Clement Desalle Out for Motocross of Nations; Jorge Prado In for Spain [Update]

Team Belgium, one of the early favorites for the Chamberlain Trophy, will be without the services of MXGP star Clement Desalle for the the Motocross of Nations next weekend in Maggiora, Italy.

Desalle injured his knee at the final round of the FIM World Motocross Championship at Glen Helen Raceway last weekend. After visiting with doctors, Desalle announced on Instagram that the injury will keep him out of the Motocross of Nations and the Monster Energy SMX Riders’ and Manufacturers’ Cup in Germany on October 8, where Desalle was scheduled to compete alongside Kawasaki teammates Jordi Tixier and Tommy Searle.

The injury leaves Belgium searching for a replacement rider just one week out from the event. The likely scenario could see the Red Knights move Jeremy Van Horebeek to the 450 and bring on Brent Van doninck to ride MX2. Van doninck finished 15th in the FIM World Motocross Championship MX2 class this year.

In other ‘Nations news, Spain has drafted Jorge Prado to replace the injured Iker Larranaga in the MX2 class. Larranaga sustained a wrist injury at the USGP at Glen Helen last weekend.

Prado will join the previously announced Jose Butron (MXGP) and Jorge Zaragoza (Open). To learn more about the Spanish teen, check out our recent interview with him.

[Update: Friday, September 16]

Belgium team manager Joel Smets announced on Instagram that Brent Van doninck will replace the injured Clement Desalle. The surprise: Van doninck, a MX2 regular, will ride the 450 in the Open class. As Smets said in his post, sometimes you have to dare to think outside the box.

Below is his post: