450 FRENCH GP PHOTO GALLERY: DESALLE IS THE WINNER

On May 29, 2017 Last updated May 30, 2017

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Photos by Massimo Zanzani

Current 450 World Championship Tim Gajser could not race in France because of injuries suffered in Germany. Gajser is now fourth in 450 points.

RESULTS: 450 FRENCH GRAND PRIX
1. Clement Desalle…4-1
2. Tony Cairoli…2-3
3. Gautier Paulin…6-2
4. Max Nagl…1-9
5. Jeremy Van Horebeek…3-6
6. Romain Febvre…7-4
7. Jeffrey Herlings…5-5
8. Arnaud Tonus…8-7
9. Glenn Coldenhoff…11-8
10. Max Anstie…9-11
Other notables: 11. Jose Butron; 14. Valentin Guillod; 16. Jordi Tixier; 19. Rui Goncalves; 22. Ken DeDycker.

French Grand Prix winner Clement Desalle used a 4-1 to take the win away from Tony Cairoli’s 2-3.

FIM 450 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
(After 9 of 19 Rounds)
1. Tony Cairoli…347
2. Gautier Paulin…297
3. Clement Desalle…289
4. Tim Gajser…261
5. Jeremy Van Horebeek…261
6. Jeffrey Herlings…253
7. Evgeny Bobryshev…214
8. Romain Febvre…209
9. Max Nagl…200
10. Glenn Coldenhoff…176

Tony Cairoli didn’t win the French GP, but he didn’t lose it either. Clement Desalle only gained one point on Tony in the 450 title chase and at that pace it would take Desalle 58 races to catch up to Cairoli.

Gautier Paulin is the hometown hero in France. Paulin has jumped from team to team in the last few seadons, but seems comfortable with is new Husky ride. Paulin was third overall with a 6-2 and currently runs second overall in World Championship points.

Max Nagl (12) won the first moto in France, which is the bright spot on a 2017 season that has been without much to shout about. Unfortunately, a ninth in the second moto left him 4th overall. Nagl is 147 points behind points leader Tony Cairoli. That is 3 points shy of three GPs adrift.

Note the single layer radiator wings on Jeremy Van Horebeek’s factory Yamaha YZ450F. The double-walled airbox plumbing of the previous generation YZ450F will be a thing of the past in 2018. Van Horebeek is fifth in 450 points and was fifth in France.

Former 450 World Champion Romain Febvre has struggled with the set-up on his YZ450F and reportedly went back to the 2015 settings that won him the World Championship. His serious concussion in 2016 derailed his rise to the top. Romain went 7-4 in France.

Jeffrey Herlings has finally found better form in his transition to the 450 class, but it has been a rude awakening for a rider who almost never lost a 250 race to find himself mired in sixth place in 450 points (94 points behind Tony Cairoli).

Glenn Coldenhoff was 9th in France and is 10th in 450 GP points. He has to worry about his job as Cairoli’s KTM teammate in the 450 class because he’s not running at the front.