    |
 |
|
|
|
Two weeks after making his successful USA MX National debut, South African teenager, Gareth Swanepoel has returned to Europe and the 12th round of the MX world championships in Loket. Thrilled with his USA result the KTM Kosak team had high expectations of Swanie and the pressure was on the nineteen year old to perform once again, this time on their side of the Atlantic.
Just over 17.000 spectators focussed their attention on the first race of the day and as the gate dropped it was a mad dash to the first corner. Swanepoel had his work cut out for him and he managed to break into the top twenty by the end of the first lap. Organisers had flattened the circuit overnight making it difficult to pass and of course making riders lap times extremely competitive.
Swanie put his head down and worked his way through to fifteenth with three quarters of the race gone. He could not make any time on the group of Machio, Rattray and Vehvilainen in front of him and had to settle for fifteenth.
Determined to better his first race result, Swanie charged off the start line but was boxed in at the first turn. The 125 KTM SXS powered its way up and down the steep hills of the Loket circuit, gaining five positions from 22nd to 15th by the second lap. By the halfway mark Swanie had closed down championship contender Stephen Sword and he passed the Scot on his way to 13th. A tussle ensued with fellow KTM rider, Jonathan Barragan and Swordy, with Barragan making some aggressive passes and relegating Swanie to 14th. Swordy tried lap after lap to pass his new race rival but the South African was not leaving any doors open. Swanie withstood the pressure of the factory rider and crossed the line for an intense and hard ridden 14th position.
“It was unbelievable how close the lap times were this weekend. It would have suited us 125cc two stroke riders more if the track was much rougher but we had to make do. I was happy with my consistency and I’m looking forward to Namur next weekend. I rode the Des Nations for South Africa there a few years ago and I like the technical circuit. I still need to pull off a top ten result!” explained the teenager.
