbos, Britain’s Shaun Simpson and New Zealander Ben Townley could be among the men worth watching this year.

Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Desalle (pictured above) and Red Bull KTM Factory rider Herlings each finished 1-1 in their respective MX1 and MX2 classes to take overall victory at the stand-alone Valence International motocross in France at the weekend.

New Zealand’s Ben Townley twice finished fourth in the MX1 class, the factory Suzuki rider ending the day fourth overall.

Townley’s Suzuki team-mate, Belgian Kevin Strijbos, and British KTM rider Shaun Simpson shared second place overall.

Herlings then won the all-capacities superfinal, while Desalle crashed in the beginning of the race and was forced to retire.

Simpson was leading but in the final lap Herlings managed to pass him and won the race in front of Simpson and Kevin Strijbos.

It was reported that Desalle broke his arm in his crash but nothing has been confirmed at this stage.

It was the final hit-out for the leading GP riders before the opening Grand Prix of the season, in two weeks’ time in Qatar.

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RESULTS:

MX1 moto one

1. Desalle, 2. Strijbos; 3. Simpson; 4. Townley; 5. Karro; 6. Ullrich; 7. Aranda; 8. Potisek; 9. De Dycker; 10. Boog

MX1 moto two

1. Desalle; 2. Simpson; 3. Strijbos; 4. Townley; 5. Potisek; 6. De Dycker; 7. Aranda; 8. Boog; 9. Karro; 10. Teillet

MX2 moto one

1. Herlings; 2. Seewer; 3. Anstie; 4. Tonkov; 5. Paturel; 6. Pootjes; 7. Vaessen; 8. Reneux; 9. Mewse; 10. Houzet

MX2 moto two

1. Herlings; 2. Anstie; 3. Seewer; 4. Pootjes; 5. Renaux; 6. Tonkov; 7. Paturel; 8. Vaessen; 9. Mewse; 10. Imbert