Photo Credit: Action in Motion.
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In the Northwest Province lies a small town with a big passion for offroad motorsport.
On Saturday 16 March 2024, Rysmierbult played host to Round 2 of the Gauteng Xross Country Club (GXCC) championship. This town might be small in size, but its terrain has plenty to offer for the competitors who lined up to battle it out for the top step on the podium in their respective classes.
 This event drew a diverse range of competitors, from up-and-coming riders to seasoned veterans, who were all eager to test their skill against their rivals.
The morning session started off with the quad category where Carly Saaijman from the Q-KON EMD Racing team kicked dust in the faces of her competitors and took a well-deserved win in the otherwise all male Q1 class. Her brother-in-law and teammate, Hannes Saaijman, claimed the top step of the podium in the Q2 class. Liezel Barnard from the Barnard Vervoer team claimed victory in the QLadies class, while her husband and teammate, Banie Barnard, clinched the top position in the QVeterans class. Phillip Booyse was the first rider to cross the finish line in the QMasters class.
The second category to show their steel in the morning session after the quads were the juniors. Spherical Logistics’ Eben Schultz was on the top step in the 50cc class with Declan Richards out of the Vans Racing team taking another win in 2024 in the 65cc class. Eddie Gower secured a second win for the season in the 65cc Rookie class. Heinrich Janse van Rensburg from Team Gravity came out on top in the Junior 85cc Rookie class and Liam Scheepers (aka Mulletman) once again took a well-deserved win in the Junior 85cc class. Drikus van der Merwe from the Hatfield VW Pretoria Mastercars squad was the first rider to take the chequered flag in the Senior 85cc class.
In the afternoon session, the senior bike competitors lined up for what would be an epic battle! The OR1 Pro class win went to KZN rider Michael Pentecost from the UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda team, while John Botha surged to the top step of the podium once again in the OR2 Pro class. The OR3 Pro class win went to another Honda rider, former MX rider from Swaziland, Blake Young. Jake Pretorius out of the Pepson Plastics team secured a win in the OR4 class. Another Honda rider, Nathan Westerdale took victory in the High School class. The Senior class was dominated by Honda’s Louwrens Mahoney. Pepson Plastic’s Pieter Höll once again walked away with the number 1 in the Masters class while his teammate, Geoff Den, took the honours in the Veterans class. The Ladies class saw Brooklyn Lilford from Tarstone Racing walking away with an impressive win.
In the OR1 Pro-Am class, Benru Strydom out of the MLM Bens squad was on the top step, while brother and teammate, Ruben Strydom, took the glory in the OR2 Pro-Am class. Phillip Hobbs took an impressive win in the OR3 Pro-Am class.
 Johan Bosch from the New Tech Earthquip team outpaced his competition in the OR1 Rookie class and Nicolaas Smit backed by TDT Construction clinched another win in the OR2 Rookie class. Stefan de Klerk was victorious in the OR3 Rookie class and Edwin Gower was again the first rider in the Senior Rookie class to take the chequered flag.
The Social Junior, Social Quad and Social Senior Bike classes provided another opportunity for new riders to test the waters at GXCC Racing.
 Round 2 provided an unforgettable day of racing and left yet another memorable mark in the small town of Rysmierbult. One thing is very clear: in the world of offroad racing, the spirit of adventure knows no bounds and the pursuit of glory never ends.
 With the second round done and dusted, the GXCC tour is heading to Bapsfontein on Saturday 20 April 2024 for the next round.
Scroll through below and have a look at all the pics…
