TERREBLANCHE LEAPS TO NINTH IN FINAL ADAC STANDINGS WITH EXCELLENT FIFTH AT FINAL ROUND

Posted by Ray | 16 October 2009 | Comment

It wasn’t wishful thinking or political-level spin. Not at all. Recent comuniques issued on behalf of Shannon Terreblanche increasingly leaned into the encouraging sphere of ever-improving results. In race after race as the 2009 season progressed, the 20 year old South African underscored the perception that he was feeling increasingly comfortable on the brutal 450cc Sturm Kawasaki. The 2009 world championship series has come and gone, and Shannon was keen to grasp his last opportunity of the year to display his prowessin front of the team’s home fans in Germany in an international motocross event. The season finale of the ADAC MX Masters series at Höchstädt provided the stage, the championship battle the plot, and Shannon and his fellow racers would be the actors in this dramatic play, performed in front of thousands of loyal fans.

The ADAC races are a major drawcard for riders and spectators alike, and the season swansong was no exception. The start line was studded with talent, including former world champion Steve Ramon, current MX3 world champion Pierre-Alexandre Renet, multiple GP winner Max Nagl and the Teka Suzuki stars Xavier Boog and Ken Roczen, to name but a few. It would certainly not be a leisurely drive to the picnic for Shanter if he desired anything resembling a decent result, and his goals were definitely set squarely amongst the top results.

Shannon guided his white Kawasaki to 8th in his qualifying session, and after catching up on the chatter with his paddock friends, he retired for a good night’s rest. As Sunday broke, he was good and ready for action. He ploughed into the first race in the top 10 and was holding onto sixth place with only a few laps to go, when the dreaded arm pump set in big time. The subsequent cramping severely inhibited his control over the bike, and on one of the jumps, the throttle hand stuck, leading to a big crash. Shanter remounted and braved it out for the rest of the race, crossing the finish line in ninth position.

Another good start brought Shannon well into the mix in race 2. A mistake early in the heat cost him a few positions, but he recovered well and redoubled his efforts. This was not in vain, and pretty soon he found himself in fifth position. His virtual rear view mirrors were full of trouble, however, for bearing down on him from behind was former world champ Steve Ramon. This lit the fire in his rockets, and he rode with every ounce of effort and experience that he could muster. He managed to keep the Belgian behind him for the rest of the race, and finished in fifth position.

A hard day’s work was rewarded with fifth place overall, something that Shannon and his team had ample reason to be chuffed about. This meant that he had raked in enough points to move up to ninth in the final championship standings, a good recovery at the end of a season that did not always run on rails.

The joy and celebration of the good result faded into insignificance however on Monday when Shannon and the team received news that Michael Spacek, a fellow rider and son of one of the team’s sponsors, had succumbed overnight to injuries sustained a few weeks before. This shocking and sad news yet again brought home the reality that life is fragile, and Shannon, his family, team and supporters joined the chorus of the entire motocross fraternity in expressing their condolences to the family and friends of the victim. His memory will never fade.

Tags: adac, boog, crash, germany, injury, kawasaki, motocross, NAGL, ramon, renet, roczen, suzuki, teka, terreblanche