The Grand Prix of France last weekend represented almost the mid-way stage of the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship and it was a weekend to forget for Belgium’s Clement Desalle as he was forced to withdraw from the racing with a weak right shoulder.

But fingers are now firmly crossed that the Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP team rider will be able to compete at round nine in Italy in a week’s time.

Desalle had made life difficult for himself after a relatively slow-speed tumble in timed practice on the Saturday at France’s Villars sous Ecot circuit ended with him damaging his shoulder.

He then suffered a tough landing in the qualification race later in the day and jarred the joint once again and this led to a sequence of incidents in which he was hit to the ground and then struck by another rider.

Battered and bruised, but aiming to attempt the races around the compact and short layout on the steep French hillside, Desalle took to the line in the first race but only managed a lap before he had to pull in, unsure of the stability and strength of his shoulder.

After last weekend’s events, Desalle now sits third in the MXGP championship standings and 41 points behind Germany’s championship leader Max Nagl (Husqvarna) and 22 points behind the resurgent Italian defending world champion Antonio Cairoli (KTM).

“There was a stone on the take-off and I was on a slow lap (that led to my crash),” Desalle explained.

“The bike reacted strangely because of the stone and I felt my shoulder go. It was like it came out a little bit but I popped it back immediately. I strapped it and tried to ride in the qualification but did not feel comfortable.

“I was scared that on every take-off it might come out because I damaged the muscle again. I don’t really have any more words at the moment. I want to say that the track was not at the level for a Grand Prix. When you see the take-offs then it is like it was made yesterday by an amateur.”

Meanwhile, it may be possible for him to race again at the next round at Maggiora in Italy on June 13-14.

Desalle will ‘test’ his injured right shoulder next week and may even be in contention for an appearance at the Grand Prix of Italy after being advised that surgery is avoidable on the joint that he briefly dislocated.

The shoulder has suffered some damage common with this type of injury but Desalle has been advised that through applying rest and light exercise there is no need to consider an operation at this point.

Photo courtesy of Suzuki Europe