Date: 01 July '07

Round 9 of the FIM Motocross world championship series has seen Molson Kawasaki racer, Gareth Swanepoel achieve a mixed result on a re-designed Uddevalla circuit.

Swanepoel placed third in his Saturday qualification race ensuring a good starting gate for the first MX2 moto on Sunday. The South African was unable to get a good jump on the gate which had been laid with gravel and emerged in the top ten before going down on lap three. He clawed his way back from 16th place however another error would seal Swanie’s fate as he hit the Swedish dirt again. With twisted bars he managed to salvage 16th spot.

After re-assessing his first moto mistakes ‘Swanie’ focused on making no more unforced errors as the gate dropped for the second moto. He kept a tight line going into the first turn and completed lap one in 9th place. Fast consistent laps moved the Molson Kawasaki up the ladder and Swanie set his fastest time of the race on lap twelve. With five minutes to go, he was catching fourth place rider Rui Goncalves at a rapid rate and was handed fourth spot when Goncalves’ engine failed. ‘Swanie’ finished less than three seconds adrift of fellow South African, Tyla Rattray.

“ The first moto was disastrous! I didn’t get a good start and went off the track in the whoop section and ended up in a deep gully. I got going pretty well and caught up again but then crashed and bent my bars and struggled from there. The second start was not much better but I took my time and got into a good rhythm. I made great progress through the pack and finished a strong fourth which I was happy with.” explained Swanepoel.

‘Swanepoel’ will return to the UK next weekend for the 6th round of the British MX championship before traveling to the re-scheduled 10th round of the GP series in FAENZA, Italy.

Race results:

MX2 Race 1
1 Searle, Tommy GBR KTM
2 Cairoli, Antonio ITA Yamaha
3 Gundersen, Kenneth NOR Yamaha
4 Leuret, Pascal FRA Honda
5 van Horebeek, Jeremy BEL KTM
6 Guarneri, Davide ITA Yamaha
7 Schiffer, Marcus GER KTM
8 Goncalves, Rui POR KTM
9 Boissiere, Anthony FRA Kawasaki
10 Boog, Xavier FRA Yamaha
11 Seistola, Matti FIN Honda
12 Avis, Wyatt RSA KTM
13 Nunn, Carl GBR Yamaha
14 Dougan, Jason GBR Suzuki
15 Pourcel, Christophe FRA Kawasaki
16 Swanepoel, Gareth RSA Kawasaki

MX2 Race 2
1 Cairoli, Antonio ITA Yamaha
2 Pourcel, Christophe FRA Kawasaki
3 Rattray, Tyla RSA KTM
4 Swanepoel, Gareth RSA Kawasaki
5 Searle, Tommy GBR KTM
6 Schiffer, Marcus GER KTM
7 Simpson, Shaun GBR Kawasaki
8 Seistola, Matti FIN Honda
9 Nunn, Carl GBR Yamaha
10 Guarneri, Davide ITA Yamaha
11 Dougan, Jason GBR Suzuki
12 Boog, Xavier FRA Yamaha
13 Aubin, Nicolas FRA Yamaha
14 Leuret, Pascal FRA Honda
15 Avis, Wyatt RSA KTM

MX2 World championship standings:
1 Cairoli, A. ITA 439
2 Pourcel, C. FRA 337
3 Rattray, Tyla RSA 318
4 Searle, Tommy GBR 285
5 Leuret, Pascal FRA 270
6 Swanepoel, G. RSA 224
7 Aubin, Nicolas FRA 197
8 Gundersen, K. NOR 188
9 Seistola, M. FIN 160
10 Boissiere, A. FRA 146
11 Nunn, Carl GBR 131
12 Schiffer, M. GER 128
13 Guarneri, D. ITA 121
14 Boog, Xavier FRA 99
15 Church, Tom GBR 94