Sleepover Tork Craft CIT Hondas star in Middelburg
What GXCC Cross Country Round 7 Race Report Where Dirt Trax, Middelburg MP When Saturday 22 October 2022 Community Gauteng Regional
It was a case of touch of pink, a little gold and podiums all round as Sleepover Tork Craft CIT Honda Racing raked in the trophies at a challenging penultimate seventh round GXCC Gauteng Cross Country championship race at Dirt Trax near Middelburg on Saturday.
The big one for the team on a day raced in pink in support of cancer awareness, saw Leah Heygate storm home to win the ladies class aboard her pink-trimmed Sleepover Tork Craft CIT red rocket Honda CRF 250 RX. Heygate is having an exceptional year aboard her Honda, having already ended up a fine ninth in the national 250cc OR3 championship.
Gareth Cole meanwhile enjoyed a great day, riding home third overall and second in the OR1 aboard his open class Sleepover Tork Craft CIT Red Rocket Honda CRF 450 RX. Cole, who already has a national open class win under his belt is limbering up well for an all-out red rocket cross country attack in 2023.
Another to impress on a tricky and dusty route was Tyron Beverley, who rode Sleepover Tork Craft CIT Honda Racing’s experimental CRF 300 RX home a fine second in the OR2 class. Young Liam Scheepers rounded off a great Sleepover Tork Craft CIT Racing outing with second place in the 65cc Juniors.
“Middelburg was dusty and difficult on some varied and tricky terrain,” team boss Harry Grobler concluded. “But our Sleepover Tork Craft CIT Racing red rocket Hondas came through with flying colours, so a special thank you to everyone involved, from our riders to the pit crew, family and friends who had a part in another great day of GXCC racing.”
National Cross Country – Round 6 – Virginia Trails
The Brother Leader Tread KTM team headed down to the final round of the cross country national championship this weekend. The team was faced with challenging weather conditions but managed to bring home fantastic results across the board along with a South African championship in the form of Matthew Wilson in the OR3 class.
Bradley Cox brought home his number 1 KTM 450XCF second in class commenting, “A small mistake for me in the time trial hindered my initial progress in the main race trying to make passes in the dust but I managed to make steady progress and I am happy with my second place in the OR1 class. I had a challenging year with some downs but I hold my head high after 2 overall wins in 2022 and I am looking forward to 2023 already,”
Kerim Fitz-Gerald had a tough day with challenges from the get-go on difficult track indifficult conditions but looks forward to some redemption in 2023. His season finished off with a 3rd in class and a very respectable 3rd in the OR2 championship. Scott Heygate fought through a torn ACL and managed to nurse himself home second in class wrapping up his championship in 2nd place. Scott commented, “I had an extremely long day on the bike carrying my knee injury wasn’t easy on the tight twisty track. I am extremely happy with my second overall in the championship and look forward to getting my knee fixed and coming back next season to fight for wins once again.”
The man of the day was Matthew Wilson who piloted his KTM 250 XC-F to championship honours in the OR3 class. Matthew rode a steady race and did what he needed to do in order to wrap up his first South African championship. “The rain made the race extremely difficult and I didn’t want to make mistakes and throw away a whole years’ worth of work so I just did what I needed to do and made sure I got home safely. My bike didn’t skip a beat and I am so thankful to the whole team for giving me everything I needed to get the job done this year.”
Grant Frerichs, group team manager closed in saying, “The KTM team all performed well today with podium finishes across the board. All of the riders remained injury free and we fought through very difficult weather conditions. Kevin Tyrer, our technician, has done a phenomenal job this year with perfectly tuned bikes round after round and the team owes a lot of our success to him.”
NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY – ROUND 6 – VIRGINIA TRAILS
The Husqvarna Racing National cross country team solidified their dominance once again this weekend at the magnificent Virginia Trails venue in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal. The final round of the South African championship provided extremely challenging conditions from dust in the outset of the race to rain and slippery wet conditions after the first racing lap.
Brett Swanepoel came out swinging and wrapped up his 10th South African championship putting his Husqvarna FX350 on the top step of the OR2 class which also gave him the number one spot in the Overall championship standing. Brett Swanepoel confirmed his satisfaction saying, “I am so happy to wrap up this championship in these challenging conditions. It was extremely easy to make a mistake today in the dust and then in the rain which followed so I am happy with my composure and glad I kept my mistakes to the absolute bare minimum wrapping up my 10th SA title”
Virginia Trails also saw the return of Davin Cocker to the OR3 class after ACL knee reconstruction surgery after round 1 earlier this season. Cocker had a point to prove and started off his day with a phenomenal time trail blitzing the OR3 competition. Cocker managed to keep a clean pair of heels all day despite some goggle issues and small errors, he brought his Husqvarna FC250 home in first place once again proving he is the man to beat heading into 2023. Grant Frerichs, group team manager, commented, “I am so glad our riders are safe after today’s racing. Cooler heads prevailed today and both Davin and Brett did what they needed to do to win their classes. 2022 was a challenging year for the team in many aspects but we are proud to walk away with a class championship and the overall win thanks to Brett Swanepoel. Thank you to all of our team as well as our supporting sponsors, ee you in 2023”
Pentecost, Gilbert take SA Cross Country titles for Kawasaki
What Kawasaki Cross Country Round 6 Report Where Virginia Trails, KZN When Saturday 15 October 2022 Community South Africa National
Kawasaki Racing came home double 2022 Trademore South African Cross Country Motorcycle Champions from the Virginia Trails season finale in KZN on Sunday. Mike Pentecost wrapped up back-to-back open class OR1 titles following his 2001 success, while Kenny Gilbert went unbeaten in the Senior class.
Pentecost needed just a point out of the Virginia Trials race to clinch his second open class OR1 title on the trot aboard his Franchise Co. Tork Craft Kawasaki KX 450 X. But bringing it home is just not Mike’s style! He went out and won the race by almost seven minutes: “I took the overall win and wrapped up the title at my favourite race, Virginia Trails, making me a two time OR1 champion,” a delighted Mike Pentecost confirmed.
“What a race! “My Franchise Co. Tork Craft team was flawless and my Kawasaki KX 450 X did not skip a beat. “It was absolutely on point and I was on rails all day long thanks to Roger Bergstrom and all his efforts in dialling in my bike’s suspension. “Most of all, I salute my team boss Harry Grobler and the whole Franchise Co. Tork Craft Kawasaki team for a job brilliantly done!”
Senior star Kenny Gilbert already clinched the 2022 Senior title at the previous round aboard his Pepson Plastics Scottish Cables Motul Kawasaki KX 450 X. Like Pentecost, that was the last thing to deter Kenny from completing a perfect season as he ultimately won every one of the six 2022 Trademore Cross Country Nationals across South Africa.
“I had so much fun racing my Pepson Plastics KX 450 X to the Senior title this year,” Kenny admitted. “The Trademore SA Cross Country guys delivered an incredible Championship and my team gave me a great bike every time. “Huge thanks to everyone involved for a brilliant season of racing!”
250cc OR3 class rider Taki Bogiages was also a happy man after delivering a championship podium third aboard his Pepson Plastics Scottish Cables Motul Kawasaki KX 250 X. “I am beyond stoked to finish third in the National championship,” Taki admitted.
“With over 6 hours of racing, Saturday really was tough especially early on. “I found some good pace as the race went on and fought back to finish fourth in OR3 to seal that title third. “All that’s left is a massive shoutout to Iain Pepper, the team and our partners for giving us the opportunity to go out and compete on the highest level in South African racing, thank you, one and all!”
Of the other team riders, Franchise Co. Tork Craft lad took Wian Wentzel the 125cc High School title with a measured ride to third on the day. Jaycee Nienaber rode his Pepson Plastics KX 450 X home sixth overall and fourth in OR1 to cement fifth in his class championship. And Tork Craft CIT Kawasaki rider John Botha ended fifth in OR3 to finish up fourth in the 250cc title chase.
In other Kawasaki Cross Country National news, Mathew Hills had his first ever Cross Country race, which proved a baptism of fire, making him a popular finisher in the OR3 race. Seniors regular Marco Cocci meanwhile switched to a Kawasaki KX 450 X for the first time at Virginia Trails and rode home third in Seniors on the day and clinch second in the Senior National championship.
“Huge congratulations to Mike and Kenny for a brilliant job done in bringing two championships home, and to every one of Kawasaki’s riders, crew, sponsors, supporters and the rest who made it happen,” Tork Craft Kawasaki counterpart Harry Grobler wrapped it up.
“Kawasaki Racing celebrated our second year back with two national championships in 2022, compared to one in our first year in ’21,” Pepson Plastics Kawasaki Motul Racing with Scottish Cables team chief Iain Pepper concluded. “I like that pattern – let’s double up again in ’23. “Thank you and well done to everyone. “2022 was a vintage year in green!”
What Honda Cross Country Round 6 Report Where Virginia Trails, KZN When Saturday 15 October 2022 Community South Africa National
Honda enjoys a stellar Cross Country racing return season
Sleepover Tork Craft CIT Racing came home over the moon after clinching double open class championship OR1 podiums among several other highlights in Honda’s Trademore SA Cross Country comeback season.
Gareth Cole rode his and Sleepover Tork Craft CIT Red Rocket Honda CRF 450 RX home fourth overall and third in open class OR1 in the weekend’s Virginia Trails national season finale, to clinch second in that 2022 450cc championship. Cole took a compelling first Honda open class victory en route at the penultimate Cape National, before going on to wrap it up with a splendid first year championship second for Honda.
Virginia Trials was to prove a super tough weekend for Cole’s Sleepover Tork Craft CIT Red Rocket Honda CRF 450 RX teammate Hayden Louw. Hero Hayden rode with a broken wrist sustained in the lead up to the KZN National final. But he gritted his teeth and brought it home 15th overall to clinch third in the OR1 championship. Louw’s efforts crowned a great first year for Honda in the open class against some of the biggest name riders and cross country bike brands out there.
Sleepover Tork Craft CIT Red Rocket Honda CRF 250 RX lady rider Leah Heygate was another to shine in red against the quarter litre OR3 class boys. Leah raced every National round and finished them all as she came home well inside the 250cc championship top ten. Sleepover Tork Craft CIT rider Haydn Cole also impressed aboard his Red Rocket CRF 250 RX, but his season was complicated by a collarbone injury.
“We are absolutely delighted with Honda’s comeback Cross Country season, “Sleepover Tork Craft CIT Honda team boss Harry Grobler concluded. “Our Red Rockets lubricated by Motul, prepared using the finest Tork Craft Tools and racing on Michelin tyres, have won and fought for championships. “Now we look forward to even bigger things in 2023. “Bring it on!”
