Summarize

Superstar Tennant fights back in the Cape

Q4 Fuel Husqvarna Racing enjoyed a great weekend racing with a flourish of race wins at Cape Town’s Zone 7 fifth round 2018 TRP Distributors SA National Motocross Championship on Saturday, but it was Caleb Tennant who was the undoubted star of the day. While both Maddy Malan enjoyed a good day out in MX1 and MX2 and young Neil van der Vyver produced his best 65cc result to date in second, it was Tenant who stole the hearts of his hometown crowd with a heroic performance.

Caleb started the day in style with a powerful win over Malan in a Q4 Fuel Husqvarna 1-2 in the opening 250cc MX2 race, but he was involved in a sizeable crash on the first lap of MX1 moto 1, when he was ridden over by another machine during the accident. Undaunted, Tennant stood up, restarted his Husqvarna and rode from the back to take a painful but incredible third. Clearly in agony, Tennant then took to the start and stormed to a lights to flag second heat MX2 win over Malan again and then fought back from fifth to end up second in the second MX1 moto to head to the next round in Welkom leading both championships.

“The day started so well but that crash was huge and I was ridden over,” Caleb explained. “Somehow I managed to escape breaking any bones and I was able to get up and fight back to third. “The bigger challenge was to get back out for the second heats without the advantage of adrenaline, but I have some really great people in my corner and I hobbled back onto the bike and had a great second MX2 race win and then second in the final MX1 moto. 

“Thanks so much to my folks who helped pick me up and to my incredible team, and a special note about my machines — Saturday was our first time out on the new 2019 Q4 Fuel Husqvarnas and what a debut! “I can’t wait to get back on the bike, but if you may I will now take a little rest before starting to prepare for the next round in Welkom - I’m leading both the MX1 and MX2 championships and we need to keep it that way.”

Maddy Malan enjoyed a positive weekend in the Cape, the Pietermaritzburg rider rode home second in both MX2 heats and ended up fifth for the day in MX1. “First and foremost, let me tell you that these new 2019 Husqvarna motocrossers are incredible to ride and what better way to celebrate that with a debut 1-2?” Maddy pointed out. “I had a pretty good run to lead the second MX1 moto but dropped it, so had to make do with fifth, but I’m now well placed in fourth in both championships so it’s all to do. “Thanks to the team for my brilliant bikes - I am really enjoying riding these new Husqvarnas.”

It was also a great weekend for young Cape Town rider Niel van der Vyver, who scored his best results with second both in the schoolboy 65cc class motos for second on the day at his home national. “I am so happy with second in both races today — that's my best result in the class so far, “Niel explained. “It also means I am now up to fourth in the championship and now just eight points behind second place, so it’s going to be a thrilling end to the season and I can’t wait for Welkom.”

“Today was one of those days when for a few minutes I wondered why we don’t rather compete in a chess championship,” Husqvarna Motorcycles South Africa Brand Manager, Fred Fensham concluded. “But Caleb Tennant stood up, dusted himself off and made it very clear why Q4 Husqvarna Racing does what we do — that was a superhuman performance backed up by great rides by both Maddy and Neil on what turned out to be a great day’s racing as we celebrated our new bikes’s debut in style.”

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Husqvarna Motocross

What:SA National Motocross Round 5 Report
Where:Zone 7, Cape Town
When:Saturday 11 August 2018
Community:South Africa National, Cape Town

For further information please contact fred@husqvarna-motorcycles.co.za

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