Gareth Swanepoel one step away from his first SX Lites podium
Star Valli Yamaha racer, Gareth Swanepoel, has posted a career best 4h place finish at the San Diego Supercross. The likable South African who moved to the USA in 2011 to pursue his childhood dream of racing in America is successfully completing his first full season in the Supercross Lites class.
“Last year I go hurt at the first round and broke my neck so this is actually my first full season of SX lites racing” explained an excited Swanepoel. “Supercross is a whole different ball game and I’ve been trying to find my feet but tonight I proved to myself that I can run the pace for a full 15 laps. The whoops were really gnarly but I used them to my advantage and could hit them consistently each lap.”
A two month break will allow Swanepoel and his team to start their outdoor testing before returning to Seattle on the 21 April for the last 3 rounds of the SX Lites West coast series.
“The team is definitely counting on me in the outdoors.” admitted the South African. “We proved we could win last year and I want to take it to the next level this year with being a consistent podium contender. Our Yamaha’s are running really well so there is no reason why we can’t challenge for the championship.”
Swanepoel was the first rider in 2011 to break the mighty Pro Circuit Kawasaki winning streak when he took the moto win over fellow countryman, Tyla Rattray, in Southwick, Massachusetts.
“My goal is to finish the West coast series healthy so that I can go into the MX season strong. A podium finish in the SX Lites would be awesome and that has to be the next step.”
