MX1 championship title to be contested in court
The 2019 TRP South African Motocross Championship is done and all but one of the champions have been crowned.
Lightning struck at the Terra Topia track near Krugersdorp last Saturday, preventing the premier MX1 class from finding a champion.
Maddy Malan (Q4 Fuels Husqvarna) and Tristan Purdon (Red Bull KTM) started the year’s very last race equal on points.
Malan led Purdon initially and looked odds on favourite, but crashed out, giving Purdon the lead for a few seconds. But the race officials were concerned about massive lightning strikes above the track and the huge thunderstorm brewing and eventually hung out a red flag, stopping the race prematurely.
The rules of racing state on a red flag the race is taken one lap back and with that Malan was given the win as he had been leading when the red flag was called for.
He was given the title, but Purdon’s team protested and therefore the title decision will now go to a court.
The MX2 title went to Red Bull KTMs Kerim Fitzgerald, MX3 to Ian Topliss (Out of Africa Yamaha), and the MX Ladies class to Summit Racing’s Kayla Raaff.
Dalton Venter took the High School title and Seth Young (Alfie Cox KTM) the 85cc class, with fellow 85cc rider Leonard du Toit (KTM) winning the bigger wheeled Pro Mini class.
Neil van der Vyver (Q4 Fuels Husqvarna) and Ethan Williamson (KTM) won the 65cc and 50cc championships respectively.
The 2019 South African National Motocross Championship was sponsored by TRP Distributors, in association with Dragon Energy, Prepsol, Out Of Africa, Tintswalo, Bridgestone, Thor, Gaerne, FMF, Motul, Pro-Taper, Fly Racing, 100%, Ogio Luggage, Racestar Graffix and the Race Shop. – Own Correspondent