What Trademore Feeds SA Cross Country Round 2 Report
Where Jolivet, KZN
When Saturday 15 April 2023
Community South Africa National

Kawasaki wins again at Jolivet Cross Country National

He may have done it by three-hundredths of a second, but Pepson Plastics Scottish Cables Motul Kawasaki Master, Pieter Holl, pulled off an incredible double at the second round Trademore South African Cross Country Championship race at Jolivet in KwaZulu Natal on Saturday. Kenny Gilbert meanwhile bounced back with a fine second in Seniors, backed up by Brian Bontekoning in sixth.

“Today was one of those days I will never forget,” Pieter Holl admitted. “The race was stopped because of a bush fire on the route and then restarted, so when we finished, we knew it would be a very close result when they added the two halves of the race together. And man, was it close! “I won by three-hundredths of a second after three and a half hours of racing! So huge thanks once again to Iain and the Pepson Plastics Scottish Cables Motul Kawasaki crew for a great bike and what is becoming a fairy tale season for me!”

2022 champion Kenny Gilbert was second in Seniors for Pepson Plastics Scottish Cables Motul Kawasaki, ahead of the teammate Brian Bontekoning in sixth. “I have come back to a far more competitive Seniors class,” Gilbert smiled. “Jolivet was fast, dusty, and tricky, so I rode well within my limits and had a really good day out there to end up second. Well done to the organisers, my winning teammate, and to everyone who finished the race. “And thanks to my Pepson Plastics Scottish Cables Motul Kawasaki team for a great effort as always!”

It was a tougher day at the office for OR3 sensation Wian Wentzel following his debut victory last time out. “I got lost and did the entire time trail loop,” Wian rued. “That cost 30 minutes and then when I was eventually back on the main route and trying to catch up, bad luck struck again when my front brakes disappeared. “It was just one of those days, but I am strong, motivated, and ready to go at it at the next National.”

“We had a good day at Jolivet, Pepson Plastics Scottish Cables Motul Kawasaki team boss Iain Pepper summed it up. “Pieter came out hot and won Masters to retain his red plate, Kenny rode brilliantly to hold Louwrens Mahoney off to take second, and Brian was a solid sixth. “Unfortunately Wian took wrong turn on lap 1 and did an extra 20 km, but that’s just racing and he will be back, that’s for sure.”

The Trademore South African Cross Country Motorcycle Championship now takes a break until the Vryburg double header on 16 and 17 June, but it’s already back to action for Pepson Plastics Scottish Cables Motul Kawasaki Racing at the second round Gauteng GXCC race at Rysmierbult already this coming weekend.

Issued on behalf of Kawasaki Cross Country

Photography by: Michaela Ramseyer

Mike Ward, riding a 1936 Velocette 500, scored his second win in the iTOO-sponsored Durban-Johannesburg (DJ) rally for classic motorcycles, which started in Durban on 10 March and finished the next day in Benoni. He was not only presented with the magnificent, silver Schlesinger Vase floating trophy but, for the first time in many years he received a miniature of the trophy as a valuable keepsake.

This was the 51st running of this famous regularity trial which commemorates the annual race between the two cities which was held from 1913 to 1936 before the authorities withdrew permission due to safety concerns. It is for this reason that participating motorcycles must have been made prior to 1937.

Ward had a winning score of only 663 seconds error at the various timed control points on the 700 km route which was similar to that used in the road races. There was a total of 76 controls – 38 each day – so these low scores are amazing. Ward, who is always a strong contender for victory on these regularity trials, scored his first DJ Rally win as far back as 2004. He had the lowest score on Day 1 this year and was fourth on Day 2. This was Ward’s 24th DJ and the 15th time he had ridden his Velocette on this famous event.

Martin Kaiser, at 31 the youngest rider on this year’s rally, took second place overall with 672 seconds error and had the lowest score on Day 2. He rode a 1934 Sunbeam Model A 500. Third overall was five-times winner Gavin Walton (1936 AJS 500) with a score of 844, which was 20 seconds better than his brother, Kevin, who placed fourth on a 1931 BSA S31 Sloper 500.

There were 67 starters out of an original entry of 90 riders and 57 qualified as finishers. Weather varied from overcast, misty and damp to very hot. There were, unfortunately, two riders who crashed and had to be taken to hospital for treatment.

Other previous winners who completed the route were Kevin Robertson, a seven-time winner, who placed eighth and three-time winner Martin Davis who took 13th place.

Eighty-seven-year-old Neville Smith was the oldest rider to complete the 2023 DJ, finishing 55th on his 1935 Rudge Rapid Touring 250, carrying the number 35 that refers to 1935, which is the year Neville was born and the year his Rudge was made! The oldest motorcycle to be classified as a finisher was a 1920 ABC, ridden by Peter Gillespie, which took 18th place.

Gavin Walton, who rode his trusty AJS for the 17th time on a DJ Rally, said it was a tough event for both motorcycles and riders this year due to deteriorating road surfaces very few competitors had the benefit of rear suspension on their old motorcycles.

OVERALL RESULTS
1, Mike Ward (1936 Velocette 500) 663 seconds’ error
2, Martin Kaiser (1934 Sunbeam Model 9A 500) 672
3, Gavin Walton (1936 AJS 500) 844
4, Kevin Walton (1931 BSA S31 Sloper 500) 864
5, Ryan Duncan (1934 Norton Model 18 500) 932
6, Keith Kendall (1935 Velocette MAC 350) 1 187
7, Gawie Nienaber (1935 BMW 12 750) 1 450
8, Kevin Robertson (1936 Velocette MSS 500) 1 611
9, Dave Pitchford (1929 Sunbeam Model 9 500) 1 612
10, Neville Nicolau (1936 Norton Model 18 500) 1 626

Published by: Roger Houghton