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De Reuver only two points off championship lead after Japan

5/21/2006

A change of continent saw the FIM Motocross World championship move to Sugo, Japan for the fifth round of the series. The Motorsport complex close to the city of Sendai attracted 17.400 enthusiastic motocross fans that were in for a weekend of great racing.

Marc De-Reuver dominated his qualifying heat and seemed to be replicating the feat in the first moto when he lead on lap one after passing current world champion, Antonio Cairoli. The effervescent Dutchman, lost his front wheel on a slippery section of circuit with Cairoli ploughing into the back of him. De Reuver managed to keep his machine running and rejoined in third only to be taken down by a back marker later in the race. He still salvaged third while fellow THOR rider, Gareth Swanepoel was not far off in seventh spot.

Fast starter Cairoli grabbed another hole-shot and checked out while De Reuver had some work to get to second position. South African, Gareth Swanepoel was also carving his way through the pack and had his sights set on the first moto winner, Billy MacKenzie. "Swanie" eventually ran out of time and missed out on what would could have been his first ever podium finish. De Reuver wisely settled for second spot and has now moved to within two points of new championship leader, young Christophe Pourcel.

De Reuver: "I had some good starts today again and was second behind Antonio each time. I made a stupid crash in the first moto when I hit a slippery patch and I was waiting for Tony to hit me because he was right behind but then he went down also. The bike was still running so I was lucky. I got going again but I lost a lot of places because it was the first lap. Tony had gone by the time I passed Billy in the second heat but my consistency continues and the points are looking good."

Swanepoel: "My weekend started off pretty well with pre-qualifying. I came from far back in the race and passed a lot of guys to finish third - my best position to date. I was actually disappointed with my first heat. My goal was top five and I finished seventh. I stiffened up towards the end of the heat. The second moto was much better. I got through the pack quite fast and closed MacKenzie down from a long way back but it just wasn't enough to get him. The track was very technical and bumpy with a lot of ruts which suited me and my KX250F was working really well - we're all working hard! Next step is the podium!"