Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX1 will have to face the final three rounds of the FIM Motocross World Championship without star rider and title-contender Clement Desalle after the 22 year old fractured a bone in his left shoulder-joint on Sunday at Balen for the Belgian Championship.
Desalle, who had won last week's Grand Prix of Czech Republic and was just 48 points behind leader Antonio Cairoli in the MX1 World Series with 150 still to fight for, took the holeshot in the first moto but exiting the first corner-descent was crashed into by Evgeny Bobryshev.
The Belgian was immediately taken to hospital and the initial diagnosis before detailed-scans pointed to a fracture in the left shoulder. The injury is almost certainly going to require surgery and the winner of four World Championship events this season could opt for a procedure on the right shoulder he damaged through dislocation two months ago at the same time.
Team Owner Sylvain Geboers said: "It is quite unbelievable some of the luck Clement has had this season but sadly we know too-well that this is part of the sport. Clement had made a great start and the accident was no fault of his own. It seems that his season is over and he has to make a decision about getting both shoulders fixed and healed so he can be 100% ready to make a push for 2012."
The injury and withdrawel of Deselle almost garuntees Cairoli the 2012 championship should he stay fit. Monster Yamaha's Steven Frossard is now the Italians closest rival with a points deficit of 81.
