Brought to you by Henderson Racing Products. Pics by Action In Motion Photography
On Saturday 10 February, adrenaline junkies, off-road motorcycle and quad racing enthusiasts converged on Lekoa Lodge near the town of Villiers, to race the first round of the 2024 GXCC Racing Championship.
GXCC, short for Gauteng Xross Country Club, has long been a highlight on the calendar for motorsport fanatics and is known for its diverse tracks and family friendly racing environment. 255 participants geared up for battle, with riders and teams eager to test their bodies and machines. Lekoa Lodge, provided the perfect setting with its sprawling expanse of diverse landscapes, ranging from rocky hills to beautiful trails next to the Waterval River.
The event featured multiple categories, catering to riders of varying ages, skill levels and bike capacities. From the humble 50cc machines to the powerhouse 500cc beasts, each class promising its own unique brand of action. The track, laid out, set and marked by Route Director, Wian du Plessis, tested every aspect of the competitors’ riding ability.
The morning session of the race kicked off with the quad classes. Franco Pretorius claimed victory in the Q1 class, with Hennie Michau clinching the top position in the Q2 class. Kaili van Staden secured a well-deserved win in the QLadies class and the QMasters class saw Phillip Booyse taking the win. It was Sias Blignaut who crossed the finish line first in the QVeterans class.
After the quad classes left the start, it was time for the junior classes to show their skill on their own track. Rogan Mathews, made his debut in the 50cc class, clinching victory. In the 65cc class, Declan Richards stood on the top step of the podium. Eddie Gower was the first rider to see the chequered flag in the 65cc Rookie class and Ewan Fourie took the win in the Junior 85cc Rookie class. Liam Scheepers dominated the Junior 85cc class and Deruk van Aswegen emerged victorious in the Senior 85cc class.
In the afternoon session, it was time for the senior motorcycle competitors to show what they were made of. In the senior rookie classes, Stefan Labuschagne surged to the top of the podium in the OR1 Rookie Class and in the OR2 Rookie class, Nicolaas Smit secured a well-deserved win. Stefan de Klerk conquered the OR3 Rookie class. Finally, in the Senior Rookie category, it was Edwin Gower who outpaced his competition.
In the senior pro-am classes, Benru Strydom had a well-deserved victory in the OR1 Pro-Am class. Dieter de Wet claimed the top spot in the OR2 Pro-Am class and Keanu Visser came out on top in the OR3 Pro-Am class.
The senior pro classes saw some stiff competition amongst riders.
Zambia’s, Scott Heygate dominated the OR1 Pro class after coming back from injury last season and John Botha rose to victory in the OR2 Pro class. Ryan Pelser secured a well-deserved win in the OR3 Pro class and Drikus van der Merwe claimed the win in the OR4 category. Alecz Grobbelaar made his way to the top step of the podium in the High School class and Marco Cocci was the first rider to take the flag in the Seniors Pro class. Pieter Holl came out on top in the Masters class, while Geoff Den clinched the win in the Veterans class.
Shelly Tyler was the first lady in the Ladies class to cross the finish line.
For those taking their first steps in off-road racing, the Social Quad, Social Junior, and Social Senior Bike classes provided the perfect starting point for participants to learn and grow at their own pace. These classes will be available at GXCC Racing throughout the 2024 season.
Despite the intense competition in some classes, camaraderie, sportsmanship and mutual respect was noticeable amongst the riders. Whether lending a helping hand to a fallen competitor or sharing hard-fought victories, the sense of community amongst participants was undeniable.
As the sun set over Lekoa Lodge, winners celebrated victory while others’ true prize did not lie in podium finishes, but in the memories made with fellow riders, friends and family.
With the first round of GXCC Racing done and dusted, anticipation is high for the remaining events on the calendar, with round 2 taking place on 16 March 2024 at Rysmierbult.
