The countdown has begun for our Junior Motocross riders to make their way to the host city of Vantaa, Finland, to compete against the best junior riders in the 2022 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship and the FIM Junior Motocross World Cup.
The event will be held at the legendary tracks of Ruskeasanta and Lavanko from the 26th – 28th of August 2022.
The Opening Ceremony will take place in the centre of Vantaa in Tikkurila on Friday the 26th of August 2022. Click on the link to view the FIM Event regulations: Click here to view
The appointed Team Manager, Neville Townsend, Team Captain Trey Cox, and the MSA Motocross Commission are pleased to announce the following team who will proudly represent South Africa.
JMX 65 CC WORLD CUP
From the left: Cruz Martin, Evan Frost, Kabelo Ledwaba, Trent Valsecchi, Trenton Kretzmann
JMX 85 CC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
From the left: Christian Berrington Smith, Jordan van Wyk, Matthew Correia, Neil van der Vyver, Trey Cox
JMX 125 CC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
From the left: Blake Young, Bryce Petersen, Kyle Townsend, Luke Grundy
MSA Motocross Commission wishes these young competitors a safe, enjoyable and successful event.
What Kawasaki KX 250 X Successes Where South Africa When Friday 15 July 2022 Community South Africa National
Two maiden major 250cc class wins within a week
It’s been an historic week for Pepson Plastics Scottish Cables Kawasaki Racing with Motul, and especially for the team’s Kawasaki KX 250 X riders. Having never won a race in the quarter-litre class in its current Enduro and SA Cross Country OR3 formats, everything changed in the matter of a week.
Enduro debutant Kyle Mackenzie stormed to Bronze victory in the epic IMPI Hard Enduro aboard his Pepson Plastics Scottish Cables Motul Kawasaki KX 250 X on Saturday 25 June. And then just a week later, teammate Taki Bogiages scored Kawasaki’s first-ever National Trademore Cross Country Championship OR3 class win on a similar KX 250 X at Zorgfliet, on Saturday 2 July.
“It’s been a fantastic two weeks of 250cc racing for Pepson Plastics Scottish Cables Kawasaki Racing with Motul,” team principal Iain Pepper pointed out. “Just two weeks ago we entered Kyle Mackenzie in our first ever enduro aboard one of our Kawasaki KX 250 Xs. “We had to do some special preparation with different gearing, putting a fan on the radiator and a few other enduro tweaks, but we were blown away when Kyle won Bronze on his and our first attempt.”
Mackenzie was delighted with his result: “The green mamba seems to slither and my KX 250 X did not disappoint at the IMPI!” Kyle explained. “It started well and I had a good time trial to qualify second. “Then I had a great Friday and led from off the start while learning how to navigate with a GPS in the mountains. “I also led most of Saturday, but it was a close one and I had to fight back to take the overall Bronze win by 8 seconds on Kawasaki’s official enduro debut!”
Precisely a week later, it was Bogiages’ turn to break Kawasaki’s quarter-litre duck in the Zorgfliet Trademore SA National Cross Country Series round in Bronkhorstspruit: “I cannot explain the feeling of taking Kawasaki’s first ever National OR3 win,” Taki admitted. “The track was super demanding and it was really tough from lap 2 onwards. “But everything clicked, I felt great, my KX 250 X felt great and my team just made racing so easy!”
Taki’s win moved him up to a close third in the national OR3 title chase, while Kawasaki riders, Pepson teammate Kenny Gilbert stormed to his fourth Senior class win out of four, and Franchise Co. Tork Craft rider Warrick van Schalkwyk took Masters honours. Gilbert leads the national Senior championship, while Franchise Co. Tork Craft man Mike Pentecost, who ended second at Zorgfliet, leads the OR1 chase. Like Bogiages, van Schalkwyk sits third in his class title chase.
“It’s taken a while, but after the last two weekends, I feel we have uncorked Kawasaki’s 250cc bottle of success,” Iain Pepper concluded. “Now Pepson Plastics Scottish Cables Kawasaki Racing with Motul will approach this class with far more spring in our step going forward. “Here’s to many more a major Kawasaki KX 250 X race win in future!”
National Cross Country Championship – Zorgvliet | Round 4
The fourth round of the National Cross Country Championship took place this weekend in dry dusty conditions at the well-known routes around Zorgvliet near Bronhorstspruit. In what was widely described as a brutal route where riders and machines were pushed to the limit.
Brad Cox who has been on the comeback trail after injury had a frustrating day on the bike. “I actually felt really good but battled with passing some slower riders that cost me time and then I suffered the loss of my back brakes which was frustrating!” he commented and went on to add “it was frustrating out there today but I’m happy with my comeback thus far”. Cox finished in third place in the OR1 class and in sixth overall.
Kerim Fitz-Gerald continued his string of solid results raking in the podiums claiming second spot in OR2 class and the third spot overall. “This was one rough track” he mused afterward saying it was probably one of the hardest races he’s done to date. “ got lucky with second place in the time trial. “I struggle to ride in the dust especially racing in dust and knew from the third lap it was going to be a slog” he added and went on to say that he hasn’t raced in three weeks due to illness so it was even more of a struggle, but finishing third overall and second in class that he could not be too upset.
Matthew Wilson had a great start and managed to get a decent-sized gap before suffering some mechanical issues. “Kevin really did some magic with the spanners to get me back in the fight and managed to get second in class,” Wilson said. “It was super dusty and very difficult to make any passes, most of my passes were actually done in the pits as a result” he added.
“Round 4 done and dusted and wow that was a long day in the saddle over 6 really challenging laps” Scott Heygate commented. “I’m really happy with how today went, I had one scary moment out there where I went flying and dug myself into the ground so very happy that I made it to the finish” he went on to say. “I managed third in class and fourth overall today and I am happy with where I am at this point in the season,” he said and added that he will look to use what he learnt this far and put it towards getting a podium at the two remaining rounds this season.
The next round of the National Cross Country Championship heads down to Porterville in the Western Cape which is sure to see some more fireworks from the boys in orange.
