Photos by Action In Motion.
Last weekend, the rugged beauty of the Northern Drakensberg near Bergville played host to the 2025 Impi Hard Enduro that drew a huge crowd of riders all battling in Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Iron classes. The 2025 edition was the biggest Impi yet and has elevated IMPI to one of the biggest Enduro events in the world.
From Friday’s time trial, through two tough days, competitors pushed their skills. The terrain featured technical climbs, rocky riverbeds, deep gullies, and steep mountainsides, classic Drakensberg intensity. Riders and support crews camped on-site, braving cold mountain air to tackle over 20 hours of high-altitude racing across three days. The organizers also added spectator points and remote refueling zones near Cathedral Peak.
By Saturday evening, exhausted but exhilarated motorcyclists gathered at ATKV Drakensville for a grand prize-giving ceremony, live music, and well-earned celebrations.
Gold Class
#1 William Slater on his Beta completed the two-day saga in 10h 10m 15s, dominating the Gold class with epic endurance.
#32 KTM’s James Moore followed closely with a solid finish in 10h 10m 40s, showcasing consistent performance across all stages
#42, Husqvarna’s Travis Teasdale secured the third step with 10h 10m 43s, rounding out a top-tier podium.
Silver Class
#105A Chris Barnes led the Silver field with a two-day total of 9h 06m 43s, blending technical finesse with stamina to claim 1st place.
#187A Mpilo Ntuli finished second in 9h 20m 57s, cementing his reputation as a rising mountain enduro force.
#123A Christiaan Cilliers with a strong third with 9h 28m 00s, battling through tough terrain alongside fellow Silver riders.
Bronze Class
#597A Jordan King took the win in 7h 21m 05s, making a statement with the fastest Bronze-class time.
#702A Henno Meyer earned runner‑up in 7h 32m 41s, proving steadfast in the face of the Drakensberg’s hardest lines.
#700A Albie Geldenhuys completed the podium in 7h 35m 27s, showcasing resilience and grit.
Iron Class
#1158 Henri Lategan came through with a time of 4h 56m 18s and completed the Iron Class as the winner.
#1103 Jacques Potgieter stuck it out to finish in 5h 04m 09s as he secured 2nd place after a good run.
#1109 Jody Robertson’s time of 5h 05m 54s was enough to claim the 3rd step on the podium.
Ladies Results.
#115 Chay Blackman competing in the Silver Class finished 1st with a time of 15h 03m 34s.
#382B Georgie van Rooyen the young lady took on the Silver Class and took 2nd place in 15h 37m 19s.
#659B Charisse Piazza Musso in the Bronze Class made it over the line in 12h 39m 23s to take 3rd.
#382 Georgie van Rooyen is now the youngest ever female rider to finish the Silver Class in the IMPI Hard Enduro, she got a solid 2nd place in the Ladies Class and finished 154th against the boys in the Silver Class the 16 years old.
She has set her goals on conquering the Senqu and the Roof next.
The race conditions were classic Drakensberg: rocky, wet sections, icy morning temperatures, and unpredictable weather, a playground for any hardcore enduro rider.
Spectators cheered from vantage points along Cathedral Peak, while team crews handled mid-route refueling, ensuring that riders stayed fueled and functional
Bench racing was the order of the day each evening as riders recounted stories of bike-saving river crossings, line-finding across slippery rock slabs, and the raw joy of finishing under the looming Drakensberg peaks.
The Impi team will unveil route maps soon for 2026, potentially returning to earlier spring conditions. Improved logistics, even more remote spectator points, and expanded Iron-class support are all clues for growth.
The Impi Hard Enduro has cemented its reputation as one of South Africa’s premier challenging off-road motorcycle events. Epic landscapes, intense competition across four classes, passionate riders and the smell of Two Stroke in the mornings.
