200 bikers with Monster Energy compete at Dirt Bronco
Biggest crowd the motocross track has seen in 25 years.
Over 200 bikers queued outside Dirt Bronco for Round 4 of the Monster Energy TRP Distributors SA MX National Championship.
Photo: Brodalka Photography
Despite the cold outside, the bikers knew that the day was going to be huge when they fell in line and waited about 20 minutes to get inside the track. Spirits were high and there was huge anticipation for the racing ahead. The bikers’ excitement was equally matched by that of the approximately 1 500 spectators that attended. The day, Saturday, 3 June, warmed up nicely and racers soon began to prepare their nerves for some awesome dirt biking.
Racing got underway at about 10am and the crowd was kept enthralled and captivated with some of the closest racing seen in ages.
In the MX1 Premier class, it was veteran and past SA Champion, Richard van der Westhuizen from Husqvarna Racing who took the overall win. Despite only a fourth place in Heat 1, he knocked it out of the park in Heat 2 with a first place that reminded us why he is a multiple champion, and that gave him the top spot.
Photo: Brodalka Photography
Damon Strydom, from Grainger Racing, put in an excellent performance and took first place in Heat 1. He lost Heat 2, but recovered and walked away with second place for the day.
Tristan Purdon, from Tintswalo Out of Africa Yamaha, retained his points lead with his consistent performance and took third and second place in Heats 1 and 2 respectively. He ended in the third place overall for the day.
The biggest upset came in the Premier MX2 class. After six wins, Husqvarna Racing’s Matthew ‘Maddy’ Malan’s day started out badly when he went down in the first corner with eight other riders in the Heat 1 start. Maddy fought hard to get to fourth place in the race before a small mistake saw him fall back again.
Photo: Brodalka Photography
In addition, the entire crowd was blown away by the amazing performance of Cape Town rider Anthony Raynard, from GAC Laser Ace Sports Racing, and his win in Heat 1.
Again, Heat 2 again did not go as planned for Maddy. Despite every effort, he crashed hard and ended his hopes for points for that race. It was incredible to see how hard he fought to work his way to the front, but once again the sport showed how unforgiving it can be. Anthony put in another excellent performance, but it was David Goosen, from Tintswalo Out of Africa Yamaha, who took 1st place in Heat 2.
Anthony took the overall first prize, with David in second and Kerim Fitz-Gerald, from Red Bull KTM, third. A solid performance for him, but not what he would have wanted on a home track.
It was a record entry day for Dirt Bronco and the number of spectators overwhelmed the committee who had put the race day together.
“The last time we saw so many people was 25 years ago at the National Motorcross event,” said John Errington, senior developer at Dirt Bronco.
The riders aged from about four years old all the way up to the grand veteran of South African motocross, Johnny Nell, who is still actively competing at the age of 67.
Round 5 of the championship will take place in Maritzburg, KZN on 22 July.
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