Motocross maestros to tussle
ROUND FIVE: SA CHAMPIONSHIP CONTINUES AT THUNDER VALLEY IN PIETERMARITZBURG
Open Class championship leader Maddy Malan will start as favourite.
Round five of the 2019 TRP South African Motocross Championship will be held at the Thunder Valley circuit in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday. It is the home race for Open Class championship leader Maddy Malan (Q4 Fuels Husqvarna) and he will start as victory favourite.
Taking him on will be riders like Tristan Purdon (Red Bull KTM), Lloyd Vercueil (Florstore OnTrend Yamaha), David Goosen (Out of Africa Yamaha), Wesley du Plooy (Honda) and Royce Griffin (KTM).
In the 250cc MX2 class, Cape rider Anthony Raynard (Tinswalo Yamaha) holds the title chase advantage with his closest challengers Joshua Mlimi (Red Bull KTM), Kerim Fitzgerald (Red Bull KTM), Bradley Cox (KTM), Ricky Raaf (Husqvarna), Johan Vogelsang (KTM), Slade Smith (CIT Husqvarna) and Jesse Wright (Yamaha).
The MX3 category should see KTM riders Brett Bircher, Craig Kruger and Tyson Engelbrecht at the front end, facing off against the likes of Ian Topliss (Monster Energy Yamaha), Jono Hubbard (KTM) and Stuart Laing (KTM).
Kayla Raaff (Husqvarna) is yet to be beaten in local Ladies Motocross this year, but Natasha Rugani (KTM) remains within striking distance in the title race ahead of Jenna Bohling (Husqvarna), Yanke Pieterse (Yamaha) and Tiegan Reed (KTM).
Dalton Venter (CIT Husqvarna) leads the 125cc High School championship, chased by Arnu Saaiman (KTM), Yamaha riders Ethan Hoffman and Christiaan Cilliers, Zimababwean Tristan Grainger (KTM) and Calvin JeanJacques (Yamaha).
Blake Young (KTM) tops the 85cc Pro Mini category over Leonard du Toit (KTM), Nate McLellan (KTM, Daiyaan Manual (Husqvarna) and Garrick Henley (Yamaha).
There are just seven championship points between 85cc Junior top two Seth Young (KTM) and Deegan Bloomfield (Husqvarna), with Emmanuel Bako (KTM), Josh Fletcher (Yamaha), Timo Maximo (KTM) and Seth Whittington (KTM) also in the chase.
Neil van der Vyver (Q4 Fuels Husqvarna) leads the 65cc Junior championship, challenged by Liam Botha (Husqvarna), Jordan Van Wyk (Husqvarna) plus KTM kids Trey Cox, Damon Garrell and Thor Johnson.
The baby 50cc class is another close title fight between the KTMs of championship leader Ethan Williamson, Jake van Schoor, Keenan Strauss and Christian Berrington-Smith, with Logan van Vuuren and Chase Bekker, also KTM mounted, leading the pursuit.
The action at Maritzburg Motorcycle & Car Club’s Thunder Valley Motocross Track will start with qualifying practice on Saturday morning before two spectacular motos per class through the afternoon.