South African rider celebrates world championship success after four-round international endurance campaign

South African motorcycle racer Steven Odendaal has helped the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team secure the 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship, bringing home a major international title after a demanding four-round season.

Odendaal formed part of the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team alongside Markus Reiterberger and Michael van der Mark, with the trio securing the championship at the final round, the Bol d’Or at Circuit Paul Ricard in France. BMW finished the championship on 158 points, just four points ahead of YART Yamaha.

The 2026 FIM Endurance World Championship consisted of four races, taking the teams to the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans, the 8 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the Suzuka 8 Hours and the Bol d’Or.

For Odendaal, the championship was the culmination of a season that tested both rider and machine. Endurance racing requires three riders to share one motorcycle, with races lasting up to 24 hours and demanding careful preparation, teamwork and consistency throughout the season.

One of Odendaal’s standout performances came at the 8 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, where he was handed the BMW in mixed wet and dry conditions while the team was leading. He managed to extend the gap to the chasing rider before bringing the BMW home for the team’s victory.

The season had started under difficult circumstances for the South African. Odendaal suffered an S1 L5 herniated disc before the opening round and was initially unsure whether he would be able to compete. After intensive physiotherapy, he was able to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, although with limitations.

The championship also carried some unfinished business from 2025, when BMW’s title hopes ended with a mechanical failure late in the final race. As a result, Odendaal said he did not allow himself to believe the 2026 championship was secured until the final chequered flag.

“Only after the flag was set,” he said when asked when he began to believe the championship was a realistic possibility.

When the title was finally secured, the significance of the achievement was clear.

“It has been something I’ve dreamed of all my life and I felt a very big sense of accomplishment after the race,” Odendaal said.

The championship is also a proud moment for the Gauteng-born rider, who says representing South Africa internationally remains important to him.

“South Africa is my home and I couldn’t be more proud to represent SA. I feel honoured to do so,” he said.

Odendaal believes his years competing in South African motorsport provided an important foundation for his international career.

“South Africa taught me my foundation which prepared me mentally. As a South African we don’t give up easily and that’s a very good trait to have.”

The 2026 title adds to an already strong international career for Odendaal, who won the Spanish Superbike Championship in 2025. His focus now turns to defending the FIM Endurance World Championship with BMW Motorrad, while he hopes to challenge for both titles in 2027 if the calendars allow.

For the South African, the achievement can be summed up in four simple words:

“Hard work pays off.”

Odendaal’s 2026 season has placed another South African name on the world endurance racing stage, with the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team now holding the FIM Endurance World Championship title.

Motorsport South Africa (MSA) has confirmed a change to the South African team that will compete at the 2026 FIM Motocross of Nations (MXoN) in Ernée, France, from 2 to 4 October.

Following an injury, Tristan Purdon has been replaced within the team and will unfortunately no longer represent South Africa at this year’s event.

Trey Cox has been selected to step into the MX Open position and will join Camden Mc Lellan and Slade Smith in the three-rider South African line-up.

The updated team is:

• MX2: Camden Mc Lellan
• MXGP: Slade Smith
• MX Open: Trey Cox

With the event just weeks away, the team will now continue its final preparations under Team Manager Lise Wosick before heading to France.

The FIM Motocross of Nations is one of the biggest events on the international motocross calendar, bringing together national teams from across the world to compete in the MXGP, MX2 and MX Open classes.

MSA Motocross Commission President Neville Townsend wished the revised team well ahead of their trip to France.

“We trust that the selected South African team will have a successful event and we hope that each rider has a positive experience from this wonderful opportunity enabled by Motorsport South Africa and their affiliation to FIM Africa and FIM. Be proudly South African and proud to be a part of the MSA MXoN SA team.”

MSA wishes Tristan Purdon well with his recovery and would like to thank him for his commitment to represent South Africa.

Trey Cox, Camden Mc Lellan and Slade Smith will now carry the South African flag at Ernée as Team South Africa takes its place alongside the world’s leading motocross nations from 2 to 4 October.

What South African Cross Country Moto Round 4 Report
Where Mafikeng
When Saturday 22 August 2026
Community South Africa National

KTM, Team Tork Craft star in Cross Country National

Team Tork Craft starred while KTM painted Mafikeng orange, when the fourth round South African Cross Country Championship backed by Tork Craft Tools visited the Northwest for its annual semidesert race on Saturday.

It was close overall as Matthew Wilson rode his KTM home to a commanding twelve minute victory over Peter Karam’s Yamaha and John Botha’s KTM in a 450 cc OR1 1-2-3. Cobus Bester was first OR3 man home in fourth to make it a KTM double from OR1 pace man Scott Heygate, who was delayed by a puncture on his KTM. Second in OR3, Janco van Niekerk OR3 was sixth on his KTM.

Seniors winner, Marco Cocci was next home on his Yamaha from second in OR3, Alecz Grobbelaar’s Yamaha and second in Seniors, Beau Levey’s Yamaha. 350cc OR2 winner Francois van der Vyver closed of the top ten overall on his KTM. Behind him, Murray Smith led Liam Scheepers to a 125cc High School Sigmafix Tork Craft Yamaha 1-2.

Masters winner Warrick van Schalkwyk’s Sigmafix Tork Craft Yamaha rode home thirteenth on the road ahead of OR3 lad Jake Pretorius’ Pepson Kawasaki. And speaking of OR3, Ride Train Race Tork Craft lass Sharisma Kriel took the Ladies win once again aboard her Yamaha.

Moving on to the Junior action, it was another brilliant day for Team Tork Craft. Rayden Woolls rode his Team Tork Craft Husqvarna home to a fine maiden National Cross Country class victory. Behind him, Ruald Potgieter’s Sigmafix Tork Craft Yamaha, and Lourens Erasmus’ Tork Craft RTR KTM made it a team 1-2-3.

RTR lad Ulrich Sterley’s Sigmafix Tork Craft Yamaha also took the 65cc win ahead of Rogan Mathews’ Yamaha and Liam Sterley’s Tork Craft RTR Husqvarna. And Julian van den Berg led Travis Levey and Retief Swart to a Yamaha 85cc Junior 1-2-3. Away from the Cross Country, Team Tork Craft’s Cooper Jordaan meanwhile completed a great weekend with third in Saturday’s Bloemfontein 50 cc Minicross.

While Tork Craft Tools is a proud sponsor to the South African National Cross Country Championship, Team Tork Craft is also actively involved in the Sigmafix Tork Craft Yamaha team as well as with Tony Riddell’s broad Ride Train Race academy team of riders.

Issued on behalf of Team Tork Craft

Photography by: Action in Motion

What South African Motocross Round 5 Report
Where Rover Raceway, Gqebehra
When Saturday 15 August 2026
Community South Africa National

Podiums all-round in Gqeberha National Motocross

Team Tork Craft enjoyed another golden weekend at the fifth round of the South African National Motocross championship at the Rover raceway in Gqeberha on Saturday. A positive weekend all round was headlined by Team Tork Craft Husqvarna’s Mackenzie Bam making another clean sweep to lay one hand on the 2026 South African Ladies Motocross championship. Caitlin Parkes came home fourth on her Tork Craft RTR KTM.

Keeping his championship chances alive meantime, Slade Smith rode his Sigmafix Tork Craft Yamahas to second for the day in both 450cc open class MX1 and quarter-litre MX2. Luke Grundy was fourth in MX2 for Team Tork Craft Husqvarna. His 85cc Motocross teammate Rayden Woolls was another rider to end a fine podium second in a busy day in that class.

Tork Craft RTR trio Hanru du Plessis’ KTM came home fifth, Tommy Wotherspoon’s Husqvarna seventh, Lourens Erasmus’ KTM eighth and ?Adam Meyer’s KTM 13th in the 85s, while Damien Kritzinger’s Tork Craft RTR KTM was 11th in the 65 Motocross. Tork Craft Yamaha quartet, Max Fourie ended ninth in 125cc High School motocross ahead of, Deruk van Aswegen and Branden van Wyk in 11th and 12th and Cameron Stuckie 17th.

“Rover was another excellent day for Team Tork Craft and the RTR Academy,” team principal Tony Riddell concludes. “Sandy as always, the track was perfect for the day and we had an awesome weekend. There were a few unnecessary crashes and some poor starts but everyone got across the line and several riders enjoyed their best outings of the season.

“We also hosted another Tork Craft Development Day at Chestnut Park last week, where we had a number of first timers and several other riders wanting to learn. So yes, all in all August has been a very good month for Team Tork Craft so far.”

Title sponsor to the factory Sigmafix Tork Craft Yamaha and Husqvarna Junior Teams, Tork Craft also backs several other South African motocross and cross country riders. A partner to the South African Cross Country Championship, Team Tork Craft furthermore sponsors, supports, nurtures, and trains several more riders through Tony Riddell’s Ride Train Race motocross academy.

Issued on behalf of Team Tork Craft