Summarize

Pepson Plastics Husqvarna Motorcycles South Africa’s Off Road race team enjoyed mixed results at Port Elizabeth’s Rover Winterberg national enduro over the weekend. E2 class rider Brett Swanepoel brought it home a solid third overall, while E1 entry Henco Botha was forced to stop after suffering the side effects of tick bite fever.

Swanepoel put in a strong showing in the fourth round of the SA National Championships; “I was fourth last time out and now third in PE,” Brett pointed out. “We missed the first round through injury and retired from the second, but the last two rounds have brought good results — I had a fairly clean run this weekend. 

“My Husqvarna ran like a dream and its good to be on the podium and taking a step up the score sheet too — now its time to start climbing those last steps to the top!” Swanepoel’s podium saw him jump from 15th to 7th in the E2 championship chase.

It was a more difficult round for Henco Botha, who went to Port Elizabeth in a tight three-way E1 title fight, but the Matatiele rider had also not yet fully recovered from a recent bout of tick bite fever. “It is never an option not to race, but we knew that I was taking a bit of a chance to knowing the effects,” Henco explained. “

“Sadly my worst fears came true — I was dizzy and weak after three laps and we decided that it was better to stop. That’s a great pity but still — I’ll be back in top form for the next national” 

“That was a bittersweet weekend,” Husqvarna South Africa product manager Fred Fensham reflected. “Brett rode beautifully and brought us a fine podium, but with Henco it was just one of those things — its better that we never took any risks and we fully expect that he will be back and ready to win the next enduro in KwaZulu Natal on 12 August.”