Dust, Logs and Plenty of Drama
Words and photos by Deon vdl Photography.
The 2026 Endurocross SA Championship got underway at Misty Morn Cottage, where riders were greeted by a deceptively tricky circuit that quickly sorted out the field. Dusty conditions made visibility a challenge, while a mix of tyre obstacles, a mud pit, rock sections and strategically placed logs ensured there was no time to relax.
Although the layout didn’t look overly intimidating at first glance, riders soon discovered it was far more technical than expected. With each class tackling three heats, consistency proved just as important as outright speed, and small mistakes often came with a big penalty. By the end of the day, many competitors agreed the course was much tougher than it looked.
Pro
The Pro class delivered some of the closest racing of the day, with each of the three heats producing a different winner. It was anyone’s guess who would stand on the top step heading into the final race, making for an exciting finish to the opening round of the championship.
When the points were added up, Heinrich Aust had done just enough to edge out the competition and claim the overall victory. Justin Rom finished a close second, while Luke Walker completed the podium after a consistent day’s racing.
Overall Results
1st #202 Heinrich Aust
2nd #220 Justin Rom
3rd #17 Luke Walker
Amateur
The Amateur class produced some entertaining racing over the three heats. Thomas Spear showed impressive determination, overcoming a few tumbles during the day. His motocross background allowed him to make up ground quickly whenever he hit jumps, and that speed ultimately helped him secure the overall victory.
Ian Parsons relied on a different approach, using his technical riding ability to negotiate the tricky obstacles with consistency and keep the pressure on throughout the day. Thimothy Camp put together a solid performance to complete the podium.
Overall Results
1st #300 Thomas Spear
2nd #11 Ian Parsons
3rd #95 Thimothy Camp
Ladies
The Ladies class was a model of consistency throughout the day. Skyla Viljoen proved to be in a class of her own, winning all three heats to secure a commanding overall victory.
Wanda Mouw matched that consistency with three second-place finishes, claiming second overall, while Maddie Goudie rounded out the podium after finishing third in each of the day’s three heats.
Overall Results
1st #204 Skyla Viljoen
2nd #16 Wanda Mouw
3rd #13 Maddie Goudie
Juniors
Sharing the track with the Pro riders didn’t faze Wilco du Plooy, who rode brilliantly on his 85cc throughout the day to take the Junior class victory.
Overall Results
1st #J158 Wilco du Plooy
High School
 Alonzo Forster put in a confident performance across all three heats to claim the High School class victory. Holding his own on the technical layout was no easy task, making the result all the more impressive.
Overall Results
1st #295 Alonzo Forster
Special Awards:
Round 1 proved to be a good start to the Endurocross SA Championship, with close racing, technical obstacles and plenty of entertainment for riders and spectators alike. If the opening round is anything to go by, the rest of the season promises to deliver plenty more action.
Round 2 details are still to be announced.
You can look them up HERE.
