With the 2008 season more or less wasted, and coming up against names like David Philippaerts, Ken De Dycker, Steve Ramon and Antonio Cairoli it was never going to be easy. Slowly though Swanepoel is getting closer to his goal of finishing top ten in the World.

Already inside the top ten, he will now look at keeping that spot and remaining in the Kawasaki factory team.

Q: Gareth, I seem to notice you more inside the top ten these days. How has your move to the MX1 class been?

Swanepoel: So far it's been quite good. It's been a big learning curve, also I keep forgetting I didn't ride most of last year, but I still hoped for more. Every week it gets better and better. I have had some big crashes and stuff, and I am still healthy. Portugal went good for me, I am happy.

Q: What is difficult for you? Swanepoel: The bike has so much more power and it is harder to turn the bigger bikes, plus you have to work on the gearing more. Obviously in MX2 you ride the bike as hard as you can, and in MX1 it is more about riding hard, but being more careful, not winding the throttle it too much, and turning the bike is really different. All those things are not a problem when I am practicing, but once I get out racing it doesn't always go to plan. Also with not racing last year that doesn't help. I want to go well, but when I start really racing I just go back to my old ways from the MX2 days, which isn't good.

Q: You seem more comfortable on the bike now, is that the case?

Swanepoel: The last weeks have been better, the British championship races went well, and then Portugal I was on the pace a little more. You look at some guys come back from injury and step straight up and do okay, but I am working hard, and that is the frustrating part, that is the thing I can't get my head around sometimes.

Q: How can you fix your results and be more confident?

Swanepoel: As long as I take the pressure off myself, I put way too much pressure on myself and get stressed. As long as I ride the way I can, and just have fun, then I will do okay. Portugal I went in far more relaxed and also in Spain I was more relaxed. In fact Spain I was really relaxed and that is the name of the game for me. Just relax and have fun. As soon as I do that, then it is okay. The problem is, with the pressure I put on myself, that takes the fun level out of it, and I need to be having fun to perform better.

Q: Have you been able to run with the front guys yet and check their speed?

Swanepoel: I haven't been up front really, and you need that. In Portugal I ran more with the faster guys, like I ran with Josh (Coppins) for a while, and also with (Max) Nagl. I have ridden with the top ten guys and that gives me confidence and more speed. Those guys on their day can win a race. One weekend you're battling with a guy in 10th place and the next week he wins the Grand Prix. There are a lot of good guys, but I am getting closer and it's getting more competitive.

Q: You are inside the top ten in the points now.

Swanepoel: I was looking forward to Spain, because I did better in Portugal. I was 12th in the championship before Spain and moved to 11th after Spain. With some of the guys injured I had a chance to move into the top ten. So that is my goal, to stay there. If you take out all the factory teams have two riders, then top ten is all factory riders and my goal is to finish top ten in the World.

Q: You are working with Joel Smets now, is that right?

Swanepoel: Yes, I am also working with Joel Smets on riding and training a little. He helps me a lot, it isn't like he is doing anything specific, but everything we do together is helping me with confidence and my riding.