What Slade Smith Motocross of Nations
Where Ironman, Indiana USA
When 3-5 October 2025
Community International

Smith, Durrow, McLellan in Team SA at Motocross of Nations

Tork Craft tools welcomes Slade Smith to its motorsport team as he prepares to compete in the Motocross of Nations in the United States this weekend, 3-5 October. Smith, who brings a wealth of international experience to the team, will race against top riders from across the globe in the 450cc four-stroke MXGP class at the 2025 Motocross of Nations at the Ironman Raceway in in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

A double South African motocross champion, Slade currently sits a strong second in the SA MX1 Motocross Championship alongside a 2025 SA Cross Country campaign. He also has 28 US AMA Pro Motocross starts to his name and will fly the flag alongside MX2 man Camden McLellan in 250 four-stroke MX2 and Open class 250 four and 125 two-stroke rider Cameron Durrow.

“Special thanks to Tork Craft tools for its contribution to allow me to get to the ‘States to represent South Africa in the 2025 Motocross of Nations, this weekend” Slade confirmed. “I hope my international experience will contribute to the entire team effort and I can’t wait to fly the flag in the MXGP class alongside my teammates Camden in MX2 and Cameron in the Open class at the MXON.”

“We’re delighted to contribute to Slade’s trip to the Motocross of Nations in Indiana in the US and look forward to following the whole team this weekend,” Tork Craft boss Ryan Hunt, himself an international motocrosser who still competes in veteran races concludes. “Slade joins our Tork Craft team alongside Dakar hero and World W2RC Champion Ross Branch and the Yamaha Cross Country team, among others.”

The 2025 Motocross of Nations commences Friday 3 October with qualifying heats on Saturday and the finals Sunday. Catch it live streamed via mxgp-tv.com.

Issued on behalf of Team Tork Craft

Photography by: Ruben Louw

The Moto3 world championship visited Japan for the first race of an Asia-Pacific leg of the 2025 campaign. South African rider Ruche Moodley was among the packed field of young hopefuls who took to the 4,8 km-long Mobility Resort Motegi for the 17th round of the season. It was a daunting task for the sole SA rider in the category.

“I’d only ever seen Motegi on TV, watching my racing heroes compete there since I was very little. It looks extremely fast on a proper race bike. As this was my very first visit to this track, I knew it was going to be a challenge,” said the rookie.

The early practice sessions were a steep learning curve. Motegi has long straights followed by fast corners. On a Moto3 bike some of these corners are taken with just a dab of the brakes before tipping the bike in to maximise corner speed.

“We made very good progress from Friday’s practice sessions to qualifying. Even though I narrowly missed out on passing directly into Q2, my confidence grew with each passing lap. I knew I’d do well in the race if I kept pushing the limits.” Moodley would start Sunday’s main event in 19th place.

Race starts were identified as an area of improvement for the teenager. Earlier in the season, Ruche lost too many positions in the opening sequence of races. This has been addressed in recent rounds. The same approach was adopted at the Japanese GP.

“I had a good start from 19th, with a nice clear run down to turn one on the ideal racing line. That allowed me to brake late into T1. I passed quite a few riders on the first lap.” Moodley was lying in 15th place when the field completed the opening tour.

Moodley’s position yo-yoed in the mid-teens for a while as he battled with rivals. However, at about one third race distance there was light rain. Certain parts of the track experienced a drizzle while others remained completely dry. The rain was not heavy enough to warrant changing from slicks to treaded tyres. This meant riders were second guessing grip levels at all points of the circuit. Unfortunately, the variable grip levels caught out the rookie.

A tiny error dropped the BOE Motorsports rider from 17th to 22nd place. But there were still many laps left in the race. The rain skirted the track, which meant the remainder of the laps were completely dry. Moodley maintained his composure despite the earlier mistake.

“Some riders were prepared to take bigger risks than others during the wet laps. This really strung out the field, which made it difficult to catch the guys ahead. Without a slipstream it’s not easy to set quick lap times.” Moodley kept his head down and crossed the finish line in 19th place.
“It was a tough weekend from the get-go, but we completed every lap of the race, which has been a goal from the very start of my rookie season. We learn with every lap and take those lessons into the closing part of the season,” concluded the youngster.

Published by: Double Apex on behalf of Ruche Moodley

What South African Cross Country Moto Round 4 Preview
Where Maseru, Lesotho
When Saturday 4 October 2025
Community South Africa National

Team to paint Maseru blue in Lesotho Cross Country

Everest Wealth Ridgeway Racing plans to keep on the title charge when the National Championship returns to the spiritual home of Cross Country motorcycle racing in Southern Africa in Maseru for its penultimate fourth round on Saturday 4 October.

“The plan is to keep painting the town blue when we head to Maseru for the penultimate South African Cross Country Motorcycle round in Lesotho this weekend!” Everest Wealth Ridgeway Racing team boss Harry Grobler promises. “After an incredible four wins last time out, we cannot wait to race in the picturesque mountain kingdom lowlands. Give ‘em hell boys!”

Everest Wealth Ridgeway Racing Yamaha leads three championship classes to Lesotho and sits second in two more. Two wins and a second place in the three rounds so far see Everest Wealth Ridgeway Racing Yamaha lad Murray Smith leading the 125cc High School class to Lesotho. Ruald Potgieter has won two of the three 85 cc Seniors races so far this season to top the log there too. Another Everest Wealth Ridgeway Yamaha junior rider, Ryan Wichman remains unbeaten in the 65 cc Junior championship chase.

Everest Wealth Ridgeway Racing Yamahas are also enjoying a strong run in the senior classes. Warrick van Schalkwyk sits a close second in the Masters class fresh off a win last time out aboard his flying Yamaha YZ 450 FX. Shimwells rider Marco Cocci and Gerhard Vorster meanwhile sit a competitive second and third aboard their similar machines in Seniors.

Lady luck has been less prominent in the team’s National Open and OR3 campaigns. Super-quick Maddy Malan is the man to beat in Gauteng regionals, but he’s been unfortunate in the nationals aboard his Everest Wealth Ridgeway Racing Yamaha YZ 450 FX. Same can be said for teammates Hayden Louw and Slade Smith, with any of those three prime for a maiden national victory.

It’s been even more trying in 250cc OR3, where Tyron Beverley, Bryce Petersen and Wian Wentzel have endured injury hampered campaigns aboard Yamaha’s YZ 250 FX. Either way, Everest Wealth Ridgeway Racing Yamaha will be searching for gold across the board in those Maluti foothills this weekend.

Issued on behalf of Yamaha Cross Country

Another hot and demanding round of 2025 MotoGP is over with the visit to Japan drawing to a close. Brad Binder finished the main race in 12th.

Brad combatted tirewear, wheelspin and a P18 grid position to recover time and move up to P12, bagging points for the thirteenth time in 2025.

The Lombok island setting of the Mandalika Street Circuit will activate the Indonesian Grand Prix next weekend and another back-to-back fixture for 2025 MotoGP.

Brad Binder
12th and 11th in the championship standings:

“A difficult weekend. I had a really good start but we had a lot of chatter from the beginning which made it difficult to ride the bike. The wheelspin when we were upright also finished the tire. Very tricky because I cannot take advantage of drive and corner entry is tough. If we can get to a circuit where we can lessen the chatter then we can do something; hopefully in Indonesia.”

Published by: https://bradbinder33.com

DARRYN BINDER #15
“Really disappointed to crash out of the Japanese GP. I got off an ok start, not the best, then the first couple of laps I’ve trying to avoid all the chaos and the numerous crashes. I then settled to my rhythm and I was feeling pretty good, staying with the group in front of me, but unfortunately I lost the front going into turn 9. Now onto Indonesia, looking forward to improve there.”

Published by: https://darrynbinder40.com