Date: 31 August 2008

Having missed most of the 2008 FIM Motocross world championship due to a wrist injury, Gareth Swanepoel has returned to MX GP racing for round 13 held at the Fairyhouse racecourse in Dublin, Ireland.

The Molson Kawasaki rider successfully qualified for the Sunday race program by placing tenth in his qualification heat.

With 16000 spectators turning out to watch the event, Swanepoel felt motivated to claim his first world championship points. Having a wide starting gate made it difficult to capitalize on a good start which left him with some hard work ahead. He pushed his way into the points early on the 35 minute moto and was placed 19th when he had a spectacular crash over one of the table top jumps at the back of the circuit. Swanepoel’s clutch perch was broken in the accident which forced him to retire from the race a little dazed.

The second moto did not last long for the South African when he pulled into the pitlane shortly after the start, battling with his vision.

“This is not the return I was hoping for but it gives me a good indication of where my speed is at and what I need to work on. I hit my head in the first moto when I crashed and must have suffered a light concussion as I could not focus my eyes on the lines so thought it was best to stop. I have been training more in the sand so am looking forward to Lierop next week” explained Swanepoel.

The penultimate round of the MX GP series will take place at the infamous sand circuit of Lierop next week. The Dutch track has many fond memories for ‘Swanie’ after he posted a career best by finishing second overall at the final MX2 GP last year. Swanepoel also scored a stellar 4th place for his country at the 2004 MXON (riding a 450cc - MX1 class) on the same circuit to help Team South Africa to their best ever Motocross of Nations result.

Race results:

MX2 Race 1
1 Osbourne, Zach USA Yamaha
2 Rattray, Tyla RSA KTM
3 Aubin, Nicolas FRA Yamaha
4 Searle, Tommy GBR KTM
5 Frossard, Steven FRA Kawasaki
6 Simpson, Shaun GBR KTM
7 Boissiere, Anthony FRA KTM
8 Sword, Stephen GBR Kawasaki
9 Boog, Xavier FRA Suzuki
10 Goncalves, Rui POR KTM
11 Nunn, Carl GBR Suzuki
12 van Horebeek, Jeremy BEL KTM
13 Monni, Manuel ITA Yamaha
14 Bonini, Matteo ITA Yamaha
15 Barr, Martin GBR Yamaha
26 Swanepoel, Gareth RSA Kawasaki

MX2 Race 2
1 Rattray, Tyla RSA KTM
2 Searle, Tommy GBR KTM
3 Frossard, Steven FRA Kawasaki
4 Sword, Stephen GBR Kawasaki
5 Boissiere, Anthony FRA KTM
6 Roelants, Joel BEL KTM
7 Aubin, Nicolas FRA Yamaha
8 Goncalves, Rui POR KTM
9 Boog, Xavier FRA Suzuki
10 Monni, Manuel ITA Yamaha
11 Simpson, Shaun GBR KTM
12 Bonini, Matteo ITA Yamaha
13 Krestinov, Gert EST KTM
14 Nicholls, Jake GBR Suzuki
15 Banks-Browne, Elliot GBR Suzuki
27 Swanepoel, Gareth RSA Kawasaki

MX2 World championship standings:
1 Rattray, Tyla RSA 546
2 Searle, Tommy GBR 519
3 Cairoli, A. ITA 357
4 Aubin, Nicolas FRA 343
5 Simpson, Shaun GBR 337
6 Goncalves, Rui POR 327
7 Frossard, S. FRA 284
8 Boog, Xavier FRA 269
9 van Horebeek, J. BEL 253
10 Monni, Manuel ITA 245
11 Sword, Stephen GBR 243
12 Boissiere, A. FRA 240
13 Musquin, M. FRA 180
14 Guarneri, D. ITA 167
15 Roelants, Joel BEL 165