Date: 29 July 2007.

The 11th round of the FIM MX World championships moved to the picturesque town of Loket, close to the thermal resort city of Karlovy Vary in the Czech Rep. Molson Kawasaki’s, Gareth Swanepoel, has experienced mixed results with a 6-16 score in slippery conditions to take seventh overall and hold sixth place in the MX2 championship standings.

With rain threatening to dampen spirits for the start of the first moto, Swanepoel hugged a tight light in the first turn and emerged in 6th spot with fast starters Antonio Cairoli and Nicholas Aubin out front. After settling into his race rhythm, the South African closed down Pascal Leuret but could not find a way past the Frenchman. Christophe Pourcel joined the battle in the latter stages of the 35 minute moto, making his way around both Swanepoel and Leuret. Swanepoel gave one last try but missed the opportunity to relegate Leuret before the checkered flag.

The start of the second moto determined Swanepoel’s fate when he collided with another rider and went down. Starting stone last he had to claw his way back with a light drizzle not making matters easier. Fighting to get back into the top twenty Swanepoel raced to 16th spot as time ran out.

“This has been a tough circuit with some riders getting hurt quite badly. I had a big moment yesterday in my qualification race but was lucky to save it. In the first moto I had a good start and a strong race but just couldn’t find that extra speed to get Leuret at the end. My front wheel got taken from under me in the second moto start and I had to come from a way back. It was tough to pass so I battled to get back to where I would have liked to” commented Swanepoel.

The historic Citadel in Namen, Belgium awaits the MX GP riders and teams next week for round 12.

Race results:

MX2 Race 1
1 Cairoli, Antonio ITA Yamaha
2 Aubin, Nicolas FRA Yamaha
3 Searle, Tommy GBR KTM
4 Pourcel, Christophe FRA Kawasaki
5 Leuret, Pascal FRA Honda
6 Swanepoel, Gareth RSA Kawasaki
7 Boog, Xavier FRA Yamaha
8 Rattray, Tyla RSA KTM
9 Tarroux, Jeremy FRA KTM
10 Sword, Stephen GBR Kawasaki
11 Monni, Manuel ITA Yamaha
12 Bonini, Matteo ITA Yamaha
13 Schiffer, Marcus GER KTM
14 Barr, Martin GBR Yamaha
15 Paulin, Gautier FRA Honda
16 Verbruggen, Dennis BEL Yamaha

MX2 Race 2
1 Aubin, Nicolas FFM Yamaha
2 Cairoli, Antonio FMI Yamaha
3 Searle, Tommy ACU KTM
4 Guarneri, Davide FMI Yamaha
5 Sword, Stephen ACU Kawasaki
6 Seistola, Matti SML Honda
7 Goncalves, Rui FNM KTM
8 Tarroux, Jeremy FFM KTM
9 Paulin, Gautier MCM Honda
10 Schiffer, Marcus DMSB KTM
11 Bonini, Matteo FMI Yamaha
12 Pourcel, Christophe FFM Kawasaki
13 Monni, Manuel FMI Yamaha
14 Dougan, Jason ACU Suzuki
15 Boissiere, Anthony FFM Kawasaki
16 Swanepoel, Gareth MSA Kawasaki

MX2 World championship standings:
1 Cairoli, A. ITA 533
2 Pourcel, C. FRA 411
3 Rattray, Tyla RSA 371
4 Searle, Tommy GBR 351
5 Leuret, Pascal FRA 320
6 Swanepoel, G. RSA 265
7 Aubin, Nicolas FRA 262
8 Seistola, M. FIN 200
9 Gundersen, K. NOR 197
10 Boissiere, A. FRA 171
11 Schiffer, M. GER 171
12 Guarneri, D. ITA 154
13 Nunn, Carl GBR 143
14 Boog, Xavier FRA 135
15 Goncalves, Rui POR 122