Megan Els wins 2014 Cross Country Championship

MEGAN Els, born and bred in Vryheid, has achieved overall 1st place in the 2014 KZN Regional Ladies X-Country Motorcycle Championship. Her results during the year in the KZN X-Country series 2014 were as follows:

Jolivet on 26.01.14 – 3rd place; Lionsriver Bikefari on 30.03.14 – 3rd place; Vryheid Bell 400 on 10.05.14 – 1st place; Roseleigh Rumble on 08.06.14 – 1st place; Hluku X Country on 31.08.14 – 1st place; Umlaas Road on 05.10.14 – 1st place; Bridgeford Bash on 09.11.14 – 3rd place (bike difficulties).

Megan, now based in Pietermaritzburg, worked in Vryheid for two years at Vryheid Petroleum, and then got transferred to head office in Pietermaritzburg in 2006. In 2012 the need for speed set in and she really wanted to get anything with two wheels. She says that her father said that she was not allowed an on-road bike, “so I had to settle for an off-road.”

“First up was a Honda 230. I used it to ride around on the forest roads. Mid 2013 I got spotted by one of the top rides in KZN (Ryan Wagener) who was willing to spend some time training me on the basics. I also spent some time with Kirsten Landman (ladies Red Bull athlete) as well as Travis Teasdale (TT) at a ShredBettys ladies training day. The decision was made that I would ride the KZN X-Country series and see how I go. Fastest way to learn is to race!

“Ian Cockbain (Director of Vryheid Petroleum/Hazclean Environmental) and FOX South Africa was so kind as to sponsor me for the 2014 racing season. I moved onto a HONDA 250x.

“At my first race, as I came over the finish line and ploughed into the ground from exhaustion, all my energy depleted, I realised that you need a lot more than two wheels to be competitive in this sport. You need to prepare mentally, train at every opportunity you get, and the support of your friends and family is really important.

“Your first priority is to stay on top of the bike, not underneath or next to it, it becomes your mission after picking your bike up for the 10th time. For ladies this challenge is much harder. There are so many secrets to this sport! We have to train a lot harder than the men! Especially if you haven’t grown up riding. It takes hours of dedication.”

Megan congratulated all her competitors on completing the 2014 racing season, and thanked Vryheid Petroleum / Hazclean Environmental and Fox South Africa for their generosity and for believing in her. “I could not have completed the season without your help. I am excited to have you aboard for my 2015 season!”

Megan ended by saying, “If there are any ladies wanting to get into the sport and needs some advice or would like some tips, I am more than happy to give back the time that was spent on me to get me where I am today! Pop me a message megan@vrypet.co.za MSA has one-day licences available so it is perfect if you want to try out a few races.”