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PRESS RELEASE: Gareth Swanepoel enjoys return to MX racing.
Molson Kawasaki’s Gareth Swanepoel, has enjoyed an exciting return to racing with two separate events held over the weekend.
First on the South African’s schedule was the 4th round of the United Telecom Belgian champs, held at the former GP circuit, the ‘Keiheuvel’, in Balen on Friday the 15th August (Bank Holiday). The demanding and treacherous sand circuit was the perfect test for Swanepoel after a long recovery from an injured wrist which was operated on at the start of the 2008 MX season.
‘Swanie’ posted 4th qualification time for a decent pick on the gate but was taken down in the first turn by a rider and found himself at the bottom of a pileup in moto 1. He remounted last and fought his way through to 17th spot.
A better start in Moto 2 would see the South African ride a consistent race to claim a podium spot when he crossed the finish line 3rd behind Belgian MX2 favorites, Jeremy Van Horebeek and Joel Roelands.
“I was so excited about this race” admitted Swanepoel. “I felt like a kid on Christmas eve and couldn’t sleep a wink. It’s been a long time since I’ve raced and it’s great to get the adrenalin pumping again. My wrist felt great and that’s really positive especially on a demanding track like this. I now need to work on getting my race pace back to where it should be”.
Swanepoel’s second event two days later was the 7th and penultimate round of the Maxxis British championship held in Brampton. A disappointing start in moto1 placed Swanepoel at the back of the pack with loads of work ahead of him on a muddy circuit. He diligently plugged away, taking every position he could to finish 11th as time ran out.
Moto 2 saw Swanepoel grab a better start as he got going in 10th spot. Within two laps he had gained 3 positions and settled in 7th where he finished to claim 7th overall for the day.
“I struggled with the bike in the first moto and had a terrible start which didn’t help matters. I came from way back to 11th but was not happy with the result. We changed some settings for the second moto which really helped. I got a better start and came from 10th through to 7th spot and managed to run a much faster pace. I’m obviously lacking in race pace but it will only be a matter of time before I’ll be up to speed.” vowed the South African.
Swanepoel and the Molson Kawasaki are set to confirm his participation in the Irish MX GP later this week.
www.swanie.co.za
Images: CDS & Stefan Paetow
Balen Keiheuvel – Belgian championship
Overall MX2:
| 1 | VAN HOREBEEK Jeremy | 47 |
| 2 | ROELANTS Joel | 47 |
| 3 | BOOT Mark | 31 |
| 4 | VAN HASTENBERG Jan | 29 |
| 5 | BRAKKE Herjan | 29 |
| 6 | VAN DEN BERG Heikki | 26 |
| 7 | HUYSMANS Jimmy | 26 |
| 8 | SWANEPOEL Gareth | 24 |
| 9 | DECKX Dennis | 24 |
| 10 | PICOTO Victor | 23 |
Brampton – British championship
Overall MX2:
| 1 | Shaun Simpson | 47 |
| 2 | Zac Osbourne | 43 |
| 3 | Neville Bradshaw | 38 |
| 4 | Martin Barr | 37 |
| 5 | Stephen Sword | 35 |
| 6 | Carl Nunn | 32 |
| 7 | Gareth Swanepoel | 24 |
| 8 | Elliot Banks-Browne | 24 |
| 9 | Mel Pocock | 21 |
| 10 | Lewis Gregory | 19 |
LEATT-BRACE SA MOTOCROSS GRAND PRIX A HUGE SUCCESS
Despite a budget shortfall the recent Leatt-BraceT South African Motocross Grand Prix at the Alkmaar circuit in Nelspruit was an unqualified success and a feel good event for South African motorsport.
After a recent debrief Motorsport South Africa managing director Beaulah Schoeman said the Nelspruit event had earned high praise from the FIM, the world controlling body for motorcycle competition, and Youthstream, the rights holder of the FIM world motocross championship. The Grand Prix is the only world championship motorsport event in South Africa this year.
"The official attendance figure for the weekend was slightly over 20 000 and the setting, the circuit, race officials and the organisation all came in for high praise from both the FIM and Youthstream," said Mrs Schoeman. "It was a weekend that drove home the point that South Africans are starved of international motorsport and will support quality events like the Leatt-BraceT SA MX GP.
"Without support from central or provincial Government events like the SA Motocross GP are financially vulnerable but, as with all new business projects you have to invest in the future. MSA is confident that for the remainder of our five year contract with the FIM and Youthstream, the event will run at a profit."
As an incentive for Government financial support Mrs Schoeman said it is estimated the Leatt-BraceT SA MX GP provided an R20 million injection into Mpumalanga coffers. This is in addition to a positive projection of South Africa on worldwide television over the race weekend.
With more than 30 overseas riders and teams along with riders from South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe hotels, lodges, guest houses and bed and breakfast establishments were fully booked. Car hire outlets, filling stations, restaurants and shopping malls in Nelspruit and surrounding areas were also major beneficiaries, with the event also provided short term employment in the area.
"As is always the case first time around there were a few glitches here and there," Mrs Schoeman said. "But we learned a great deal before and during the race weekend, planning has already started for next year and we will rectify the shortcomings."
Dr. Chris Leatt, chief executive officer of Leatt Corporation, was also more than happy with the weekend. Leatt Corporation produces neck protection devices for a wide range of motor racing and other activities.
"The event helped us forge a bond with MSA, FIM and Youthstream. It also highlighted, via the mass media, how many top motocross riders in the world wear our safety equipment. From a public relations and marketing point of view the Leatt-BraceT SA MX GP was a major success. We are also delighted with the number of riders wearing the Leatt-BraceT Moto GPX" said Dr Chris Leatt.
"We were also impressed by the high level of professionalism among the organisers and race officials."
"It was a feel good event not only for South African motorsport, but for South Africa as a whole," said Mrs Schoeman. "Any reservations people in the motorsport community had about the event have been blown out of the water."
MX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:
LOVEMYTIME SEASON STATISTICS UPDATED AT NELSPRUIT
View Statistics (PDF)
RAMON, SEARLE AND CAIROLI ON THE TOP SPOTS AT NELSPRUIT
NELSPRUIT (SOUTH AFRICA), 19 July 2008 – Day one got underway at the Alkmaar Raceway in Nelspruit, the host of the eagerly awaited Leatt Brace Grand Prix of South Africa.
Defending MX1 Champion Steve Ramon stormed to pole in the MX1 class, leading KTM fellow riders Max Nagl and Jonathan Barragan. In the MX2 class Tommy Searle and Antonio Cairoli took the qualifying heats while home rider and series leader Tyla Rattray took a hard fought second in heat one after a crash.
The Saturday’s press conference at the Leatt Brace GP of South Africa
MX1
Teka Suzuki WMX1’ Steve Ramon took his second consecutive pole after the latest one from Uddevalla, where he was actually the quickest for the first time in 2008. The Belgian is ready to battle it out tomorrow and hopes to close the 12 point gap from series leader David Philippaerts.
The Yamaha Monster Motocross rider was ninth quickest today while former KTM Factory’s team mate Max Nagl took a solid second after topping the time sheets throughout the qualifying.
After winning the Swedish GP, AXO KTM Silver Action’s Jonathan Barragan took third in the qualifying practice with GPKR’s Sebastien Pourcel –the current leader of the Lovemytime standings with four poles- storming to fourth courtesy of a brilliant twelfth and final lap.
Ken de Dycker and Joshua Coppins rounded off the top six.
Steve Ramon will start from pole tomorrow
Top five: 1. Steve Ramon (BEL, Suzuki), 1:57.112; 2. Maximilian Nagl (GER, KTM), +0:00.236; 3. Jonathan Barragan (ESP, KTM), +0:00.836; 4. Sebastien Pourcel (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:01.317; 5. Ken de Dycker (BEL, Suzuki), +0:01.448
MX2
The MX2 class will have poleman Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tommy Searle and Yamaha Red Bull De Carli’s Tony Cairoli start next to each other at the Leatt Brace Grand Prix of South Africa as they won the first and second qualifying heat respectively.
Both rode two strong heats, with the defending Champion eventually taking his eighth consecutive Lovemytime Award.
Tyla Rattray was a hard fought second in heat one after a crash while Steven Frossard was second in heat two. Stephen Sword came back to racing today after he injured his shoulder in France and took a stunning third in heat one, with Shaun Simpson completing the top three of heat two.
Tommy Searle took victory in qualifying heat one
MX2 QUALIFYING RACE 1
Searle took the lead early in heat one to keep it until the chequered flag. After the start Rattray was rounding off the top five; he worked his way up to third then he crashed to restart again from fifth. The determined South African brought the bike home in second after a final move on Sword, who had been runner up to Searle until lap eight. Yamaha team mates Nicolas Aubin and Davide Guarneri rounded off the top five.
Top five: 1. Tommy Searle (GBR, KTM), 25:56.454; ; 2. Tyla Rattray (RSA, KTM), +0:09.960; 3. Stephen Sword (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:15.969; 4. Nicolas Aubin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:21.363; 5. Davide Guarneri (ITA, Yamaha), +0:25.988
MX2 QUALIFYING RACE 2
After he let early leader Frossard stay upfront for the first five laps, Cairoli took control of heat two at lap six and eventually won from the Frenchman. Simpson worked his way up inside the top five and climbed to a positive third from Musquin and Goncalves. Monni and Tarroux rounded off the top seven ahead of an unfit Leuret, who still suffers pain to his right shoulder and arm.
Top five: 1. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, Yamaha), 26:01.091; ; 2. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:05.780; 3. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +0:06.785; 4. Marvin Musquin (FRA, Honda), +0:08.285; 5. Rui Goncalves (POR, KTM), +0:30.902
Tony Cairoli won moto two
NEWS OF THE DAY: PERSONALIZED LEATT BRACES FOR RAMON AND CAIROLI
Leatt Corporation and Dr. Chris Leatt, the inventor of the Leatt Brace, realized two special neck braces for reigning World Motocross Champions Steve Ramon and Antonio Cairoli. The braces featured the respective factory colours, with yellow for Ramon (Suzuki) and blue for Cairoli (Yamaha), and other distinctive logos which made the products unique and special.
Dr. Chris Leatt handed Tony Cairoli and Steve Ramon two personalized Leatt Braces
Chris Leatt is an avid rider, as he rode both off road and Supersport bikes, but he is also a motorsports fan, as he attended a few events being involved in the medical coverage of the races. He invented the Leatt Brace after developing and studying the benefits and viability of a neck protection system for helmet clad sport and recreational users in an attempt to reduce devastating neck injuries.
The Leatt Brace is in the market since 18 months as Leatt Corporation is an active collaborator of Wings For Life, the Spinal Cord Research Foundation.
ALKMAAR RACEWAY AND NELSPRUIT
The race track Alkmaar Raceway is a new improved rebuild from a previous track, which was actually voted the top track in the Northern Regions in South Africa. The 1600 metre course features all sorts of jumps and racing situations on a rich red loamy soil. Alkmaar Raceway is built on 30 hectares of ground on the banks of the Crocodile River as the renewal work begun in November 2007. Track watering and ripping started last week to make the course look perfect for the weekend’s GP.
The Alkmaar Raceway gets watered at the sunset
Nelspruit is 330 kilometres East of Johannesburg and it is located in the fertile valley of the Crocodile River; Nelspruit is the capital of the Mpumalanga province and it is extremely close to the worldwide famous Kruger Park, whose Southern access is only 60 kilometres away. The city is the trading centre for the surrounding fruit growing area of Mpumalanga, as the production includes citrus and tropical fruits.
THE EVENT’S SCHEDULE
Saturday July 19: African Invitational Race (AIR) Free Practice 1 at 9:00 am; MX2 Free Practice at 10:00 am; MX1 Free Practice 1 at 11:00 am; MX2 Pre-Qualifying Practice at 12:00 am; AIR Free Practice 2 at 1:15 pm; MX1 Free Practice 2 at 2:00 pm; MX2 Qualifying Race 1 at 3:00 pm; MX2 Qualifying Race 2 at 3:45 pm; MX1 Time Practice at 4:30 pm; MX2 Last Chance Qualifying Practice at 5:15 pm (local time).
Sunday July 20: African Invitational Race (AIR) Warm-up at 9:00 am; MX2 Warm-up at 9:30 am; MX1 Warm-up at 10:00 am; AIR Race 1 at 11:10 am; MX2 Grand Prix Race 1 at 12:10 am; MX1 Grand Prix Race 1 at 1:10 pm; AIR Race 2 at 2:10 pm; MX2 Grand Prix Race 2 at 3:03 pm; MX1 Grand Prix Race 2 at 4:03 pm (local time).
The Grand Prix will be broadcast live on:
- EUROSPORT 2 (Pan Europe): MX1 Race 1 at 13:00 CET
- MOTORS TV (Pan Europe): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00 CET
- SPORT ITALIA (Italy): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00 CET
- VRT (Belgium): MX1 Race 1 at 13:00 and Race 2 at 16:00 CET
- GALAXIE SPORT (Czech Republic): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00 CET
- ART (Pan Middle East): MX1 Race 2 at 16:00 CET
- SPORT TV (Slovenia): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00 CET
- EUROSPORT WORLD (PAN ASIA): MX1 Race 1 at 11:00 GMT
- RED BULL TV (Austria): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00; MX1 Race 1 at 13:00 and Race 2 at 16:00 CET
- MEDIAZONE (Worldwide): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00; MX1 Race 1 at 13:00 and Race 2 at 16:00 CET
- TRANS 7 (Indonesia): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00; MX1 Race 1 at 13:00 and Race 2 at 16:00 CET
- SPORT TV (Portugal): MX2 Race 1 at 12:00 and Race 2 at 15:00 CET
The Grand Prix will be broadcast delayed on:
- EUROSPORT 2 (Pan Europe): Sunday July 20; MX1 Race 2 at 21:00 CET
- MOTORS TV (Pan Europe): Sunday July 20; MX2 Race 1 at 21:00 and Race 2 at 21:55 CET
- SPORT ITALIA (Italy): Sunday July 20; MX1 Race 1 at 23:30. Monday July 21; MX1 Race 2 at 00:30 CET
- EUROSPORT WORLD (Pan Asia): Sunday July 20; MX1 Race 2 at 21:00. Monday July 21; MX1 Race 2 at 10:00 and at 17:45; MX2 Class at 18:30 and at 00:00. Tuesday July 22; MX1 Race 2 at 03:45 and at 11:15 and at 21:45; MX2 Class at 04:30 and at 12:00 and at 22:30 GMT
- AMERICA ONE SPORTS (USA): Second Tuesday after the GP; MX2 Race 2 at 21:00; MX1 Race 2 at 22:00 USA Eastern Time
- GAORA (JAPAN): MX2 Race 1 and Race 2; MX1 Race 1 and Race 2; N/A CET
- SUPERSPORT (SOUTH AFRICA): Saturday July 19; MX1/MX2 Highlights at 17:25. Sunday July 20; MX1/MX2 Highlights at 17:00 CET
LEATT-BRACE SA MX GP - AFRICA INVITATION RACE ON SUPERSPORT
| HIGH OCTANE MOTORSPORT |
| 24 July 2008 |
18:30:00 |
SuperSport Two |
P |
| 24 July 2008 |
18:30:00 |
SuperSport Two Africa |
P |
| 25 July 2008 |
15:30:00 |
SuperSport Five |
R |
| 25 July 2008 |
03:00:00 |
SuperSport Two |
R |
| 25 July 2008 |
03:00:00 |
SuperSport Two Africa |
R |
| 25 July 2008 |
15:30:00 |
SuperSport Five Africa |
R |
| 28 July 2008 |
09:30:00 |
SuperSport Two |
R |
| 28 July 2008 |
09:30:00 |
SuperSport Two Africa |
R |
| 30 July 2008 |
06:30:00 |
SuperSport Two |
R |
| 30 July 2008 |
06:30:00 |
SuperSport M-NET |
R |
| 30 July 2008 |
15:00:00 |
SuperSport Five |
R |
| 30 July 2008 |
06:30:00 |
SuperSport Two Africa |
R |
| 30 July 2008 |
15:00:00 |
SuperSport Five Africa |
R |
| PLEASE NOTE:Broadcast dates and times are subject to change without prior notice at the sole discretion of the Broadcaster. |
BARRAGAN WINS SA GRAND PRIX
Nelspruit, Sunday 20 July – Spaniard Jonathan Barragan, on the AXO KTM, won the Leatt-Brace South African Grand Prix at the Alkmaar circuit here today.
Victory in the second MX1 category was enough to give Barragan his second GP victory of the season. Second in the final moto also saw German Max Nagl (Red Bull KTM) clinch second place overall ahead of reigning world champion Steve Ramon from Belgium.
Nagl led for most of the opening moto before being passed at the death. The unfortunate German suffered the same fate in the second moto when Barragan caught and passed him a lap or two from the finish.
Nagl then had to fight off Frenchman Sebastien Pourcell, on the GPKR Kawasaki, to hold onto second place. Fourth and fifth were New Zealander Josh Coppins (Monster Motocross Yamaha) and Briton Billy Mackenzie on the CAS Honda.
First race winner Ramon was a disappointing eighth with Italian Davide Philippaerts, second in race one on another Monster Motocross Yamaha, ending up sixth. Philippaerts now leads the world championship by 11 points from Ramon.
Race result: 1 Jonathan Barragan (Spain – AXO KTM); 2 Max Nagl (Germany - Red Bull KTM); 3 Sebastien Pourcel (France – GPKR Kawasaki); 4 Josh Coppins (New Zealand – Monster Motocross Yamaha); 5 Billy Mackenzie (Great Britain – CAS Honda).
Nagl then had to fight off Frenchman Sebastien Pourcell, on the GPKR Kawasaki, to hold onto second place. Fourth and fifth were New Zealander Josh Coppins (Monster Motocross Yamaha) and Briton Billy Mackenzie on the CAS Honda.
RAMON TAKES FIRST MX1 MOTO
Nelspruit, Sunday 20 July – Reigning world champion Steve Ramon, on the Team Teka Suzuki, won an enthralling first MX1 moto at the Leatt-Brace South African Motocross Championship here today.
The Belgian and German Max Nagl, on the factory Red Bull KTM, fought out a fantastic duel that had a huge crowd on its feet. Ramon gradually hunted down Nagl and only three minutes and two laps remained of the race when the world champion finally found a way past Nagl.
The rapidly tiring German then came under fire from current championship leader David Philippaerts, of Italy, on the Monster Motocross Yamaha, and Spaniard Jonathan Barragan on a KTM. Over the last two laps the unfortunate Nagl was passed by both Philippaerts and Barragan and eventually had to settle for fourth place.
The top five were rounded out by Ramon’s team-mate, Ken de Dycker, on a second Team Teka Suzuki.
Race result: 1 Steve Ramon (Belgium – Team Teka Suzuki); 2 David Philippaerts (Italy – Monster Motocross Yamaha); 3 Jonathan Barragan (Spain – KTM); 4 Max Nagl (Germany – Red Bull KTM); 5 Ken de Dycker (Belgium – Team Teka Suzuki).
SECOND MOTO WIN FOR RATTRAY
Nelsruit, Sunday 20 July – South African star Tyla Rattray, on the Red Bull KTM, romped away with the second moto in the MX2 category at the Leatt-Brace South African Grand Prix here today.
Rattray grabbed the hole shot and never gave team-mate Tommy Searle, the first moto winner, a look in. Towards the end of the moto Searle appeared to have settled for second place and the overall victory.
Behind the two Red Bull factory riders there was a good fight between Frenchman Steve Frossard on the CLS Kawasaki, Shaun Simpson (KTM UK) and Frenchman Nicolas Aubin on the Ricci Racing Yamaha. They finished in that order with Searle winning the Grand Prix ahead of Rattray and Aubin who was second in the first moto.
Reigning world champion Antonio Cairoli (De Carli Red Bull Yamaha), who was injured in the first moto, started the second race but pulled out after three laps.
Race result: 1 Tyla Rattray (RSA - Red Bull KTM); 2 Tommy Searle (Great Britain – Red Bull KTM); 3 Steve Frossard (France - CLS Kawasaki); 4 Shaun Simpson (Great Britain – KTM UK); 5 Nicolas Aubin (France – Ricci Racing Yamaha).
Overall: 1 Tommy Searle; 2 Tyla Rattray; 3 Nicolas Aubin.
Championship points: 1 Tyla Rattray 416; 2 Tommy Searle 395; 3 Antonio Cairoli 348.
SEARLE WINS FIRST MX2 MOTO
Nelsruit, Sunday 20 July – British rider Tommy Searle, on the Red Bull KTM, won the opening heat of the MX2 category at the Leatt-Brace South African Motocross Grand Prix here today.
Frenchman Nicolas Aubin, on the Ricci Racing Yamaha, got off to a flying start to take the early lead ahead of Searle. South African Tyler Rattray, on another of the factory Red Bull KTM entries, got boxed in at the start and an early fall at turn nine did not help his cause.
Also in the early wars was world champion Antonio Cairoli, on the Di Carli Red Bull Yamaha, who retired after three laps.
At the front of the field Searle was flying and closing in on Aubin. Rattray was also on the move and closing in on Shaun Simpson (KTM UK) and Frenchman Steve Frossard on the CLS Kawasaki.
Searle finally hit the front on lap nine with Rattray, after picking off first frossard and then Simpson, up into third place on lap 13. It stayed that way until the flag with Searle finishing 11 seconds ahead of Aubin with Rattray a further 11 seconds in arrears.
Race result: 1 T Searle (Great Britain – KTM); 2 N Aubin (France – KTM); 3 T Rattry (RSA – KTM); 4 S Simpson (Great Britain – KTM); 5 S Frossard (France – Kawasaki).
The sun sets on a successful weekend of racing.
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