KTM STEALS THE SHOW AT ROUND 1 OF THE MSA NATIONAL MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP.
Saturday 8 February saw the South African National Motocross Championship get underway just outside Johannesburg at Terratopia Motocross Park. 115 riders lined up on the starting gates during the day showing how healthy MSA motocross is.
KTM riders filled the podiums in all the heats with the Austrian manufacturer gaining a total of seven overall victories from the total of nine on offer. This fact bode well for registered riders of the KTM Pro Race Orange contingency who will all walk away with some great vouchers and prize money in the senior classes.
The 50 juniors was a small class so was combined with the 50 pro class which saw Nate McLellan taking the overall win due to his consistent 2 for 2 performance. Nate was followed by Blake Young and Daaiyaan Manuel in second and third respectively, all on KTMs.
The 65cc class was one of the biggest on the day and probably one of the most exciting too. Camden McLellan was fast but couldn’t keep Jonathan Mlimi at bay and had to settle for second overall behind the effervescent brother to Joshua Mlimi. Third place home was another second generation motocrosser in the form of Ethan Segal, again a KTM whitewash on the podium.
The 85cc junior class was a smaller field but the action was by no means any less entertaining. Dalton Venter took the overall spoils followed by Cameron Durow who each shared a heat win. Cayle Dormehl brought it home in third overall, all three on KTMs.
The pro-mini class saw another KTM pilot on the top step in the form of Marco DeVrye who won both heats. Dalton Venter showed his talent by bringing his KTM 85 home in third for both heats securing the last step on the podium.
The ever popular 125 High School class was one of the biggest on the day. Nicholas Adams took both wins in convincing fashion taking the overall for the day with the next KTM rider, Joshua Mlimi in fourth overall after a third and fourth in the heat races.
The MX2 race was a BIG class with over 22 riders lining up at the gate and one third of them orange bikes. Team Fuchs KTM’s Kerim Fitzgerald had a great day in the saddle taking a heat win and a second in heat two behind the blisteringly fast Bradley Fenton also on a KTM. Unfortunately Fenton scored a zero in heat one hurting his overall result but proved that he is a man to watch in 2014. Ross Branch, now a full time Brother KTM pilot brought the 111 machine home in third overall for the day showing that his off season preparation had paid off with fast consistent lap times.
The MX3 class saw Greg Aspinal ride well for his new KTM team and he clinched second in the Masters class, masking his title intentions known for this year.
The MX1 class was stacked with talent and Kerim Fitzgerald had a mixed day taking a win in heat one and a fourth in heat two securing him second overall for the day. Ross Branch closed the day off with a fifth overall in the premier class.
The next round of National Championship by MSA will be held on the 5th of April in KZN.
