
MXGP boiled in heat and humidity for the second time in a week and for the second slice of frantic action on Indonesian soil…but Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Clement Desalle kept cool to finish 3rd overall and dowse the damp Semarang air with sickly sweet champagne for the first time since his Russian GP win in May.
The Grand Prix of Asia saw Indonesian fans get their fill of MXGP for the second time in a week but the oppressive air of Pangkal Pinang was swamped for the fast hard-pack and massive jumps of Semarang and a sect of the world’s best thrived in the conditions.
Desalle made the most of two good starts to finish fourth and then second – holding off a rampaging Tim Gajser (and clocking his third top three moto finish from the last six) – to make it back onto the box. With five pieces of silverware Desalle is the next-best Grand Prix runner behind the title-duking KTM duo Jeffrey Herlings and Tony Cairoli as the Dutchman won in Semarang.