National Cross Country Championship – Round 2 – Jolivet
The Brother Leader Tread KTM team proved their mettle at the second round of the National Cross Country championship held in KZN. Battling the unforgiving terrain of Jolivet and overcoming various adversities to secure impressive finishes in their respective classes.
Kerim Fitz-Gerald, racing in the Senior class, blazed through the course with his signature style and speed, taking the top spot in his class with ease. “KZN racing is always a struggle for me with the forests and especially the sugar cane,” said Fitzgerald. He mused saying “I think I spent more time doing u-turns today than going forward, but we are leaving safely, still fighting for the overall championship and looking forward for round 3.”
OR1 class rider Bradley Cox pushed himself to the limit and crossed the finish line in second place as well as claiming second overall. “My body felt strong all day, having to push at the end but I’m really happy with my result,” Cox said.
Despite his setbacks, Scott Heygate managed to put in an incredible effort and finished in second place in the OR2 class, contributing valuable points to the team’s overall score. Heygate commented, “Coming into the race, I was still recovering from being sick. I crashed twice with the second one leaving a few bumps and bruises. After the second crash, I went into survival mode and didn’t take too many chances in this one to score as many valuable points as I can.”
Young gun, Matthew Wilson, racing in the OR3 class, showed great drive and speed to come back from a challenging time trial that saw him crash into a fence, putting him a few minutes behind. “I felt good in the time trial, but unfortunately ended up in a fence putting me 5 minutes behind” Wilson said. “As a result, I started the race 55th overall and was able to come back to 18th. Even though the overall result might not be what I was hoping for, I am happy with the drive and speed I showed to come back” he added.
The team’s success was a true team effort, with each member supporting and pushing each other to deliver their best performances. Their unwavering dedication and commitment to the sport were on full display, impressing both fans and competitors alike.
In addition, the Brother Leader Tread KTM Enduro team also made their mark at the race. William Slater competed in the OR1 class and delivered a strong performance, finishing in fifth place. Meanwhile, Dylan Jones showcased his skills in the OR3 class, securing an impressive second-place finish.
Team manager Grant Frerichs commented: “I am proud of the team as a whole. Each rider had his challenges but we came together and got the job done. Championships are never won at one round but they can be lost so to be in the championship fight in all of our classes with healthy riders is important. We look forward to taking the fight to the other riders at the upcoming double header round.”
Published by: Grant Frerichs – KTM Motorcycles SA
Photography by: Mpho Ramathikithi – ZCMC Media