Highs and lows for Swanie at Thunder Valley

Star Racing Yamaha’s Gareth
Swanepoel headed to Thunder Valley Colorado this past weekend for Round 5
of the AMA National Motocross Championship.

As the gate dropped for Moto 1
Swanepoel grabbed great jump and screamed his Yamaha YZ250F up into the
opening turns within the leading group. As the riders settled into position
Swanie sat in 6^th and was looking good on the rough and rutted,
hillside circuit. As the laps ticked by the 387 machine of Swanepoel was
progressing well as he moved up into 5^th position, but was later
relegated back to 6^th by Tomac. Racing hard to the end Swanepoel
crossed the line to finish moto 1 in a respectable 6^th
position.

Moto 2 would see another good jump
out the gate for the South African, but heading through turn 2 Swanie went
down hard, getting run over by other riders. With the entire pack gone into
the distance a dejected Swanepoel got going, setting chase. Swanie was soon
into a good rhythm, and by posting the same lap times as the top 5 riders
he caught the field and soon started moving through. Lap after lap Swanie
did what he could and by the end of the race he crossed the line in
21^st position. With his solid result in race one this gave
Swanie 14^th overall.

Gareth Swanepoel: “Moto 1 was
a good start, and I felt like I rode well. For sure the bikes all struggle
around here at altitude, but for myself I felt strong and enjoyed the race
and the circuit. Moto 2 was just unlucky, I went down hard and by the time
I got up I must have been last by 30 seconds! I thought well I am just
gonna race hard and gain more testing on the bike, but actually my lap
times were fast and I managed to get well into the pack by the finish. Next
weekend we head to Red Bud, I have never ridden there, but look forward to
it non the less, I feel good and the bike is great so once again I am going
to give it my all.”

After a little physio this week
Swanepoel will head to the next round, which is at Red Bud this coming
Saturday.

Results

Thunder Valley
Overall

1. Blake Baggett

2. Dean Wilson
3. Eli Tomac
4. Darryn Durham
5. Tyla
Rattray
6. Ryan Sipes
7. Malcolm Stewart
8. Travis
Baker
9. Justin Barcia
10. Alex Martin

14. Gareth Swanepoel

Points Standings


1. Dean
Wilson
2. Tyla Rattray
3. Blake
Baggett
4. Eli Tomac
5. Justin Barcia
6. Kyle
Cunningham
7. Broc Tickle
8. Gareth Swanepoel

9. Darryn Durham
10. Cole Seely