Motocross rider wins the championship
SA's MX High School division championship was won by Luke Grundy during the final round of the South African National Motocross Championships and this has made him all the more determined to obtain more awards.
AMANZIMTOTI’s Luke Grundy (15) was crowned SA’s MX High School division champion during the final round of the South African National Motocross Championships, held in Pretoria.
Luke went into the national series event at Chestnut Hill Motocross Park already 33 points ahead in the championship standings. He came first in Race 1 and second in Race 2, securing an overall first place out of 25 competitors, aged between 15 and 18.
“I had already won the championship after Race 1. It had been raining a lot, and the track was muddy, but all went according to plan, and I secured the title,” said Luke.
He has been riding since 2014 and got signed with Redbull KTM South Africa this year. He has taken part in many national events, however, this is the first one he has won. For the race, he was afforded the opportunity to ride KTM’s new 125cc 2023 model. In August, he was also chosen to represent SA in the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship, in Finland.
The SA champion’s day included trophies, medals and big celebrations. “We, as a family, are so proud of him. He has put in a lot of hard work and dedication by going to the gym, doing motocross training and juggling schoolwork,” said his mother, Moira Grundy.
ALSO READ: World Junior Motocross event due in August 2022
Now that he is champion, and will race with bike number one and not his usual 450, he will need to work hard to defend his title.
“I still can’t believe I won the championship – it feels amazing. I think I’ll only feel real once we are on the track again. My biggest challenge next year will be everyone biting at my heels, trying to get that first-place spot,” said Luke.
Leading up to the event, he trained on his bike once a week and went to Infinity Fitness gym twice a week to ensure his fitness levels were where they needed to be for the high-endurance sport.
The athlete added that he is planning on going overseas more often, to open more doors in his motocross journey and to be on the same competitive level as those riders in preparation for the world championship. “They race on a completely different level, but that’s where you want to be,” he said.
Luke thanked his team, coaches, sponsors, managers, mechanics, family, KTM South Africa and everyone else who has helped make his dream a reality.
He is currently on a break as competitive racing is done for the year. However, he will soon be back to training in preparation for the Junior Worlds set to take place in Romania, in July.
DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics. To receive news links via WhatsApp or Telegram, send an invite to 061 694 6047.
The South Coast Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – why not join us there?
Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom at 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)
