Date: 2 September 2007

South African motocross talent, Gareth Swanepoel, has ended his 2007 MX2 world championship with an astounding ride for second overall in the deep treacherous sand of Lierop in the Netherlands. The Molson Kawasaki rider won his Saturday qualifying race in a heated battle with sand specialist, Erik Eggens, setting the tone for the final round of the year.

Grabbing a good start in moto 1, Swanepoel made his way to the front of the pack by blasting past Tommy Searle and then Kenneth Gundersen with Antonio Cairoli following suit further down in the pack. ‘Swanie’ rode an excellent pace mastering the rough demanding circuit and looked to set to win his first ever MX2 GP race when recently crowned world champion, Cairoli put in a blinding last two laps to pass the Molson Kawasaki for the win. Swanepoel’s consolation was that rest of the pack were more than 35 seconds back as he claimed his career best moto finish.

Eager to prove his stamina and speed in the second moto, Swanepoel got squeezed into the first turn and emerged just inside the top ten but quickly made up a handful of positions. A mistake on lap two saw him fall and lose vital positions but Swanepoel remounted and put his head down to start an amazing comeback. With the last lap board showing, he charged into third with Antonio Cairoli and Erik Eggens within sight. Unfortunately, Rui Goncalves managed to slip by on the last corner, but Swanepoel’s second overall was more than secure as he crossed the finish line fourth.

“This has been a good end to my GP season,” smiled Swanepoel. “I started off the season well in Valkenswaard with a podium and today I really thought this might be my first GP victory but I hit some back markers on the last lap and Tony got me which was a disappointment for me. The Molson Kawasaki team have worked really hard for me and even though my results have been up and down during the year it definitely has not been from a lack of effort. Fifth in the MX2 world championship is a good achievement although you always hope for better but it wouldn’t have been possible without a great team, good sponsors and supportive behind me.”

Swanepoel still has the final round of the British championship to contend on the 15th of September before flying to the USA to represent South Africa in the 61st edition of the Red Bull Motocross of Nations to be held in Budds Creek, Maryland a week later.

IRace results:

MX2 Race 1
1 Cairoli, Antonio ITA Yamaha
2 Swanepoel, Gareth RSA Kawasaki
3 Gundersen, Kenneth NOR Yamaha
4 Searle, Tommy GBR KTM
5 Seistola, Matti FIN Honda
6 Schiffer, Marcus GER KTM
7 Boog, Xavier FRA Yamaha
8 Aubin, Nicolas FRA Yamaha
9 Avis, Wyatt RSA KTM
10 van Horebeek, Jeremy BEL KTM
11 van Vijfeijken, Rob NED KTM
12 Goncalves, Rui POR KTM
13 Guarneri, Davide ITA Yamaha
14 Hamblin, Sean USA Suzuki
15 Nunn, Carl GBR Yamaha

MX2 Race 2
1 Cairoli, Antonio ITA Yamaha
2 Eggens, Erik NED Suzuki
3 Goncalves, Rui POR KTM
4 Swanepoel, Gareth RSA Kawasaki
5 Aubin, Nicolas FRA Yamaha
6 Boog, Xavier FRA Yamaha
7 Searle, Tommy GBR KTM
8 van Horebeek, Jeremy BEL KTM
9 Boissiere, Anthony FRA Kawasaki
10 Nunn, Carl GBR Yamaha
11 Schiffer, Marcus GER KTM
12 Bonini, Matteo ITA Yamaha
13 van Vijfeijken, Rob NED KTM
14 Church, Tom GBR Kawasaki
15 Monni, Manuel ITA Yamaha

MX2 World championship standings:
1 Cairoli, A. ITA 660
2 Searle, Tommy GBR 510
3 Pourcel, C. FRA 436
4 Rattray, Tyla RSA 371
5 Swanepoel, G. RSA 364
6 Aubin, Nicolas FRA 358
7 Leuret, Pascal FRA 320
8 Seistola, M. FIN 276
9 Schiffer, M. GER 260
10 Gundersen, K. NOR 244
11 Goncalves, Rui POR 243
12 Guarneri, D. ITA 226
13 Boog, Xavier FRA 219
14 Nunn, Carl GBR 198
15 Boissiere, A. FRA 192