National Cross Country Season Finale

Battle drums are beating as riders brace themselves for the final round of the National Cross Championship. The highly anticipated season finale will unfold at KwaZulu-Natal’s Virginia Trails venue on Saturday.
 
Taking centre stage is Brother Leader Tread KTM’s Bradley Cox, who not only lines up with the lead in the OR2 Class but also overall. The multi-disciplined star will be looking to snatch up his second national title of the season having recently been crowned the country’s National Enduro champion.
 
The Cross Country season finale couldn’t unfold in a better location for Cox, who as a Natal based rider will enter the event with the home ground advantage. Adding to his sense of confidence will be his recent experience racing against some of the world’s top riders at Rallye du Maroc. With his sights set on the Dakar Rally next year, Cox has been relentless in his effort to gain Rally racing experience.
 
The Moroccan marathon rally marks Cox’s debut race in the big dunes, where won the final stage and finished third overall in Rally 2. As he travels back to South Africa with a wealth of experience, local fans will be eager to see the rider showcase his refined racing skills this weekend.  
 
Also flying the orange flag for Brother Leader Tread KTM on Saturday is Charan Moore. The season has come with its fair share of setbacks for the rider who was forced to retire from the Modimolle event after an unfortunate crash.
 
Moore has spent the last two rounds clawing his way back up the leaderboard, however, and now has a top five finish well within his reach. Like Cox, Moore is eager to capitalize on every opportunity to race as he prepares for the 2022 Dakar Rally.
 
Having claimed the highly-sought after Cross Country title in the past, Moore will certainly look to reinstate himself as a frontrunner in his class as the season draws to a close. He commented, “Since my crash, my main goal has been to narrow the gap that the leaders have on me and work my way back up to the front end of the field. I’ve found a really good rhythm with each passing round and I’m keen to finish this season on a high note.”
 
Missing from action this weekend is Jarryd Coetzee, who suffered a crash during a race earlier this season. Having endured a lengthy recovery process, the rider is now only two weeks away from getting back in the saddle.

Published by:  Louwrens Mahoney