Summarize

It’s time for South African cross country motorcycling’s Big One, when the 2023 ‘Mother of Hard Enduro’ Roof of Africa goes down in the Lesotho Maloti Mountains Thursday 30 November to Saturday 2 December. Catering for all riders across four ability levels, this year’s Roof has attracted a huge entry of 38 Gold, 84 Silver, 236 Bronze and 62 Iron entries.

Among the many Bronze entries, Tork Craft Racing father and son team, Ryan and Reece Hunt are ready for the big adventure. “We can’t wait for the Roof,” former multiple South African and international motocross champion, dad Ryan explained. “We rode the Lowveld Enduro at Blyde River last week and Reece and I finished second and third in the Silver B class on our Team Tork Craft machines.

Ryan will ride a 300 cc Team Tork Craft bike, and Reece a 150. “Because I’m under eighteen, Roof of Africa rules say that I must ride the smaller bike,” Reece explains. “The gentler and lighter machine is probably an advantage anyway up in the mountains, where the going really will be tough. We are also most excited to be riding against MotoGP heroes Brad and Darryn Binder in the Bronze class!

The oldest hard enduro race in the world, the first Roof of Africa was back in 1967 when cars and bikes took to the mad mountain race. The Roof later became a motorcycle-only race as it soon evolved into among the toughest hard enduros on the planet. This year's  race runs between 250 and 350 kilometres over three days depending on the class, at a minimum elevation of 1,400 metres.

The 38 Gold class entries this year include the man to beat, Roof of Africa King and South African international star Wade Young and SA E2 champion Brett Swanepoel riding for Sherco. Matthew Green is another SA international star, while Husqvarna riders include South African enduro champion Heinrich Aust, Travis Teasdale, and Ryan Pelser. 

Add a fleet of KTMs for South African hard enduro champion William-Waide Slater, James Moore, Dylan Jones, Luke Walker, Thomas Scales, Matt Stevens, Jordan Cowley and Kyle and Cayden Purchase. And Tristan Tamsen on a GasGas, and Yamaha men William Gillitt and Mauritz Meiring among a crack field of top class riders.

The Roof of Africa starts with the traditional Maseru Round the Houses before the Mountain Prologue on Thursday, and then two gruelling days of gruesome racing in the Maloti Mountains Friday and Saturday. Stay informed at theroofofafrica.com.