Husqvarna South Africa’s Enduro team achieved outstanding success at the first round of the National Enduro Traditional Championship, held at Rover Motorcycle Club in Gqeberha, renowned for its sandy terrain and grueling endurance tests. Travis Teasdale, competing in the E2 class, and Heinrich Aust, riding in the E1 class, showcased their exceptional skills and fitness, securing remarkable victories for the team.
In the fiercely competitive E2 class, Teasdale emerged as a force to be reckoned with, showcasing his outstanding skill and determination throughout the day. Fearlessly conquering the challenging sand tracks that Rover is known for, Teasdale demonstrated unwavering focus and great fitness. “Today was all about endurance, so I picked up the endurance training during the week” Teasdale commented. “They put a sneaky sixth lap in that really tested our fitness, but really happy with the bike and my performance on today’s race.” Teasdale’s performance culminated in a well-deserved first-place finish in both the E1 class and overall, solidifying his position as a formidable contender in the national enduro championship.
Heinrich Aust, competing in the equally competitive E1 class, exhibited his exceptional talent and resilience as he tackled the rigorous tracks in Rover. Aust’s commitment to excellence was evident as he skilfully navigated the bumpy sand terain and pushed his Husqvarna machine to its limits. His tenacity paid off, as he secured an impressive third overall finish and clinched the top position in the E1 class. “The track was awesome. I loved the breaking bumps, whoops and sandy corners. I don’t think they could have put a better track together.”
A surprise from Cross Country man Ryan Pelser came in the form of a third place in the E1 class and rounding off the top 10 overall.
Teasdale and Aust, along with the entire Husqvarna South Africa Enduro team, are thrilled with their accomplishments at the National Enduro Championship. The victories in their respective classes and outstanding overall performances serve as a testament to their hard work and commitment.
Commenting on this weekends race group manager Grant Frerichs said,” What a fantastic day of racing for the Husqvarna squad. Travis Teasdale put on a riding clinic and showed he is the man to beat onboard his te300 while Heinrich Aust showed his ability to make the fe250 work in all conditions finishing on the overall podium. We also had Ryan Pelser cross riding into the enduro championship who managed a fantastic 3rd in class.”
National Enduro Championship – Round 2 | Winterberg
The Brother Leader Tread KTM Enduro team displayed an impressive performance at the inaugural round of the South African National Traditional Enduro Championship, leaving a mark with their true grit. The team, comprised of William Slater, Dylan Jones, and Matthew Stevens competing in the E2, E1, and Highschool classes respectively, delivered outstanding performances on the tricky track, showcasing their prowess and tenacity.
William Slater encountered a minor setback on the start line, resulting in a seven-minute delayed start and starting in 27th position. Undeterred by the situation, Slater exhibited his speed on his KTM 300 EXC through the challenging terrain. Overcoming the initial setback, he embarked on a remarkable journey, progressively advancing through the ranks. Slater’s unwavering perseverance paid off, culminating in an impressive fourth-place finish in his class and an admirable eighth-place overall. “Considering how the day went, I’m frustrated, but happy to get valuable points on the board. We can only take it from here and work towards the next one.” Slater said.
Jones, on his KTM 250 EXC-F, riding with outstanding prowess and battling against tough competitors secured an impressive second-place finish in his class and a fourth place overall. Jones commented, “At the start of the last lap I was lying sixth overall, so I put a hard charge in and managed to bring it down to 4th overall and 2nd in class. So I’m super stoked with that”
Meanwhile, Stevens displayed commendable maturity and riding technique on his KTM 150 EXC, ultimately achieving a notable third-place finish in his class and an impressive ninth place overall. “I’m not far off anymore, I’ve been working hard and the bike was amazing. Really a pleasure to ride”, Stevens said.
The Brother Leader Tread KTM Enduro team’s performance at the first round of the South African National Traditional Enduro Championship highlighted just how capable the team and the bikes are. Despite the challenges faced, the team showcased resilience and skill, delivering strong finishes in their respective classes and contributing significantly to the team’s overall success.
KTM Group manager Grant Frerichs commented on the teams performance stating,” The team had a tough day out at Rover but I am proud of all 3 riders for their tenacity and “never give up” attitude doing what they needed to do to keep their respective championships alive.”
Round 4 of the Official MSA Motocross National Championships took place at Thunder Valley in Pietermaritzburg and it can certainly be said the team at Thunder Valley were ready for the action. Registration, scrutineering and timing, greeted all the competitors on Friday afternoon. And it did not go unnoticed that a new track layout and prime track conditions is what had been delivered for round 4…
Having had mud, thunderstorms and rumoured snow in the previous years at Thunder Valley, there is no doubt the riders would be showing up prepped for whatever was possibly in store for them. But this year our national competitors were in for more of a treat than they realised… The track was prepped and watered to perfection and Friday’s overcast weather played perfectly in favour of keeping the track in top form throughout Saturday’s racing.
Saturday morning’s riders briefing welcomed clear skies, putting a smile on everyone’s faces as this was a clear indication to the ideal day that would host round 4. With beautiful 30-degree weather, the local spectators started rolling in from as early as the practice sessions and everyone looked forward to what turned out to be a memorable day’s racing.
The day’s program was kicked off by the MX 50cc class, who’s racing took place on Thunder Valley’s Junior track. Fair track conditions meant that we were in for some intense racing and the riders did not disappoint. In Heat 1 it was Joshua-Zion Naude who took an early lead with the hole shot, followed closely by Parker Cik. Cik clearly had the top step of the podium in mind and charged to the front of the pack very early on in the race. The no.33 of Riley Geldenhuys was not far behind and made his way up into 2nd position keeping the pressure on throughout the race. Ultimately it was Parker Cik who took the checkers in Heat 1 followed by Riley Geldenhuys, and Joshua-Zion Naude kept things steady for the first heat bringing home a comfortable 3rd. In Heat 2, Parker Cik took an early lead followed by Luan Jordaan, but with Riley Geldenhuys charging through the pack this would again prove to be an action filled heat. In the end it was Riley Geldenhuys who came out on top in Heat 2, giving him the overall, followed by Parker Cik in 2nd and Luan Jordaan in 3rd, who rounded out the overall podium.
Arguably the most passionate classes of the day, the MX 65cc class battled it out lap for lap. It would be Evan Frost out front early on, however Trenton Kretzmann was not far behind, managing to keep the pace and even take over the lead early on in Heat 1. But in the end, it would be Evan Frost who would stamp his mark and take out two wins for the day for the overall win. A hard-fought battle gave Kretzmann 2-2 for 2nd overall. And it would be Aiden Retief clinching the final step of the podium going 3-3 on the day. Finishing up the top 5 would be Cassie Van Zyl in 4th and Rayden Woolls in 5th.
The highly competitive MX 85cc class was action packed and provided a spectacle for the crowd with battles right through the field. A dominant performance from Christian Berrington-Smith taking the top step in both heats for 1st overall. Followed by a close battle between Ashton Martin, Aiden Henley, Blade Tilley and Trail Carter in Heat 1. In the end Ashton Martin and Aiden Henley would come out 2nd and 3rd respectively and for the second race the battles would continue. Ashton Martin would grab another 2nd place; it would be Blade Tilley taking that 3rd spot ahead of Blake Frost in 4th and Aiden Henley in 5th. Deciding the overall podium as Christian Berrington-Smith 1st, Ashton Martin in 2nd and Blade Tilley in 3rd.
As always, the MX High school class delivered nail biting action to the crowd. There was no doubt that Red Bull KTM’s Luke Grundy would be going head-to-head with Husqvarna racing’s Barend Du Toit, with no telling who would come out on top. In Heat 1, it was Du Toit who took the early lead and Grundy hot on his tail. Followed by Blake Young in 3rd place with Jordan Van Wyk close behind, looking to take over that final podium spot. In the end it would be Luke Grundy bringing home the win in Heat 1 followed by Barend Du Toit in 2nd and Jordan Van Wyk in 3rd. Heat 2 would provide just as much action and the same results, giving Grundy the overall for round 4, with Du Toit and Van Wyk rounding out the podium. The top 5 was finished off by Bryce Petersen in 4th and Blake Young grabbing that 5th position for the day.
In the MX Ladies class crowd favourites Leah Heygate and Kayla Raaff came out swinging. Heygate took to the front of the class early on in heat 1, with Raaff on the hunt throughout the race. After a hard charge towards the end of the race from Raaff and a very close dash to the finish line it would be Heygate who snatched the win, leaving Raaff in 2nd place and Cheyenne De Lima taking up a comfortable 3rd place position from start to finish. Heat 2 would prove to be just as exciting between Heygate and Raaff, bringing the ladies very close together for some heated moves. In the end it would be Kayla Raaff claiming the number 1 spot, giving her the overall win for round 4. Heygate would come home in a close 2nd for the day and De Lima brought home the number 3 position. Zoe Botha and Dakota Grobbelaar both showcased that they had what it takes out there in the rough conditions and brought home 4th and 5th.
The Vets in the MX 3 class definitely showed the crowd they still have what it takes with some impressive lap times and solid racing. It would be Anthony Raynard out front with a sizeable lead in both heats, going 1-1 for 1st Overall at Thunder Valley. Royce Griffin would bring home two well-earned 2nds’, leaving him 2nd overall for the day. Sheldon Watkins and Jonathan Du Plooy would battle it out for the 3rd step of the podium and in the end, it would be Du Plooy victorious in taking 3rd place overall, going 4-3.
The premier class, MX 1, provided a stacked class with battles throughout the field all day. It was hometown favourite Cameron Durow who dominated at Thunder Valley with two wins, grabbing the overall win in the premier class. Heat 1 showed off Stav Orland’s impressive pace, giving the youngster 2nd place behind Durow. And it would be the Yamaha boys, Jesse Wright and Dirco van der Westhuizen putting on a show to the finish for the final podium position in Heat 1, with Wright coming out on top. Heat 2 saw the same result for Durow, with another win, and a complete turnaround for the Husky rider, Joshua Mlimi who burst out of the gates grabbing the hole shot and displaying a very impressive ride, ultimately claiming 2nd place for heat 2 and 2nd place overall for the day. It would be Yamaha’s, Dirco van der Westhuizen who took 3rd in Heat 2, however not enough to beat Orland’s 2nd and 5th, giving Orland 3rd overall for the day.
Another confident ride by Red Bull KTM’s Cameron Durow in the MX 2 class. Durow displayed two identical heats by securing the lead from the word go and going 1-1 for the overall win at Round 4 in his hometown. However, KTM’s success did not end there, Jonathan Mlimi put on an excellent ride with two comfortable 2nd place finishes, giving him a well-earned 2nd overall. It would be the crowd favourite, Mark Carty taking two 3rd place finishes and backing up his success in Cape Town with another overall podium finish. Stav Orland put on another great ride and would finish in 4th overall, followed by Dalton Venter in 5th.
The MX Support class welcomed many local riders to the National event. It would be Luke Walker and Daniel Peckham racing to the top spots, with Walker going 1-1 for 1st overall and Peckham taking 2-2 for 2nd overall. In the 3rd place overall, it would be Steve Baker with a solid ride going 3-3.
KTM South Africa would take home the manufacturer award with excellent results measured across the MX High School, MX 1 and MX 2 classes’ performance.
And with that concluded an excellent day’s racing at Round 4 of the Official MSA Motocross National Championships. Well done to all competitors on their well-deserved achievements. And thank you to all the crew and teams for your efforts that go into an incredible event such as this one! We look forward to Round 5 for another spectacular day’s racing.
We thank our Official MSA Motocross National Championship sponsors: TRP Distributors Venture Sports BAR Aviation Redbullza #givesyouwiiings Prepsol
The Husqvarna Racing team put in a strong display of talent at the fourth round of the Motocross Nationals in Pietermaritzburg this weekend, with Joshua Mlimi and Barend du Toit securing podium finishes in their respective classes. Davin Cocker also put in a consistent performance in the MX2 class finishing in seventh overall.
After some ups and downs this year, Josh Mlimi racing the MX1 class, showed his skill and determination on the challenging Pietermaritzburg track, finishing in second place overall.
Commenting on his performance, Mlimi said, “Overall I had a great day on the track, made more steps in the right direction and I’m really happy with how I rode. I didn’t get the best start in the first heat but came back strong in the second heat to get the holeshot and led the race for a few laps.” He went on to say, “It was so good to get the flow again and remind myself what it feels like to be a podium contender. I’m ready to come back stronger for Round 5.”
Barend du Toit also delivered a strong showing in the Highschool class at the race this weekend after some intense racing and claiming the second overall.
du Toit commented, “I struggled a bit with arm pump in the first heat and not feeling the best due to the demanding track conditions. In the second heat, I had a terrible start but I managed to claw my way back to battle it out and claim the second overall spot for the day.”
In the MX2 class, Davin Cocker, despite some crashes, put in a solid performance, finishing seventh overall for the team. “Today started off good in practice, the track was pretty rough and gnarly but we got through it. I didn’t get the best start for heat one and crashed twice. I felt much better in heat two and got some solid points on the board,” said Cocker. “I’m looking forward to putting in the work over the next few weeks and coming back stronger in the next round.”
“Today was a good day for the team all together. 2-second place finishes is something we can hang our hat on and move forward towards round 5”, commented team manager, Grant Frerichs.
The Red Bull KTM team showcased their dominance at the fourth round of the Motocross National Championships in Pietermaritzburg this past weekend, with star rider Cameron Durow winning all four heats in both the MX1 and MX2 classes. Jonathan Mlimi put in a strong performance, finishing second overall in the MX2 class, while young gun Luke Grundy snatched up the top spot on the podium for the Highschool class as well.
Despite Trey Cox being out due to injury, the Red Bull KTM team proved to be a force to be reckoned with on the challenging Pietermaritzburg track.
Cameron Durow, in particular, was in a league of his own, delivering outstanding performances in both his respective classes. Commenting on his impressive performance, Durow said, “I’m really happy with such a solid day in the bag, and beyond stoked to get 4 – 4 at a home national as well.”
He went on to say, ”The track couldn’t have been better, and we couldn’t have asked for more perfect riding conditions for the day. Thanks to the whole Pietermaritzburg Motocross club for getting the track ready for an awesome day out!”
Jonathan Mlimi also put in an excellent showing in the MX2 class, demonstrating his skill and determination after a trying start to the year. His impressive performance resulted in a well-deserved second-place finish overall after finding his feet in the MX2 class only being outdone by teammate Durow. Mlimi commented, “Such a good day out for me, managed to get second overall. It feels really good to be back on the podium and I’m thrilled about my results. Now to put in some work for round five and go into the next round swinging.”
Another force to be reckoned with, Luke Grundy, displayed exceptional talent after a bar-to-bar battle laying everything down on the track and claiming first overall. A visibly stoked Grundy commented, “Despite being sick I really gave it my best shot for the day. I got great results at the end of both heats going 1-1 and I couldn’t be happier. Im excited to come back for round five stronger and better.”
Grant Frerichs, the KTM group marketing manager rounded up the day by commenting, “The Red Bull KTM team showed pure dominance at round 4 with wins in every class. It was great to see 3 KTM’s on the podium in the MX2 class showing, without a doubt, that KTM is the bike to own. We go into round 5 leading all of our racing classes and look forward to defending those red championship plates once again.”
FIM AFRICA 