Date: 22 April '07

South African motocross GP campaigner, Gareth Swanepoel, has narrowly missed out on an overall podium spot at the 3rd round of the FIM Motocross World championship in Agueda.

The Molson Kawasaki rider started off the weekend well by qualifying third in his heat on Saturday.

‘Swanie’ grabbed a top ten start in the opening moto and quickly set about moving through the pack. The rough track conditions and sweltering heat suited the 22-year-old as he closed down a seven second gap to pressure Tommy Searle in the closing stages of the race. Swanepoel also had to keep fellow South African, Tyla Rattray at bay as he crossed the finish line in fourth in between an orange sandwich.

The deciding moto would be filled with drama as fellow Kawasaki rider Christophe Pourcel retired after a crash, leaving a possible podium spot up for grabs. Swanepoel lost his chance when he went down on lap four and reappeared way down the field. Determined not to give up on his shot at the box, Swanepoel put his head down and fought hard to break back into the top ten around the halfway mark. As time ran out, Swanie took the checkered flag in eighth narrowly missing out on a podium spot by three points.

“I enjoyed the first moto and managed to close Searle down from a way back but I just couldn’t find a way past. I threw away a podium chance in the second moto when I went down in a turn but I was pleased with how well I was able to come back through the pack. I have gained some places in the championship and there are still some areas I need to work on. Starts are so important in the MX2 class but I am confident that if I can get those sorted I can run up front with the guys” stated Swanepoel.

Swanepoel’s fifth overall has now moved him into seventh in the championship standings with the Italian GP in Mantova (6 May) offering the perfect opportunity for the South African to gain some more valuable MX2 championship points.

Race results:

MX2 Race 1

1 Cairoli, Antonio ITA Yamaha

2 Pourcel, Christophe FRA Kawasaki

3 Searle, Tommy GBR KTM

4 Swanepoel, Gareth RSA Kawasaki

5 Rattray, Tyla RSA KTM

6 Bonini, Matteo ITA Yamaha

7 Leuret, Pascal FRA Honda

8 Boissiere, Anthony FRA Kawasaki

9 Seistola, Matti FIN Honda

10 Monni, Manuel ITA Yamaha

11 Frossard, Steven FRA Kawasaki

12 Gundersen, Kenneth NOR Yamaha

13 Nunn, Carl GBR Yamaha

14 Boog, Xavier FRA Yamaha

15 Church, Tom GBR Kawasaki

MX2 Race 2

1 Cairoli, Antonio ITA Yamaha

2 Aubin, Nicolas FRA Yamaha

3 Leuret, Pascal FRA Honda

4 Boissiere, Anthony FRA Kawasaki

5 Gundersen, Kenneth NOR Yamaha

6 Searle, Tommy GBR KTM

7 Simpson, Shaun GBR Kawasaki

8 Swanepoel, Gareth RSA Kawasaki

9 Frossard, Steven FRA Kawasaki

10 Bonini, Matteo ITA Yamaha

11 Seistola, Matti FIN Honda

12 Boog, Xavier FRA Yamaha

13 Church, Tom GBR Kawasaki

14 Nunn, Carl GBR Yamaha

15 Avis, Wyatt RSA KTM

MX2 Championship standings:

1 Cairoli, A. ITA 147

2 Pourcel, C. FRA 103

3 Rattray, Tyla RSA 98

4 Leuret, Pascal FRA 87

5 Searle, Tommy GBR 79

6 Gundersen, K. NOR 75

7 Swanepoel, G. RSA 72

8 Aubin, Nicolas FRA 69

9 Seistola, M. FIN 61

10 Boissiere, A. FRA 57

11 Eggens, Erik NED 54

12 Schiffer, M. GER 48

13 Frossard, S. FRA 47

14 Monni, Manuel ITA 45

15 Boog, Xavier FRA 41