National Cross Country Championship – Round 2 – Dalton KZN

The Brother Leader Tread KTM Team came out firing at the second round of the National Cross Country Championship in Dalton, KwaZulu-Natal this past weekend. The riders tackled fast and dusty conditions to secure solid results and valuable championship points.

In the highly competitive OR3 class, Matthew Wilson claimed a hard-earned victory, fending off a determined chase from his competitors. Wilson showed his grit and composure throughout the day to secure the top step of the podium. “I’m stoked with today,” Wilson commented. “I knew I had a few seconds on Luke and I could do something with that. The bike felt great, and I’m happy to take this one.”

In the Open class, Scott Heygate added valuable points to his championship tally with a second-place finish. Heygate endured a challenging day in the saddle after a crash cost him crucial seconds but remained focused to bring home a podium result. “ I had too many mistakes today, I’ll try clean up and go forward from here. We’ll regroup and see how we can improve for the next round,” he shared.

In the Seniors category, Kerim Fitz-Gerald had a standout ride, taking top honours and flying the orange flag high. “I’m really happy with how my riding has improved; it’s getting better each and every time,” said an upbeat Fitz-Gerald.

Brother Leader Tread KTM Team Manager, Megan Prinsloo praised the riders for their commitment and results: “It was a tough, high-speed track and the guys put in a great effort. Proud of the way they handled themselves out there, solid points for the championship and some good momentum heading into the next round.”

The team now shifts focus to Round 3, determined to build on this weekend’s successes.

Published by: Megan Prinsloo

Photography by: Sage Lee Voges – ZCMC Media

What South African Cross Country Moto Round 2 Report
Where Dalton, KwaZulu Natal
When Saturday 21 June 2025
Community South Africa National

Yamaha podiums all-round in Dalton National

Everest Wealth Ridgeway Racing Yamaha came back satisfied with a great result from the second round of South African Cross Country Motorcycle Championship at Dalton near Greytown in KwaZulu Natal on Saturday. A class win, three bikes in the top ten and podiums all round left the team with a spring in its championship step.

“The Blu Cru enjoyed another splendid National Cross Country outing at Dalton this weekend,” Everest Wealth Ridgeway Racing team boss Harry Grobler smiled after the race. “Another 65 cc Junior victory, third, fourth and fifth in the Open class with all three of those bikes in the top ten, second in High School, second and third in Seniors and third in Masters is a job very well done. Congratulations to our entire team!”

The Blu Cru’s youngest team member, Ryan Wichman extended his 65 cc Junior class national championship advantage with another win aboard his YZ 65 at Dalton, while Ruald Potgieter enjoyed a good run to sixth in 85 cc Seniors. Everest Wealth Ridgeway Racing Yamaha High School ace Murray Smith was another rider to consolidate his 125 cc leads with a strong second in class behind a local wildcard.

The team’s three-bike Open class team saw Slade Smith on the class podium in third ahead of Maddy Malan and Hayden Louw. All three Everest Wealth Ridgeway Racing Yamaha YZ 450 FX entries finished inside the overall top ten too. Wian Wentzel was sixth in OR3 after he only climbed aboard his Blu Cru YZ 250 FX for the first time in race week.

On the top side of the Everest Wealth Ridgeway Racing Yamaha age spectrum, Blu Cru man Gerhard Vorster ended second in Seniors ahead of Shimwells Yamaha rider Marco Cocci. Old man Warrick van Schalkwyk meantime rode home a creditable third in Masters to conclude another Yamaha podium rout in KwaZulu Natal.

Everest Wealth Ridgeway Racing Yamaha’s next South African Cross Country outing is at a venue to be confirmed on the first weekend of August 2025.

Issued on behalf of Yamaha Cross Country

Photography by: Action in Motion

Motorsport South Africa (MSA) is proud to announce the team that will represent the country at the 2025 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship & Cup, taking place from 5 – 6 July in Romagné, France.

The Junior World Championship is the leading global stage for young motocross riders, and this year’s edition will feature competitors from a record 38 nations. South Africa will once again be represented among the world’s best, competing alongside riders from established European nations and international entries from the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, and more.

The South African team has been selected to contest both the 85cc and 125cc Junior World Championship classes. These young riders will test their mettle against a deep international field, all vying for the coveted world title.

TEAM SOUTH AFRICA – 2025 FIM JUNIOR MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
FIM 85 – JUNIOR MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

• Kabelo Ledwaba
• Evan Frost
• Brody Bircher
• Cassie van Zyl

FIM 125 – JUNIOR MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

• Trey Cox
• Tristan Durow

Team Manager: Brett Bircher

MSA, is proud to support these riders as they take on the world stage. We wish the team a successful and memorable event, and we are confident they will represent South Africa with pride and determination.

This year’s championship will also make history with the event being broadcast live on MXGP-TV.com for the first time, offering fans around the world a chance to follow the action as it unfolds in Romagné.

We encourage all South Africans to rally behind our young team and celebrate this exciting chapter in junior motocross.

• Progresses through second season
• Chipping away
• As quick as the best

Kgopotso ‘KJ’ Mononyane is half way through his second full season of Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. The Johannesburg teen is making massive strides with each passing event. The sole South African in the field has found real pace in the second part of the year, even if his results don’t quite show it.

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup is a breeding ground for young motorcycle talent. This official feeder series to MotoGP has helped develop several of the winners in the top-flight series including South African superstar Brad Binder.

“Rookies Cup is one of the toughest bike racing series anywhere in the world. You have the best up-and-coming riders on the same bikes all trying to prove that we have what it takes to be champion,” said the teenager after the most recent round in Mugello.

The circuit in Tuscany is one of the most technical of the eight-round calendar, testing all parts of a rider’s abilities. To be quick at Mugello means you can be quick anywhere else.

“This last race weekend was really good for me, even if the results don’t show it. I worked really well with the team of engineers from Red Bull to set up the bike. In the first race I was charging hard.”

“We fitted slightly longer gearing on my bike. I was pushing throughout the race to close a 13-second gap to the leading pack. I managed to get it down to six seconds at one point and set the second quickest lap of the race. I ended race one in 20th, but I knew I had the pace of the front riders,” said the Jo’burger of race one, which took place on Saturday.
Each round of Rookies Cup follows the MotoGP circus through some of the most famous racetracks in Europe. The budding champions race twice on each weekend, once on Saturday and again on Sunday morning. KJ felt he made even better progress in the Sunday event.

“Race two started badly. I fell to last place at the start. But I knew I had the pace to catch the faster guys. I made quite a few overtakes as I felt comfortable with the bike. I kept pushing and caught the front pack.”
“We were in a massive group and anyone could have won. It was a really close battle. All the guys were fighting really hard, making overtakes down Mugello’s long pit straight. This is something I need to work on a bit more.”

“In the end I finished 18th, but I was just 2,7 seconds behind the race winner, that’s how close it was. I also set the fifth fastest time of the race and was 0,8 of a second behind the top five.”

“18th doesn’t sound great and it doesn’t show how much progress I made through the weekend. I want to show that I am capable of riding with, and passing the guys at the front, this is something I want to work on for the last few races of the year,” concluded Mononyane.

Three rounds of the 2025 season remain: Sachensring (12-13 July), Red Bull Ring (16-17 August) and Misano (13-14 September).

Published by Double Apex on behalf of KJ Mononyane.

DARRYN BINDER #15
Italian GP Result: 21st
Championship Standings: 20th

“It’s the first GP we are able to finish after a long time, actually only the 4th one of all season: we’re really missing some time on track now, but I’m glad that I was able to bring the bike home, gather some information and some feeling again. I feel like yesterday we made some step forward, and I was hoping that today with a good start I could have reach the points and at some point I was there, but I was struggling to manage the front with the heat especially in the group. We’ve got a lot of work to do but overall I’m happy we’ve got some more laps under the belt, hoping to make another step forward in Assen.”

Published by: https://darrynbinder40.com