Local rider off to motocross Junior World Championships in Finland
He knows that there is a steep, steep mountain to climb, with nearly 80 of the world's top riders having entered, and only 40 getting to participate in the final.
As one grows in any endeavour, the challenges you tackle become more and more ambitious.
At only 12 years of age, Christian Berrington-Smith is not one to shrink away from expanding his boundaries.
He boarded a plane in the evening of Monday, August 15 to face his biggest challenge yet – the Motocross Junior World Championships in Vantaa, Finland.
The Grade 5 Agape Christian School learner qualified for the event by dint of being in the top five in the South African national championship standings when the selection was made, and since then it’s been a headlong rush to prepare for this event against the best 85cc riders in the world.
Leaving nothing to chance, Christian’s minders worked out a rigorous preparation schedule, which included unremitting training, and a preparatory trip to Europe during the last two weeks of July to train and to participate in a few races on European soil.
The different conditions and the pace of the riders in the very hub of motocross were certainly eye-openers, but such is the stuff of progress.
Christian had a very scary crash during training at Emmen, one that seemed to shift the earth a few degrees off its rotational axis, but in true never-say-die fashion, he lined up for a race at Hellendoorn the very next day, and although battered and bruised, gained a whole new following of European fans with his plucky ride.
You can view the crash and the next day’s appearance at the start gate here: https://protect-za.mimecast.com/s/RUx9CvgJz0hLN5XpcQ7oO4?domain=vanganiracing.hosted.phplist.com.
One of the main purposes of the trip was to participate in the Living for the Weekend international race event at Nederweert, Netherlands. Several European Championship top-10 riders were in attendance, and Christian had a perfect opportunity of experiencing the level of international racing first-hand.
He posted the seventh fastest time during time practice, and finished a strong fifth in the qualifying race.
He was riding out of his proverbial skin during the final, lying fourth for two-thirds of the race, until the tricky sandy conditions caught him out and he crashed, eventually finishing sixth.
Christian and his friends had the opportunity to attend the motocross Grand Prix at Lommel in Belgium where they walked around in wide-eyed wonderment at the size and spectacle of it all. They had the opportunity to mingle with top riders present and past, including current MXGP world champion Tim Gajser, and former greats Stefan Everts and Joel Smets.
With all the focus on the upcoming trip, Christian will participate in an Estonian Championship race next weekend and round off his training under the experienced tutelage of GP great Tanel Leok before going to Finland for the biggie.
Christian and his team would like to extend a sincere word of thanks to all sponsors, supporters and well-wishers who have made everything possible.
