Gareth to be in Kawasaki poel?
By TMX Archives on 21st Aug 08
EXPECT Gareth Swanepoel (left) to be announced as the second rider in the official 2009 Kawasaki MX1 team within the next few days. The South African, who made his return to racing with a third place to Jeremy Van Horebeek and Joel Roelants at Balen-Mol on Friday (a public holiday in many papist countries), was top of Kawasaki's list after Stephen Sword decided to have one last season in MX2 before the age limitation rule to be introduced in 2010 will force him to race 450 in the GPs.
The rule will also affect Swanepoel, though currently still 23, and he appears to have opted to move up a year early to show his talents on a 450 before the MX1 market gets flooded with over-age riders from MX2 a year later.
There is still no official word from Kawasaki, but Swanny and his manager Glen Dempsey have broken-off negotiations with Roger Magee for Gareth to replace Shaun Simpson in the KTM UK team with technical support from Mattighofen.
But that place could now go to Stephen Sword. The Scot has had other offers too, but has not y