Summarize

Not only is it all to play for when Bloemfontein hosts the penultimate round of the Cannabis Energy Drink TRP Distributors South African National Motocross Championship Saturday 23 October, but with spectators allowed back at the races, MX fans can finally get back up close and personal with the action again. Most of the 2021 title battles are unlikely to be resolved this weekend though, but it is possible that Bloem may well crown one or two of this year’s first champions.

Red Bull KTM star Tristan Purdon will need an exceptional weekend to turn his championship leader’s MX1 red plate into an open class title. The Eastern Cape star heads to the Free State with a 21-point championship advantage. He still has a little work to do, to come away with another Number 1 plate for ’22. Rest assured that Cape rider David Goosen will want to keep the title wide open on his Rockstar Energy Drink Husqvarna. 

Yamaha lad Jesse Wright is the only other rider with a mathematical chance to stop Purdon in MX1, while Anthony Raynard's Tinswalo Yamaha, KTM trio Cameron Durow and Bradley Cox and Johan Vogelesang are keen to upset the applecart. Leader Purdon is less likely to clinch the 250cc MX2 title, with both KZN racer Durow and Goosen both very much still in contention. And the likes of reigning champion Raynard’s, Dalton Venter’s and Jayden Proctor’s KTM all in the quarter-litre mix.

Over-30s rider Grant Frerichs and over-40 rival Ian Topliss continue to fight it out in the MX3 motocross madalas title fight. So that one’s likely to go on to the final too. As is the Ladies Motocross chase, where KZN lass Leah Heygate’s KTM has Jozi lady rider Kayla Raaff and her Kawasaki well within her championship sights. And the de Lima sisters, Jadene and Cheyenne are also still in with an outside shout.

Jonathan Mlimi can pull the 2021 High School 125 cc Motocross title off on his Red Bull KTM in Bloem. But he must first eke out a further 15 point advantage over Ethan Hoffman’s Out of Africa Monster Energy Yamaha to do that. Miguel de Waal is also still in the frame with his KTM. But the rest of them, including Luke Grundy and Callan Broskie's Husqvarnas and KTM duo Barend du Toit and Blake Young have nothing to lose, so it may not be all that easy for Mlimi to clinch it.

Don’t expect any formality in the 85 cc Pro Mini chase though. Trey Cox’ Red Bull KTM has Rockstar Husqvarna lad Neil van der Vyver closing in. And Husqvarna lads Jordan van Wyk and Ryan Adler and KTM duo Emmanuel Bako and Christian Berrington-Smith are well within striking range too. Matthew Correia heads to Bloem with a 27-point 85 cc Junior advantage over Tyler Petersen’s Husqvarna with Andrew Venter and Kassim Hassim’s KTMs also both still right in there. 

It’s also close in the 65 cc chase, where Blade Tilley and his GasGas hold a slender title advantage over Blake Frost’s KTM and Aiden Henley’s Out of Africa Monster Energy Yamaha. Trenton Kretzmann remains the kid to beat in baby 50 cc MX with a sizeable advantage on his Perry Husqvarna. He has Rayden Woolls’ GasGas Aiden Retief’s KTM and Maxwell Fourie’s Cobra in pursuit.

So with spectators finally allowed back to watch live sports, what better way to celebrate than by watching SA’s finest motocross racers in action in Bloemfontein. The 2021 South African National Motocross Championship is proudly presented by Motorsport South Africa in partnership with Cannabis Energy Drink, TRP Distributors, Prepsol, Bridgestone, Thor, Gaerne, FMF, Pro Taper, 100%, Fly Racing, Ogio, Bandit Graffix and the Race Shop.