Clement Desalle and Ken Roczen became the first FIM Motocross World Championship red plate holders of the 2011 season this weekend in Sevlievo, Bulgaria.

Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1’s Desalle got the first grand prix victory of the season, the sixth in his career. The Belgian was second in the first heat, even having an unfortunate crash during the last lap when he was trying to find some new lines.

In the second race, Desalle took the holeshot and led the race until Steve Frossard and later on Jonathan Barragán overtook him. However, the Belgian rider managed to place himself at the front of the pack and kept such position until the chequered flag.

“I am very happy and it is very cool to win, but this is the first grand prix and the season is very long,” Desalle said. “I made a mistake at the end of the first race because I changed my line, thinking towards the second moto.

“The take-off was different and I landed completely off the track. I don’t think I could have done another lap because the back brake was already gone. Steven rode very well and very fast all day and it was good to take the win.”

Motocross Energy Yamaha rider Steven Frossard had an excellent weekend in Sevlievo, which was his first grand prix in the MX1 class. After winning yesterday’s qualifying race, Frossard did an excellent start in the first race and dominated it from beginning to end.

The second start was not that good, but Frossard’s managed to be second right after the opening lap. By the end of the heat, the French rider made some mistakes and he had to settle down with a second overall position.

Third was Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jonathan Barragán, who was back on the podium after a long absence due to the several injuries he suffered last year.

The Spanish rider could only finish sixth in the first race, but in the second one he got quite a good start and his solid riding took him into the lead.

However, Desalle and Frossard came back really fast from behind and Barragán decided to ride safe in order not to risk the third overall position.

The fourth position was for Red Bull Teka KTM Factory Racing MX1’s Max Nagl, who got a consistent third place in the first heat, but he could only finish sixth in the second one.

The German rider expressed his satisfaction for this fourth overall position, but he also admitted that he needs some more time to get used to his new 350cc and improve also his fitness.

Completing the top five was Honda World Motocross’ Rui Gonçalves, who could only be eighth in the first race, as he was involved in a tangle when he was catching world champion Antonio Cairoli’s wheel.

In the second race, he was second in the opening lap, but he could not keep the rhythm of his pursuers and finished fifth.

2010 MX1 World Champion Cairoli finished ninth overall. The Italian had already admitted on Saturday that he was not fully fit yet, but on top of that, Cairoli made a mistake in the first heat when landing from a jump and he twisted his left knee.

David Philippaerts did a very good first race going from eleventh to a final fourth position. However, the Italian was involved in a tangle at the first corner of the second race and he could only finish 14th.
Ken De Dycker crashed in both heats and was just 19th overall.

Runner-up of the 2010 MX2 World Championship Ken Roczen had a perfect weekend in Sevlievo. The German young talent took easily both MX2 holeshots and ruled the heats from beginning to end.

Roczen showed a great superiority this weekend, but he will have to prove it as well next grand prix in the deep roots of Valkenswaard.

Second overall was Tommy Searle from CLS Monster Energy Kawasaki Pro Circuit, who was very satisfied with his performance in his comeback to the FIM Motocross World Championship.

Red Bull Teka KTM Factory Racing MX2’s Jeffrey Herlings had very good starts in both motos but he could not keep the second position and had to settle down with a third place.

The next grand prix is in his home track of Valkenswaard, where the Dutch young rider obtained his maiden grand prix victory.

2011 FIM Motocross World Championship
Round One – Sevlievo, Bulgaria

MX1 Results and Standings:
1. Clement Desalle (Suzuki) 47 points
2. Steven Frossard (Yamaha) 47
3. Jonathan Barragan (Kawasaki) 35
4. Maximilian Nagl (KTM) 35
5. Rui Goncalves (Honda) 29
6. Evgeny Bobryshev (Honda), 27
7. Kevin Strijbos (Suzuki) 26
8. Davide Guarneri (Kawasaki) 26
9. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 25
10. David Philippaerts (Yamaha) 25

MX2 Results and Standings:
1. Ken Roczen (KTM) 50 points
2. Tommy Searle (Kawasaki) 44
3. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 36
4. Gautier Paulin (Yamaha) 34
5. Zachary Osborne (Yamaha) 32
6. Jeremy van Horebeek (KTM) 31
7. Arnaud Tonus (Yamaha) 31
8. Max Anstie (Kawasaki) 28
9. Nicolas Aubin (KTM) 24
10. Joel Roelants (KTM) 19