Albertyn leads on GP goodbye.

Three-times world motocross champion Greg Albertyn - who rejoined the factory Suzuki team for his final GP ride in Sunday's season-ending South African event - enjoyed an emotional comeback to world championship motocross as he briefly led the second moto, to the delight of the alleged 21,000 fans.

Things had started disappointingly for Albertyn when he hit a fallen Marnicq Bervoets in the first moto, leaving him dead last. The South African then fell several more times before pulling into the pits, dejectedly, on lap 14 of 19.

"The first moto was just 'racing' - going down on the first lap and getting ridden over!" said Greg afterwards. "Marnicq crashed in the sand and there was nowhere I could go. Atsuta then ran straight over my back and I was like 'Urgggghh!' I crashed again later and then again; it was definitely a frustrating race."

However, Albertyn would make a much greater impression on race two when he took advantage of first lap collision between Stefan Everts and Mickael Pichon to lead the first two laps of his home GP and instigate a noisy cry of appreciation from the partisan crowd.

The Suzuki rider was soon passed by eventual GP winner Pichon and the fellow Honda of Josh Coppins, but continued to run with the leaders eventually crossing the finish line in a creditable sixth before enjoying a lap of honour in front of his public.

"I was very happy to come back for the second moto and actually do something," smiled Greg. "Hearing the crowd was definitely motivating and everyone helped me along.

"What a fantastic last race to have in front of my home crowd, I think that everybody appreciated the fact that I led for a few laps. I was totally enjoying it and I knew that it was not going to last but I was just savouring the moment," concluded the former AMA Motocross champion.

"It is great to have had Greg back with us after a beautiful season in 1994," added team owner Sylvain Geboers. "It has taken ten years for us to be together again. When Greg asked if we could give him support there was no doubt in my mind. I confirmed it with the factory and Suzuki was really happy to offer this opportunity."