Terreblanche 8th at International Flanders Trophy event

TERREBLANCHE 8th AT INTERNATIONAL FLANDERS TROPHY EVENT 3 May 2009 If there was something that Shannon Terreblanche desperately needed, it was a good race result to raise his flagging spirits. For the most part of the 2009 season, the popular South African seems to have been burdened with the jockey of bad luck as misfortune seemed to follow him into every corner. Shannon was therefore keen to get some racing miles under the belt before departing for the two GP's on the Iberian peninsula. The annual Flanders Trophy race at Tongeren in Belgium presented an ideal opportunity for Shanter to stoke the confidence fire again. This popular race attracts entries from a goodly number of top GP riders in the joint MX1 - MX2 Inters class, so the outing would not lack for quality of opposition. Shannon managed to post the 10th fastest time in the short qualifying session, and more than anything, he was aiming to have a trouble free day as he lined up on the start line next to the likes of Tanel Leok, Ken de Dycker, Max Nagl, and Jonathan Barragan, all of them GP winners, as well as s bushel full of other GP level riders. Shannon launched his Sturm Kawasaki into 8th spot at the start of race 1, and he got himself into the thick of the battle. He made a few passes, but in turn had to yield to the likes of Leok and Belgian Jeremy Van Horebeek, but he held his own to cross the line in 9th position. A bullet start in race 2 shot Shanter into 3rd spot by the time the pack rounded the first corner. With some of the world's top riders behind him, he was always going to battle to hold onto his position, but he fought bravely for each position, and despite a mistake which cost him some places, still managed a very creditable eighth by race end. Another top 10 start in race 3 provided him with the perfect platform to ride to another 8th place finish, which netted him 8th overall for the day, a very satisfying performance against some very classy opposition. One could hear the relief in his voice as Shannon recounted a race day that, for once, wonnt off without a hitch. "I was quite happy with the race today," he said. "The bike is good, and every weekend, I am getting more and more used to the 450cc machine. I hope to carry this momentum forward and add a lot more points to my GP score." There was scarcely time to wash rider and bike, before everything had to be packed in the truck for the long trip down to Portugal where the fifth GP of the season will take place next weekend. RESULTS: Qualifying Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Overall   (Pic- Alex Hodgkinson) Mail server hosting by www.mxhosting.be This report is available online   TEAM SPONSORS   PRIVATE SPONSORS

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