Team CLS Grand Prix of Belgium review

Lommel has always been considered as one of the hardest sand tracks in Europe, and for the young French members of team CLS it was a first GP experience there. Already on Saturday during the qualifying races things were pretty difficult, as Steven finished his race in eighth position – his worst qualification since Bulgaria – while Greg missed to qualified with a crash at the start of his race and then a ninth place in the LCQ.

The first start of Steven was not so good, but he did a strong opening lap to recover many places and came in ninth position. He earned two ranks and was battling for the seventh place with Nico Aubin, who finally passed him and later crashed in the last lap. Seven was a pretty good result for Steven, who only raced twice in Valkenswaard as sand experience in his career. His start was pretty similar in the second heat, and he was again seventh when he twisted his ankle in a hole.

Pushing hard to stay in the top ten he then lost many places when he crashed in a corner. Losing one glove and his goggles in this crash, he ended in sixteenth position and scored six points in this race. Eleventh of the race, he will be back in Loket next week, a track where he made his GP debut two years ago.

Steven Frossard: ‘I knew that Lommel would be a difficult round for me, and after South Africa I came here to practice near our Belgian workshop. It was a difficult race but I’m pretty satisfied with my results for my first experience in such a deep sand, as you can’ compare it to Valkenswaard. My starts were not so good but twice I found good lines in the first corners to pass many riders.

I did the first race between the ninth and seventh place to end seventh after Aubin’s crash. The second was more complicated, as I twisted my ankle and then crashed. I don’t understand why I lost a glove in this crash, but then it was difficult without glove and goggles. The most important was to finish the race and score some points, that’s what I did and for sure next races will be easier for me’

Gregory Aranda: ‘The week-end didn’t start well with bad lap times in the first two sessions, and then at the first start I crashed at the third corner with other riders and my engine staled.

In the last chance session I was fifth during most of the session, and in a last attempt I crashed and that was finished. I will train this week with a 450, a class I will race the last GP’s to prepare the future’

Jean Jacques Luisetti: ‘We all knew that it would be a demanding race, and we were happy when Steven finished seventh in the first race. He could renew this result in the second heat without his crash, but that’s the race and unfortunately he lost his goggles and a glove in this crash.

He was again fighting all weekend long, and we know what we have to do for the future to be stronger on this kind of tracks. Gregory missed his qualification and that’s disappointing, for sure his mind was already in the MX1 class’

- Pascal Haudiquert - also photos