Riders brave the mountains in search of glory

March 21 and the fight for the national championship titles of the 2015 Totpak National Off-road Motorcycle and Quad Championships is on after new winners emerged at the Swazi Cowboyz 400, the second round of the national series that took place in the Mhlambanyatsi area. It was a tough race for competitors who had to work hard on the scenic, but challenging route that took them from the Usutu Forest Country Club through forests and mountains.

Two of the biggest and most competitive classes in this year’s national championship series, OR3 in the motorcycle category and Q1 in the quad category, were won by a Swanepoel – no relation at all – with Brett Swanepoel (Proudly Bidvest Yamaha) clinching his second OR3 victory of the season while Stefan ‘Swanie’ Swanepoel stormed to victory in Q1 to claim his first national win since his return to the series after a break of a few years.

In Q1, Stefan and the defending champion, Brian Baragwanath (Proudly Bidvest Yamaha) were in a race-long battle, but Baragwanath, who also had a few flat tyres, then experienced mechanical problems on the last of the six loops and had to settle for third place with André Park, who also posted the fastest time-trial result on his Yamaha, claiming the second place.
The race took its toll on the quad competitors and only one more rider – Jaco Moller (Extreme ATV Tzaneen Yamaha) – eventually made it to the finish in this class, albeit being towed in by his younger sister, Wilmari who was competing in the ladies class. In the end she went on to win the ladies quad class ahead of Karen Geldenhuys (Abacus Divisions Racing Can-Am) with another schoolgirl, Jade Schutte (Yamaha) completing 300 kilometres to round off the podium. The Can-Am of class leader, Liezel Barnard (Barnard Vervoer) broke down just after the halfway mark.

Only one senior class rider, Stuart Freeman (Yamaha) managed to finish the race despite a huge scare when he crashed down a steep hill. More riders finished the race in the master class (they had to complete 240 kilometres) where Tony dos Santos (Factory Racing Suzuki) took his first victory of the season.
There was also only one youngster who completed the 240 kilometre race in the high school class and Ryno Trichardt (Yamaha) claimed his first national victory ever. Local Swazi quad competitors ruled in the silver class challenge (300 kilometre race) where Gareth Emmett (KTM) claimed the victory.

In the motorcycle category, there was also an early season victory for Michael Pentecost (Kargo Racing Yamaha) who won the OR1 (Open) class. Brother Leader Tread KTM team-mates, Louwrens Mahoney and Ross Branch, both recovered from crashing during time-trial and finished close on Pentecost’s heels in second and third place respectively.
There was also a first victory for Nicholas Pienaar (Ridgeway Racing Husqvarna). He won the OR2 class.

The senior class podium looked the same as at the first national event with the defending champion, Bollie van Rooyen (Brother Leader Tread KTM) finishing on the top step, followed by Wayne Farmer (Roost KTM/EC Security) and Kobus Jonck (Bert Smith All Stars Racing Powered by RAD KTM).

The master class (300 kilometres) was won by the suspension specialist, Hilton Hayward (Proudly Bidvest Yamaha) who has not competed in a national off-road event in many years.
Brendan Fourie (Kawasaki) was ecstatic about his first victory in the high school class championship (240 kilometres). Defending champion, Eduan Bester (KTM Centurion Liqui Moly Racing) finished second.

The silver class challenge was packed with riders from Swaziland wanting to compete in their own country. Michael Irwin (KTM) claimed the country’s best result by finishing just off the podium. Darren Pienaar (Ridgeway Racing KTM) won this class though.
Taye Perry (Barnard Vervoer) took her first victory of the season by winning the ladies class with Botswana youngster, Natasha Rugani (Yamaha) finishing her debut national off-road event in second place. The third round of the 2015 Totpak National Off-road Championship will take place on April 25 in the Mooi River area in KwaZulu-Natal.