The underground soldiers of South African freestyle motocross
According to Google, the Definition of “Guerrilla “is “a member of a small independent group, taking part in irregular fighting, typically against larger regular forces. “If you modified that quote very slightly to “a member of a small independent group, taking part in a very irregular sport, typically against the advice of the doctors and bank managers” then you would have almost perfectly described the men we are featuring here.
South Africa has a rich tradition of Motocross. Our world champions are household names in every home that has a dirt bike in the garage. The relatively young sport of freestyle motocross has been adopted by a small core group of riders and we can be proud as South Africans of our boy’s success on the largest stages in the world. Nick De Wit and Alaister Sayer have both competed at the very highest level. With Sayer once holding the world record for step-up and more recently Dallan Goldman has found his feet in the USA and is throwing down with the best in the world.
Closer to home though, there is a unique group of men, who have dedicated their lives and often times sacrificed their health to the sport. Who outside of the mainstream televised overseas events are able to earn a living from there dirt bikes (or supplement their living anyway). True to the original spirit of the freestyle motocross movement of the early 90’s, they don’t dislike racing their bikes. But prefer to use them as a medium of expression and creativity. Choosing adventure and providing entertainment over the militant training and discipline needed to find success in the racing world.
Doug Willis:
Age: 34
Hometown: Sunnyridge, Germiston, Johannesburg
Current Bike: 2014 Kawasaki KX250F
D&T: Hey Doug, Every Freestyle Kid who grew up in the 90’s seems to have a Moto VHS tape that lit a fire in his belly and made him think long and hard about hitting steel. What tape was that for you and can you remember what happened the first time you hit a steel jump.
Doug: It was Crusty Demons of Dirt 4, when it came out. Not sure when that was maybe ‘94 or ’95. First time I hit steel was around 2005 on my YZ80. It was a 13-meter gap and it went pretty well. I legitimately thought I was gonna hit the jump and come back down on it backwards because it was so steep. Hahaha.
D&T: When did you really start taking freestyle seriously, and can you briefly summarise your riding career. Any interesting places your dirt bike has taken you?
Doug: I wouldn’t say I ever really took FMX seriously as I only ever did it for myself and for the fun of it. But I did start pushing harder towards the end of 2013 when we started up the development series in 2014. The Main focus of my career has been really to have fun with my brother and friends. But my Dirt bike skills have taken me to an FMX show in Zambia, for their big agricultural show, which was really cool, it was hosted by Darryl Burmeister of sevensevensports in 2018. I have also done two music video parts and other than that I’ve just been maintaining consistency, riding almost every weekend at our local FMX park in the grounds of Erora Motocross track.
D&T: Who and/or what has been your biggest influence on your riding and how you approach freestyle??
Doug: the biggest influence on my riding…mmmmmm. I watched Crusty Demons of dirt when I was really young. Maybe 8 or 9 years old and my jaw just dropped. I knew that is what I wanted to do one day. I approach Freestyle with a chilled outlook. I’ve never taken it too seriously as I knew that in SA it would be almost impossible to make a career out of it, and needed to keep my body in good enough condition for my actual job of running my Battery equaliser business, servicing lead acid and gel batteries. which weigh a whole lot. So FMX has had to be a hobby which I occasionally make a couple bucks out of. which has definitely been nice.
D&T: What has been the Highlight of your career so far.
Doug: the show in Zambia, I Rode with my brother Scott, 3 days, 2 shows a day and our sister was living in Zambia at the time so we got to spend time with her.
D&T: This one is for you. Any shout outs to people who have helped you along the way and been there for you on your journey??
Doug: A huge shoutout to my wife Kelsi Willis, for being my biggest supporter and always looking after me when I’m Injured.
My old friend Wesley Shaw for always picking my brother and I up and taking us to the FMX parks around Gauteng, and always being a Positive Motivation and influence…..well most of the time anyway hahahaha. And my arms for always being by my side and the pavement for keeping me off the streets. Hahaha.
Craig Emmerick:
Age: 44
Hometown: The Vale 1610
Current Bike: Kawasaki KX 450F
Sponsors: Racecrib
When the young guns of a subculture as “out-there” as the freestyle motocross scene refer to someone as “The General”. It’s an indication of the respect that man has earned from always showing up, fearless and motivated. Craig Emmerick is The Elder Statesman of South African FMX. A Dirt bike Hellman, with the quiet authority of hard-won experience.
D&T: Hi Craig, can you give us a brief rundown on how your journey with Dirt bikes began. Especially with the freestyle, was there a Video that lit a fire in your belly and made you think about chasing steel.
Craig: Hey Man, it all started back in ’83. I rode my cousins Italjet and couldn’t get enough. In ’84 I got a Honda QR50 for my birthday and got my first racing license. We Raced all the classic SA tracks, Corrobrick, Syringa Spa, back of the moon to name a few. 3 years later I got a YZ80 and continued racing until I was 14. due to a lack of funds, I had to take a ten-year hiatus and when I was 25, I bought myself a 250 2stroke and started sending again.
When I was in Grade 11, a friend brought a VHS copy of the first ‘Crusty Demons of Dirt’ to school. This was 1995 and hadn’t seen anything like it before. my mind was blown to say the least and I was immediately in love. The First Ramp I hit was a long time after that in Slu-Doggs old park in Putfontein. It went pretty well. I got back to an 18-meter gap that day.
D&T: When did you start taking Freestyle seriously and what are some highlights or interesting places your Dirt bike has taken you?
Craig: when MOD (Masters of dirt) came to South Africa in 2008, I was in the crowd and so badly wanted to be part of the event. It was a few years after that, that things came together and I manned up and hit a steel ramp. When X-Fighters came here in 2014, I was part of a local amateur comp series, that year was really good for my personal progression and by 2016 I had been offered a job on a circus that was touring SA at the time, where we travelled the country, jumping this sketchy set up daily. I also went to Malawi that year with Unruly Behaviour, Alastair Sayers company for my first show outside the country. People were climbing trees to see the show, there must have been 30 000 people there easily. It was insane. In 2017 we travelled to Seoul, South Korea with that same circus. Unfortunately, I broke my wrist over there and missed the New Zealand stop. In 2018, I went over to Guangzhou China for a stunt show and stayed there for a few years. It was an amazing experience. But covid happened and everything has come to a standstill. Things have only started happening in 2022 again, a few local shows with the Gents from Jungle rush FMX, and I went over to Egypt for a show with Unruly Behaviour. Hoping that 2023 will be fully booked.
D&T: Who and/or what has been your biggest influence on your riding and how you approach freestyle
Craig: I would have to say Alastair Sayer. The guy is a total badass on and off the bike. I’ve jumped a lot of gaps over the years because of him. To me he is the epitome of early 2000’s freestyle when FMX was punk rock and dirrrrrty.
What has been the highlight of your career so far, or any particularly treasured memories?
Craig: The highlights for me has to be just the incredible places dirt bikes have taken me. Jumping dunes in the Sahara with Pyramids in the background, making fat cash jumping bikes in China and travelling Asia. I remember in that show in Malawi, I came up short on my first jump, decked the landing and got bucked over the bars, it was a big crash and I was wrecked pretty good, but everything was still working. When I stood up, the 30 000 strong crowd went nuts, cheering and just screaming. It was a mind-blowing moment to say the least. I managed to straighten the bike up quick and finish the show. A little more recently I managed to ride my first monster energy Flight night with Alastair Sayer, Jaques Human and Dallan Goldman and that was an awesome experience.
D&T: This one is for you, any shoutouts to people who have helped you along the way or been there for you on your journey??
Craig: First shoutout has to be to my beautiful daughters Erin, Kayla and Noa. They have seen me in ICU’s, badly broken, more times than any kid should but they have never asked me to stop riding.
I have to thank my girlfriend Vee Chandler for her endless support, she believes in me even when I don’t believe in myself. She Believes I can do things even when I’m doubting myself hard.
Racecrib, my only sponsor, thanks for the support. All my friends and family that have been there for me when I’ve been down and broken. Much love to you all.
Facing and Overcoming fear on a daily basis is a crazy trip….everyone should do it.
Tyron Cameron aka TC123
Age: 35
Hometown: Benoni
Current Bike: My Dream bike is a TM 250 two stroke. I’m Currently on a 2013 KX 450F
Sponsors: Moto Kustoms, Game Services, Rhino Racing Kit. I wouldn’t be Riding at all if it wasn’t for my dad, Don Cameron. He’s definitely been the biggest support of my career.
Tyron Cameron is the Ultimate Dirt Bike Nomad. Home is wherever he lays his head, preferably far away from the smoke and lights of any big city. Blessed with a rare natural talent for riding a dirt bike. TC123 is name familiar to the biggest names in Motocross in SA. He is a unique animal, that can share a motocross track with SA’s best one day, get paid to perform on a dirt bike at a bike rally the next day and then disappear to an unknown surf spot straight after that. A man who really tries to squeeze every drop of life out of every single day.
D&T: Hi Tyron. All the 90’s dirt bike kids that ride freestyle seem to have a worn-out VHS tape tucked away somewhere that lit a fire in their belly and kickstarted the desire to start riding freestlye. Which tapes lit your fire?
TC123: Oh Man, a family friend lent me his copies of Crusty Demons of Dirt 2 & 3 and that was it, I must have watched them both 10 000 times. The Tape that really motivated me was Nate Adams “full circle” something about that documentary spoke to me and told me that maybe I can do this.
D&T: When did you really start taking freestyle seriously and can you give us a brief summary of your career with dirt bikes.
TC123: I’ve never really taken it seriously until recently. It’s been a very touchy subject in our family ( not a popular career choice) so I have always tried to ride for fun and unfortunately , my mind blocked out the FMX career option , by going back to a normal job on Monday mornings.
It all started way back when my dad bought me a 1997 CR 125, and Karl Chelius hooked me up with the Crusty Demons of Dirt VHS tapes. A few outrides to ERORA MX track in Kempton was a vital turning point. I met Xaviar Arnold there and his venue gave my dad and his mates a place to do outrides while I could chase motocross and freestyle. Erora became our home and motocross, jumping and crashing became my first love.
ERORA was also where I first bumped into Ryan Ronacher and his No Fear / Suzuki Team mate Pritchard Shongwe. They were on Brand new RM 250’s that were all cut up and prepped for freestyle and that was the first time I came into contact with fulltime FMX riders.
My Dads riding slowed down and I started to spread my wings. With my dad’s support I kept riding. A lot more at the old school Kempton track. this is where my Skills really had to level up. I was in the deep end with guys like Sasha Naude, Kerrim and Darryl Fitzgerald, The Kokstar Mike Kok, Freddie Fourie, Mathew Dean, Carl Van Niekerk, Craig Vensky and so many more.
One Saturday, at the old Kempton track a crew of FMX riders pulled in to ride Werner van der Merwe’s Park. It was the first time I saw a proper FMX Jam session. Werner, Mark Ramsay and a few other cats were throwing down and Werner pulled the first backflip I had ever seen live. My mind was blown. That same night I bumped into Werner in a pub and with a little “ Dutch courage” I approached him and begged him to teach me to hit steel.
My “career” as a paid rider started in 2019 , when my man, Michael Maverick Wessels, kept bugging me about some crazy pie in the sky, stunt show job. I had already given up on ever getting paid to ride many years before all this, but Mike kept convincing me that I could get this job and my dream came true. I moved to China, started working on a stunt show and was getting paid to ride. China really changed my life. I was able to start saving a little and I learnt so much from riding every day. I also believed in myself and my abilities for the first time
D&T: Who has been the biggest influence on your riding and how you approach freestyle??
TC123: I was introduced to jumping steel by “The Flying Dutchman” Werner Van Der Merwe. If it was not for his help, I doubt I would have hit a steel jump at all. He really went out of his way to bring people into this sport. I really do owe it all to him. Thanks again Werner.
Thru my friendship with Werner, I was introduced into to more of the late 90’s early 200’s FMX community, and was taken onboard by next major influences, The old Uproar FMX crew of Hein “Wiets” Fick, Ryan Ronacher and Alastair Sayer. These guys, Especially Hein really pushed me to get to the next step of jumping the 21m gap consistently.
D&T: What are some highlights of your career or any interesting stories from your time chasing steel??
TC123: Moving to China and riding 6 days a week for two and a half years has definitely Been the Highlight of my journey so far. I got loads of saddle time and I learnt so much. Definitely the best “Job” I have ever had. I felt like I had won the lotto , I had to pinch myself all the time to make sure this was really happening and I wasn’t dreaming. The bikes, stages and just the scale of it all was amazing.
Ah yeah, also, I remember, in the super early days. Turning up to “Sick” Nick De Witt’s Park in Muldersdrift with the old Uproar FMX Crew. I was on a TM 125 and it was my first ever Competition on a 21 meter Gap. I had only ever jumped an 18-meter gap before this, which was second gear pinned on that 125. Hein Fick would not let me back down from attempting the 21-meter gap. He lectured me so hard that morning. So I eventually sacked up and went for it , 3rd gear hard and I over cooked it badly. I was just way too anxious, I went so far long that I landed on flat ground and snapped by my foot pegs off. The boys peeled me off the ground and Arthur Driver made a plan to weld my foot pegs back on. With a little encouragement from the boys, I got back on the bike and went for it again. Managed to get the timing right on the jump and rode the rest of the comp. getting second behind Timmy Boshoff (chucky). That day Hein Fick taught me where to go in my mind and learn to commit myself to this huge mental challenge.
D&T: This one is for you. Any shoutouts to people who have helped you along the way and been there for you on your Journey.
Its impossible to thank everyone because this journey has Involved so many people. But I’ll try.
My Parents Don and Mandy Cameron. They have always been there for me.
My Wife and riding partner, Ashleigh Cameron.
My Brother Liam and his awesome wife Gillian
My Moto brothers. Slu-Dogg, The General, Doug Willis, Ferdy Duplessis, Jarryd Dude Van Vuuren, Jason Hannan, Armand Gerber, Jon McKay, James Lottering and Michael Maverick Wessels.
Karl Chelius, Fabian Todd and Gary Ferreria for getting my dad involved in dirt bikes.
Lastly my hero’s that have stayed true to the core even after all these years.
Ken Sommerville and everyone at Game services, Alastair Sayer, Jason Moriarty, Dallan Goldman, Lyle Goldman, Brendan Potter, Tristan Purdon. Eury Mlimi and his Boys and Glen Foley. Thank you, Gents.
Leuwellyan Janse Van Rensburg
Age: 35
Hometown: Benoni
Current Bike: 2012 Kawasaki KX450
Last but certainly not least on our list is a man who embodies the spirit of the early 90’s pioneers of freestyle motocross. One of the Freestyle Motocross world’s most loyal soldiers. With The energy of 10 men who have all smashed a case of redbull. A man who lives and breathes dirt bikes, he is a keystone of The South African freestyle motocross scene. If you look at his ID, it says “ Leuwellyan Janse Van Rensburg” but if you are within a 20KM radius of a Motocross track or freestyle park you are going to have to ask for Slu-Dogg.
D&T: We were not able to sit down and chat with Slu, but he wrote to us and this is his story.
Everything started for me when, close friend from Standard 6 in high school Ryno Meyer, let me take his KX250 for a ride and that was it, game over, I had to get a bike. I wanted an RM125, but my father being the sponsor decided to get me a 250 two stroke. Because he didn’t want to have to trade up on a bigger bike in a few months. A 2001 CR250 arrived and I must have crashed a hundred times that first day trying to learn how to ride it. The 250 was the better choice though and I started really learning how to ride on outrides around the mine dumps in Benoni. Trying all the steep climbs and flipping my bike down the hills a bunch of times and really just cruising, looking for natural terrain jumps. Which to this day is my absolute favourite thing to do on a bike.
I started racing a little offroad in the MSA series, races like Nigel and Koster. But keeping it pinned in 5th, hitting lurkers in the dust and getting wrecked in the middle of nowhere isn’t really my scene. So, I started focusing more on motocross. On a weekend ride I had a chance meeting with Iwan Van der Westhuizen and planned a ride at thunder valley in Brakpan for the following weekend. He asked if I had ever heard of freestyle motocross and I literally gasped, I told him “For sure, but only on Fox racing and Crusty Demons of dirt videos” he told me someone was building a park there and the following week I saw a freestyle park for the first time.
The FMX park at Thunder valley belonged to the Flying Dutchman, Werner Van der Merwe. No one was there that first day. So, I convinced myself that if I could clear the main table top on the track, I could give the 13-meter gap a go. I sort of got over the main table top and went to claim that steel. Somehow, I didn’t die on the first attempt, but I did crash, I got up dusted myself off and I spot landed the second attempt. But I realised I had a lot of learning to do before I could really step up to the plate. A little while later, I managed to make contact with Werner and he agreed to take me under his wing and we met up at the park every day after school. I got a tonne of coaching and he had someone there to make phone calls if anything went wrong and he got hurt. I can’t possibly thank him enough and it was at this time that I decided to try make a career out of dirt bikes.
This agreement lasted for about a year and during this time , Riding with my buddy Iwan, I got to meet and make connections with a lot of the OG riders of the time. Guys like Alastair Sayer, Ryan Ronacher and Hein Fick. Who all helped me improve my riding and partying skills. Hahaha
Werner Decided to retire from riding bikes and gave me first offer on all his jumps and that’s when my life really became 100% about riding. I had to hustle like hell and it took me a long time to scrape together the cash to buy the jumps. I built a park on my folks plot in Putfontein and it eventually played host to a few development comps. It was a pretty sweet setup in the end. Jaques Human was a product of the development series and I’m always so stoked to see how he has progressed and how hard he is charging.
Locally I started picking up some paid shows, with guys like Sick Nick De Wit and Brendan Potter. Riding in places like Dezzi Raceway and Lesotho for the roof of Africa weekend. I also picked up invites for a few King of the whip comps.
Ryan Van der Spuy puts together an incredible show every time and its so important for us to have that show.
In about 2018 , Jacque Human , Craig Emmerick and I picked up work with an Australian Circus that was touring SA, it was incredible experience and at the end of the SA leg of the tour the owner of the circus asked us to join the tour to South Korea and New Zealand. It was an incredible time , riding every day and just non stop adventure. After returning home to SA, I broke my right leg pretty badly. The time on the couch made want to get back to riding and performing again really badly so I started scratching round for work.
I managed to get work in China Riding stunt shows in this massive theme park. Just 8 months of riding, doing stunts, jumping boats and crashing bikes with Craig and Tyron. Things really started to happen there and I worked for a few companies and moved around China quite a bit. I had just signed a contract with a French company to perform stunts on an island called Sania in China and then Corona Virus Happened. Lockdown shut everything down and I moved back to SA.
Naturally Riding freestyle is dangerous and I learnt over the years to build my own bikes. So that I had no excuses if anything went wrong. So now I’m here Riding when I can and running a workshop to try pay for it all and excited to see what the next chapter holds.
