Monster Energy Yamaha rookie Steve Frossard says he expected to challenge for the overall victory at last weekend’s Grand Prix of Bulgaria, eventually finishing second overall.

The 23-year-old won a moto and left the cold and windy Sevlievo circuit with the runner-up position overall, a true revelation in his debut MX1 GP.

After finishing second behind Suzuki’s Clement Desalle tied on points, Frossard said it was mistakes that cost him the overall.

“I feel really good on the bike and the 450 suits me better,” he admitted. “In the first moto I made a really good start and it was easy for me to take a lead of a few seconds.

“In the second it was completely different because the start was not great. I passed Clement and was ahead by four seconds but made a mistake. My physical condition was really good and that helped me to come back to second and look for the win.

“I was pushing really hard because I wanted to win the GP and then made another error that cost me half a second. In my head I knew I was capable of this speed because we worked really hard over the winter with Yamaha.”

Round two will take place in two weeks on Easter Monday at Valkenswaard for the Grand Prix of the Netherlands.