KING OF THE KALAHARI
Local legend, Kelly, sets sights on Dakar after winning South African biking Rally
Botswana’s biking superstar, John Kelly, took another giant leap towards his lifelong dream of competing in next year’s Dakar Rally when he won the prestigious Kalahari Rally last week.
The week-long event, which finished in Mahikeng and skirted the harsh northern terrain of South Africa’s border with Botswana, is viewed as a replica of the ultimate off-road race in Saudi Arabia next January.
Although Dakar is spread over two weeks, the Kalahari Rally provides riders with a challenge similar to its mental and physical demands.
A delighted Kelly told Voice Sport, “I am happy to have won this rally. I crossed the finish line with a great feeling of relief as it means my preparations are going well. The Dakar is a demanding race which needs endurance.”
He was the only rider from outside South Africa in the top 23 finishers.
The bearded biking wonder from Tlokweng started his love affair with the sport as a youngster navigating his way through the farms of Notwane.
“My love for motorsport was cultivated by watching the Toyota Desert race. I have been a big fan of the race since I was seven years old. Each year, we would watch local riders such as Ross Branch and Vincent Crosbie giving South African riders a hard time and I pictured myself as a rider one day,” he said.
Kelly’s first competitive event was in the Desert Race at the age of 16. “Back then, it was more of a fun ride to just try and get to the finish line. I enjoyed myself as it was a learning curve.”
Fast forward to 2017 when he achieved the top spot for the 2017 Botswana off-road Championship - 2 finishes at Lesotho’s Roof of Africa, 4 Toyota 1000 Desert Race finishes as well as a 3rd place finish in the 2019 Kalahari Rally with 3 stage wins.
After his latest victory, Kelly is now preparing for November’s Roof of Africa event as his last stop before the Saudi desert.
“I know that the Dakar Rally is tough but I’m ready and hope to make a name for myself and represent my country,” he said.
Just raising the funds is a massive challenge in itself. The entry fee alone is around P200,000 and Kelly reckons he needs at least P750,000 to cover all his costs.
In his biography on the JK2Dakar website, he writes,” If you are able to help and contribute towards my Dakar dream, I would be eternally grateful for your efforts, and try to do my best to make you all proud! I truly believe that every Thebe/ Cent counts as well as all the social media shares and likes! Small or big, your contribution will get me a step closer to that start line.”
On the same website, his byline reads: “Rally is my art, and the land of Botswana my canvas.”
In a land famous for its diamonds, Kelly is a biking gem. Let’s get behind our local star as he seeks to launch himself on the world stage come January.