The next stop on the National Cross Country calendar takes Rockstar Energy Husqvarna to Modimolle, Limpopo.
In the heart of the bushveld, some 130 km north of Pretoria, the area is renowned for its untouched nature reserves and breathtaking scenery. Hosted by GXCC Racing, riders are in for a time trail and two main racing sections of 50km and 35km respectively.
Spearheading the hunt for Cross Country glory will be Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Brett Swanepoel. The rider faced a disappointing start to the National Enduro Championship last weekend after a stomach virus forced him to pull out of the event. With his strong track record of overcoming setbacks, Swanepoel will undoubtedly comeback swinging on Saturday.
“It’s been a really tough week after the stomach virus, so I’ve given myself some time to fully recover. I’m confident in the kind of work I put in before I got sick and I believe it will show this weekend. I’m still disappointed, but it’s almost given me some fire to come back stronger this weekend,” said Swanepoel.
As he prepares to take on new territory, he added, “I have no doubt that GXCC have put a lot of effort into the track – I heard it’s going to be fairly tight and sandy. My Husqvarna FX 450 is really well suited for that kind of terrain, so I’m ready for whatever they throw my way!” said Swanepoel.
Joining him for the Modimolle event is Rockstar Energy Husqvarna teammate Davin Cocker. The youngster will line-up with a strong sense of confidence after his victorious season-opener in the OR3 Class. With the Husqvarna FC 250 as his weapon of choice, Cocker commented: “We’ve done a lot of setup and testing to get the FC 250 perfectly suited to my riding style. Everything on the bike feels great – from the suspension to the power and brakes.”
Like Swanepoel, Cocker welcomes the idea of taking on new terrain: “It’s very exciting to race somewhere new. The track looks tight which will suit the FC 250 very well. I’ve been training and putting in as much practice as I can and I’m feeling great for this race. I’m going to take the day as it comes – my plan it always to just get out there with an open mind and try take it to the finish,” added Cocker.
As his team prepares for battle in Modimolle, Husqvarna South Africa’s Brand Manager Fred Fensham commented: “The season opener in Jolivet gave us a lot of answers to questions we all have before a season – with a class change for Brett and a new setup for Davin we were thrilled with the outcome. Now, with that confidence in place we feel we are ready for the next round – so, as they say in the classics “Let’s go racing!”
Published by: Husqvarna Motorcycles SA