Suzuki's Clement Desalle qualified fastest with victory in the MX1 heat at Glen Helen.

The Monster Energy Grand Prix of the USA started today with the qualifying races of MX1 and MX2 and the race one of the Veterans.

Clement Desalle and Ken Roczen will be the first ones to choose the starting grid tomorrow, as they dominated the MX1 and MX2 qualifying races respectively.

The in form Desalle got his first Lovemytime pole position award this weekend in Glen Helen after winning the MX1 qualifying race. Second was Max Nagl and completing the top three was Evgeny Bobryshev.

“The track is long with lots of jumps and it can be a bit dangerous,” Desalle admitted. “I started in fourth or fifth and got into second on the first lap.

“I focussed only on my riding and it brought me up to a moment when I could make a pass and after that it was pretty easy.

“It is not so fast in places but it feels like a very long lap here – the downhill wave section is special. I will do my best to win tomorrow and keep on two wheels.”

Red plate holder Steven Frossard was fourth and world champion Antonio Cairoli finished seventh.

In the MX2 class Ken Roczen went out with the victory, followed by his teammates Jeffrey Herlings and Marvin Musquin.

Roczen made a mistake during the sighting lap and he injured two fingers of his left hand, however the pain didn’t prevent him to dominate the MX2 qualifying race finishing almost 12 second ahead his teammate Herlings.

American standout Doug Dubach imposed an incredible rhythm in the first race of the FIM Veterans World Cup and won the race ahead of Kiwi Darryll King and Matts Nilsson.