Summarize

SA championship heads to the free State

The 2019 TRP Distributors South African National Motocross Championship heads to Bloemfontein in the Free State for one of the more popular rounds of the season Saturday 25 May, with all classes ready to deliver a lot more spectacular racing following two most intriguing opening races in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

One of the most interesting battles so far this season is in open class MX1 with its gruelling 25 minute motos and Bloem promises another epic battle between Maddy Malan and his Q4 Fuels Husqvarna and Lloyd Vercueil on his Summit Yamaha. Both men have won races, but both have also endured their fair share of drama, so hopefully the Free State will deliver a proper head-to-head between these giants of SA motocross. They will not have it all their own way though, with Tristan Purdon (KTM), Royce Griffin (RPG KTM), David Goosen (Tintswalo Yamaha) and Ash Thixton (KTM) all ready to take charge.

Anthony Raynard is the man to beat in 250cc MX2 after stamping authority on the quarter-litre class aboard his Tintswalo Yamaha last time out, but Kerim Fitz-Gerald (Red Bull KTM), KTM duo Joshua Mlimi and Bradley Cox, Ricky Raaff (Summit Yamaha) and Slade Smith (CIT Husqvarna) have their own ideas about that top step of the podium, while Cam Durow (Reef Carriers KTM) is expected back from international duty to run interference.

SA’s older riders compete in MX3, where over-30 men Tyson Engelbrecht, Wyatt Avis and Wade Wright on three KTMs among others will have to look sharp for over-40 madalas, Ian Topliss’ Yamaha and KTM duo Brett Bircher and Craig Kruger. They share the track with SA’s motocross ladies, where Kayla Raaff will be keen to continue her 2019 dominance albeit now aboard a Summit Yamaha for the first time, with KTM girls Leah Heygate and Natasha Rugani and Tiegan Reed, Jenna Bohling (Husqvarna) and Yanke Pieterse (Yamaha) out for vengence.

In the schoolboy classes, Dalton Venter will be chasing 125cc High School honours once again aboard his Husqvarna, but KTM trio, Ugandan rider Aviv Orland, Jonathan Mlimi and Arnu Saaiman and Yamaha duo Christiaan Cilliers and Calvin Jean-Jacques (Yamaha) are all hell-bent to stop him.

The big-wheel 85cc Pro class is something of an African championship with Uganda's Stav Orland (KTM) heading to the Free State off a dominant win in the Cape and Zimbabwe's Daiyaan Manuel and Swaziland rider Blake Young (KTM) chasing him down. Zimbabwean lad Emmanuel Bako is another African continent driver in control of the 85cc Juniors with SA small-wheel rivals Seth Young (KTM), Deegan Bloomfield and Joshua Fletcher (Yamaha) right on his case.

Niel van der Vyver (Q4 Fuels Husqvarna) wants to know of nothing else but to continue his domination of the primary school 65cc class, but Jordan van Wyk (Husqvarna), Liam Botha (EHR Husqvarna) and Damon Garrell (KTM) are among the kids chasing him down. Another Husqvarna rider, Ethan Williamson heads to Bloem as the baby 50cc favourite with KTM kids Christian Berrington-Smith, Keenan Strauss, Jake van Schoor, and Chase Bekker (Husqvarna) are out to keep him honest.

So, Bloemfontein promises another brilliant day of SA national championship motocross, while out of town fans can follow the action via live interactive commentary through the MX Nationals Facebook page and live timing can be found at www.protiming.co.za. The 2019 South African National Motocross Championship is presented by TRP Distributors in association with Dragon Energy, Prepsol, Bridgestone, Thor, Gaerne, FMF, Motul, Pro-Taper, Fly Racing, 100%, Ogio Luggage, Racestar Graffix, Out of Africa Developments, Tintswalo and the Race Shop. 

ENDS

Issued on behalf of SA Motocross

What:SA National Motocross Round 3 Preview
Where:Bloemfontein, Free State
When:Saturday 25 May 2019
Community:South Africa National

For further information please contact noleen@mxsa.co.za

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