What Honda Cross Country Round 6 Report
Where Virginia Trails, KZN
When Saturday 15 October 2022
Community South Africa National
Honda enjoys a stellar Cross Country racing return season
Sleepover Tork Craft CIT Racing came home over the moon after clinching double open class championship OR1 podiums among several other highlights in Honda’s Trademore SA Cross Country comeback season.
Gareth Cole rode his and Sleepover Tork Craft CIT Red Rocket Honda CRF 450 RX home fourth overall and third in open class OR1 in the weekend’s Virginia Trails national season finale, to clinch second in that 2022 450cc championship. Cole took a compelling first Honda open class victory en route at the penultimate Cape National, before going on to wrap it up with a splendid first year championship second for Honda.
Virginia Trials was to prove a super tough weekend for Cole’s Sleepover Tork Craft CIT Red Rocket Honda CRF 450 RX teammate Hayden Louw. Hero Hayden rode with a broken wrist sustained in the lead up to the KZN National final. But he gritted his teeth and brought it home 15th overall to clinch third in the OR1 championship. Louw’s efforts crowned a great first year for Honda in the open class against some of the biggest name riders and cross country bike brands out there.
Sleepover Tork Craft CIT Red Rocket Honda CRF 250 RX lady rider Leah Heygate was another to shine in red against the quarter litre OR3 class boys. Leah raced every National round and finished them all as she came home well inside the 250cc championship top ten. Sleepover Tork Craft CIT rider Haydn Cole also impressed aboard his Red Rocket CRF 250 RX, but his season was complicated by a collarbone injury.
“We are absolutely delighted with Honda’s comeback Cross Country season, “Sleepover Tork Craft CIT Honda team boss Harry Grobler concluded. “Our Red Rockets lubricated by Motul, prepared using the finest Tork Craft Tools and racing on Michelin tyres, have won and fought for championships. “Now we look forward to even bigger things in 2023. “Bring it on!”
Issued on behalf of CIT Honda Racing
Photography by: Michaela Ramseyer