Sixteen-year-old motorcyclist Oratilwe Phiri, affectionately known as Ora, will take part in the Red Bull Rookies selection event in Spain on Wednesday, October 8.

Soon after, he will return home to compete in the final round of the South African 600cc Championship at Zwartkops Raceway on October 11, where he currently leads the standings.

Last year, Ora made headlines as the only South African to reach day two of the Red Bull Rookies selection. Although he did not compete further, he says the experience gave him belief in his ability.

“It felt good, and it was something I didn’t expect at all. It was an overall amazing experience,” he recalls.

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When asked what his aim is for this year’s selection, he says his goal is to compete in Red Bull Rookies next year.

To prepare, Ora trains through running, cycling, and gym work, while keeping his mindset positive.

“I’m going overseas with an open mind, not with any high expectations for where I finish. I just want to do my very best,” he explains. He also has his eyes on the Zwartkops title decider.

“I need to finish and not crash. Winning would mean a lot to me. It shows I have talent, along with hard work, to have won the championship in my first year.”

Behind the scenes, his family plays an important role. His father, Thabiso, says they make sacrifices to help him balance school and racing.

“We help by maintaining priorities. Ora gets fewer chores so he can focus on schoolwork, and we make sure his diet and fitness are managed,” Thabiso says.

With both boys racing, finances have been the biggest challenge for the family, and Thabiso explains that it does get tough, but they dig deep and work with sponsors.

Looking ahead, the family hopes to secure more support.

“We are always looking for sponsors in any way possible. Locally, we need transport sponsorship for races across South Africa. Internationally, we need a sponsor to get Ora into a team,” he explains.

For now, Ora’s attention is firmly set on Spain and Zwartkops, which are two competitions that could mark a breakthrough moment in his career as a young racer.

If you would like to find out more information about Ora’s journey and how you can be of more support, contact Thabiso via email at thabis.o@hotmail.com.