Summarize

Pepson Plastics Kawasaki Racing with Motul and Michelin continued its great start to its 2025 Gauteng GXCC Cross Country season with another cracking performance at the second round at Bapsfontein on Saturday. Despite treacherous muddy conditions, Team Green came home with three Kawasakis in the top ten, two class wins and four podiums too.

“Pepson Plastics Kawasaki enjoyed another great weekend in tough conditions at a fast and muddy Bapsfontein,” team manager Steve Pretorius explains. “Pieter Holl took another commanding Masters win on his Pepson Plastics Kawasaki KX450X. Fourteen-year old young Jake Pretorius delivered a splendid run to claim the OR4 class victory on his Pepson Plastics Kawasaki KX250X. 

“Cameron Becker was a splendid fifth overall and second in 250cc OR3 on his similar machine. “Pepson Plastics Kawasaki KX450X duo Wian Wentzel and Jaycee Nienaber came home seventh and tenth overall and on their way to a fine fourth and sixth in Open OR1. And young Jayden Boyce was a remarkable third in OR3 ProAm aboard his Pepson Plastics Kawasaki KX250X.”

“Ja nee, that was muddy and the fourth lap really proved a challenge!” Pieter Holl smiled after yet another GXCC Masters victory. “But my Kawasaki KX450X was King again and my Pepson Plastics support and crew on point as it always is. That really makes it worth putting in the extra effort from my side to keep Iain and our sponsors happy and make racing in a truly professional environment possible for us.”

“The Bapsfontein race was fast and furious, so I told myself to be brave and push through and I ended up winning in OR4!” an ecstatic Jake Pretorius reported. “I’m also very happy to have stayed on the lead lap to go the full distance to win, so this one’s for my mum and dad and my whole awesome Pepson Plastics Kawasaki team!”

Cameron Becker took a high speed tumble after being forced off the road by another competitor. Despite a sore arm, he picked himself up and rode on to a well-earned second in OR3 and fifth overall. “It was just too risky to push hard in these conditions,” Cam pointed out. “So I settled down and nursed it home to second.”

“It wasn’t just muddy, which is always difficult for visibility with the goggles and everything, but this race was so fast too” Wian Wentzel reflected. “My Kawasaki was wonderful on those Michelins though, so I’m pretty happy with fourth in class after all that.” Jaycee Nienaber admitted: “My Pepson Plastics KX450X did not miss a beat, but the track was wild, so I Just kept on two wheels for sixth in class and tenth overall.”

“This was a tough, muddy and quick challenge,” Steve Pretorius concluded. “Still, our Pepson Plastics Kawasakis ran like trains and our Michelin Star Cross 6 tyres were perfect in the conditions.” Pepson Plastics Kawasaki Team Principal Iain Pepper added, “Bapsfontein was a great effort by the entire team. Now for Radium next month.” 

*Pepson Plastics Racing salutes it partners, Kawasaki South Africa Motorcycles, Michelin, Motul and bikewise.co.za