Junior Sapa Yopa riders celebrate 4th birthday

POLOKWANE – Sapa Yopa Motorcycle Club president, Sarel Nong, tells Review Bonus a bit more about the junior club.

Nong says he was called to the scene of an accident a few years ago, where he came across a young learner who was involved in an accident because he did not have proper safety training with riding a bike.

“This gave me the idea to get involved with learners and start a Sapa Yopa junior development programme, where youngsters can be taught the needed skills to save their own lives in the event of an accident, and how to avoid being in accidents all together,” he explains.

He says as a bike is exciting to ride, and in most cases, the first vehicle a young boy or girl will own, it is important to equip them with the right skills to be safe and responsible bikers.

The development team serves as a training ground for the future riders.

We urge members of Sapa Yopa to guide, train, and mentor these youths to become the leaders who will take the club forward.

He says most of the younger riders ride 125cc motorcycles, but that there have been several who have upgraded in both their skills and riding ability, now riding up to 600cc motorcycles.

The Sapa Yopa development team currently has 23 members, of which 20 are full time riders, all between the ages of 16 and 21.

The youth group takes part in some smaller rallies and have their own functions.

Nong says young people who would like to join the group just need to have their own bike and a valid motorbike licence. He adds that there is no joining fee as most of the bikers in the group are still in school.

All those who wish to join the junior club can contact Nyiko Baloyi at 072 763 4221.

“We need to look after the younger generation to make sure they are safe on the roads. We are their ‘biker parents’ and we need to pass on our knowledge to them to ensure the biking community carries on into the next generation, and that they are safe wherever they go,” Nong says.

riana@nmgroup.co.za