Suzuki's Clement Desalle won the Hawkstone International last weekend in the UK.

Rockstar Energy Suzuki MX1’s Clement Desalle won the MX1 class of the Hawkstone Park International last weekend in the UK.

With the FIM Motocross World Championship set to start in three weeks, Suzuki used the rough sand of English Hawkstone Park circuit for extra training and testing, particularly with a view towards the second Grand Prix of the season in similar terrain at Valkenswaard.

As seen in several pre-season events already, Desalle was in good form and negotiated the thinning Hawkstone surface to win both motos ahead of Tanel Leok with teammate Steve Ramon following behind on both occasions in third position.

“The track was fun but also hard physically,” said Desalle. “I was happy for the good weather! The racing was close and I found a good line on the last lap of the first moto to pass Leok.

“I saw he was having a battle with Steve in the second race and I think the public enjoyed that one. It was a good day overall and for our last race before Bulgaria.”

The German crew will complete some more testing in Belgium in the coming weeks but its race program now relaxes until the opening Grand Prix of the year at Sevlievo in Bulgaria on 10 April.