Pics By Action in Motion
Saturday 20 April 2024 was a day filled with heart-pounding excitement as offroad quad and motorcycle racers descended upon Bapsfontein to battle it out against each other on the track at Round 3 of the 2024 Gauteng Xross Country Club (GXCC) Championship.
The Bapsfontein landscape offered riders a faster track that tested the fitness and endurance of both rider and machine.
The first session of the day started out with the quad classes. Franco Pretorius from the All Out Quads racing team took his second victory of the season in the Q1 class, with Hannes Saaijman from the Q-Kon EMD team taking the win in the Q2 class and Barnard Vervoer’s Liezel Barnard taking the top step of the podium in the QLadies class. Phillip Booyse took yet another win in the QMasters class and Banie Barnard from Barnard Vervoer claimed victory in the QVeterans class.
After the quads, it was time for the junior classes. Rogan Matthews walked away with the win in the 50cc class and Derik Malan was the man on the top step of the podium in the 65cc class. The 65cc Rookie class victory was taken by Eddie Gower and the Jnr 85cc class was won by Team Gravity’s Heinrich Janse van Rensburg. Liam Scheepers (aka Mulletman), who the previous weekend became the youngest competitor to take a win in the 85cc class at the SA National Cross Country Championship, once again claimed victory in the Jnr 85cc class. Deruk van Aswegen secured a win in the Snr 85cc class.
The afternoon session saw some big guns lining up for battle in the senior bike category. In the OR1 Pro class it was a tight battle between Brother Leader Tread KTM’s Scott Heygate and Mike Pentecost from the UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda team, with the victory going to Pentecost. John Botha took his third season win in the OR2 Pro class. Derek Karam out of the Motos Klerksdorp squad surged to the top in the OR3 Pro class and Drikus van der Merwe from the Hatfield VW Mastercars Pretoria team took first place in the OR4 class.
UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda’s Seth Young came out victorious in the High School class and his teammate, Louwrens Mahoney, was the first to take the checkered flag in the Senior class. The Masters class had Pieter Höll from the Pepson Plastics Kawasaki team on the top step of the podium. Martin Poole from the Shimwells Yamaha squad took a well-deserved win in the Veterans class. The honours in the Ladies class went to Bianca Edwards from the Biker’s Warehouse team.
In the pro-am classes Katlego Mogwasa from the JORD team made a comeback to cross country racing and claimed victory in the OR1 Pro-Am class, while Dieter de Wet from the Q-Kon EMD team placed first in the OR2 Pro-Am class. The OR3 Pro-Am win went to Cameron Fairall, who was also the lucky draw winner of the Tork Craft give-away. “Big” Chris Harmse from the Hatfield VW Mastercars Pretoria team claimed his first class victory in the Senior Pro-Am class.
The rookie class wins went to Hatfield VW Pretoria Mastercars’ Stefan Labuschagne in the OR1 Rookie class and to Stefan de Klerk in the OR3 Rookie class.
GXCC Round 3 was a battle of the beasts and once again delivered an unforgettable display of the finest cross country quad and motorcycle racer’s that South Africa has to offer. As the sun and dust settled over Bapsfontein and race engines fell silent, all eyes were already eagerly looking forward to the next instalment of GXCC, which will take place on Saturday 8 June 2024 in Radium close to Bela-Bela.
GXCC Podiums all round for Pepson Plastics Kawasaki.
Pepson Plastics Kawasaki Factory Racing with Michelin, Motul, Bikewise and Scottish Cables enjoyed another positive outing in the third round 2024 GXCC Gauteng Cross Country Motorcycle championship race at Bapsfontein on Saturday. D’artagnan Lobjoit came home fourth overall and in Open Class OR1 Pro, Pieter Holl won another Masters race, Wian Wentzel, second in OR3 and seventh overall backed by Ryan Angilley and Cameron Becker. Geoff Den also ended second in Veterans and Jake Pretorius second in OR4, and Jake Pretorius sixth in OR3 Pro Am.
“We had a pretty good run at Bapsfontein,” Pepson Plastics Kawasaki team principal Ian Pepper confirmed. “The guys added to their great start to the season, and we were a little luckier today. Well done to Pieter on yet another Masters victory, to Dart for a fine fifth overall and third Open bike home, our silver medal riders Wian, Geoff and Jake, Cameron and the rest. Lady luck was however not fully with us today, Jaycee Nienaber suffered a brake failure while running a strong third overall, but that’s racing!”
Pieter Holl remains unbeaten in Masters so far in 2024. “I had a great start and the track was fast but dusty, which made it difficult to ride fast and safe,” Pieter reports. “Warrick van Schalkwyk crept up on me and got past in the second lap, but the highlight of my race was catching and passing him again. My team was right on point and I’m sure that my refuelling must have been quicker than a Formula 1 stop! Thanks so much to Iain and the boys, it’s just great being part of this team.”
“Today was a blast aboard my Pepson Plastics Kawasaki KX 450 XC,” D’artagnan Lobjoit admitted. “It was also good to be back on top of it after being forced out by an injury last time out, but the bike was quick and agile and despite the dust, it was a great day in the saddle. I have to thank Iain and the entire Pepson Plastics team for all the effort and support, but I’m getting my eye back in now, so I am really looking forward to the next races!
“The lads did us proud out there again today,” Iain Pepper concluded. “Well done to our whole team, that was another great showing!” Pepson Plastics Kawasaki Factory Racing with Michelin, Motul, Bikewise and Scottish Cables returns to GXCC Cross Country Racing following a short early season pause with a midwinter race on Saturday 8 June.
“This was probably the dustiest race I have ever done,” Wian Wentzel explained. “To make it worse, I had a mediocre start, but made a few important passes early on to put myself in a good position. It was a very smooth day from there, limiting the mistakes and ultimately fighting for the win aboard my little KX 250 X rocketship. The dust just made it difficult to pass safely, so I am very happy to finally put the pieces together and finish strong. And of course, a huge word of thanks to my great Pepson Plastics Kawasaki team!
Pepson Plastics Kawasaki races with Michelin tyres, Motul lubricants, Scottish Cables, Bikewise accessories and Arai helmets.
Pentecost wins overall, Mahoney Masters the mielies
UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda Wing Racing with Tork Craft and Dunlop Tyres delivered a great performance in the third round 2024 Gauteng GXCC Gauteng Cross Country Motorcycle Championship. Mike Pentecost rode home to his second, dominant GXCC overall win on the trot, Seniors superstar Louwrens Mahoney took yet another over-30s win, and the High School kids delivered another magnificent team 1-2-3.
“I could get used to this,” UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda Wing Racing team boss Harry Grobler beamed. “Mike Pentecost won again, Louwrens Mahoney won yet another Senior race, I think it’s his sixth or seventh win on the trot, and Seth Young, Nathan Westerdale, Murray Smith did another High School GXCC 1-2-3.
“Hats off also to our youngest and oldest riders, Ruald Potgieter was second in 85cc Seniors and Warrick Van Schalkwyk second in Masters. Erik Merry was sixth and Tyron Beverley eighth in OR3. Well done to our riders and our entire team. UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda Wing Racing was only formed last year and we have quickly become a major SA Cross Country force. I am truly proud of all of you, and what we are achieving.”
“My Honda CRF 450 RX was on fire today and my magnificent team was right on point as always with perfect preparation and spectacular pit work!” a delighted Mike Pentecost beamed. “Thanks so much to Harry and the guys, you are the best and I am so proud to have you all in my corner.”
“Bapsfontein was brilliant,” Louwrens Mahoney confirmed. “We have now won seven races on the trot between Nationals and Regionals. “
“I had a brilliant day today,” Warrick van Schalkwyk confirmed. “It was a fast race and I caught Pieter Holl for the lead, but he fought back and I had to make do with second in Masters . Best of all was my pace is coming up and Oom Warrick is ready to rumble, so the rest of the year should be a great fight. Can’t wait for the next one!”
It’s back to National action next at the third round of the Vryheid third round Trademore South African Cross Country Championship in the dry Northwest on Saturday 25 May.
