 Photos by Cloud9 Photography
The Inland MX Championship kicked off the race year with a bang, attracting a great field of riders. Conditions were a little dusty, but the racing was fast, tight and action-packed.
               50cc JNR & SNR
50cc JNR
Heat 1
The youngsters were fired up to start the 2026 season. From the drop of the gate the riders took the fight to one another. As the laps ticked by, #16 Nate Verrier began pulling clear of the pack. The chequered flag waved Verrier home for the win, with #117 Silas Preston finishing 2nd and #31 Cody Tucker taking 3rd.
Heat 2
Verrier once again kept his wheels in front to cross the line in 1st. Preston repeated his performance with another 2nd, while Tucker secured 3rd.
                             Overall Results
1st #16 Nate Verrier
2nd #117 Silas Preston
3rd #31 Cody Tucker
50cc SNR
Heat 1
The seniors controlled the circuit, with the bigger riders pushing hard.
#11 Gianno Ferreira took charge early and steadily pulled away. He could not be caught and claimed the win. #18 Garry Hamer worked his way into 2nd, while #8 Paul Graven battled #112 Logan Fulton, snatching 3rd by just 0.001 seconds.
Heat 2
Ferreira remained in top form, out-riding the field to complete a double win. Fulton improved to 2nd, with Graven finishing 3rd.
                              Overall Results
1st #11 Gianno Ferreira
2nd #112 Logan Fulton
3rd #18 Garry Hamer
             MX3 Vets & Support
MX3 Vets
Heat 1
The gate dropped and riders thundered into action, trading paint throughout the race. #101 Grant Frericks took the win, followed by #73 Brandon Wheeler in 2nd and #127 Kevin Spagnut in 3rd.
Heat 2
Frericks was sharp and consistent, securing another win and the overall. Wheeler crossed in 2nd, with Spagnut again in 3rd.
                              Overall Results
1st #101 Grant Frericks
2nd #73 Brandon Wheeler
3rd #127 Kevin Spagnut
MX Support
Heat 1
Sharing the track with the Vets, the Support class riders gave it everything. #16 Nicolas Verrier pushed hardest to take the win, ahead of #101a Marrio Bezuidenhout and #27 Juandre Abdul.
Heat 2
Verrier maintained his pace for another victory. #360 Vernon Buys finished 2nd, with Bezuidenhout in 3rd.
                              Overall Results
1st #101a Marrio Bezuidenhout
2nd #360 Vernon Buys
3rd #27 Juandre Abdul
                  MX4 Ladies
MX4 Ladies
Heat 1
The Ladies class delivered great entertainment. #202 Mienke Cawood emerged on top, with #170 Katelyn Pretorius 2nd and #128 Zoe Botha 3rd.
Heat 2
Botha kept her composure to take the win. #422 Kirsten Santillan followed in 2nd, with Pretorius 3rd.
                              Overall Results
1st #128 Zoe Botha
2nd #170 Katelyn Pretorius
3rd #422 Kirsten Santillan
               125cc Highschool
125cc Highschool
Heat 1
The high school riders didn’t disappoint, battling closely and throwing impressive airtime. #141 Christian Berrington-Smith led the charge and secured the win ahead of #324 Cassie van Zyl and #111 Keegan Miles.
Heat 2
Berrington-Smith dominated again to make it two from two. #280 Kabelo Ledwaba finished 2nd, with van Zyl 3rd.
                             Overall Results
1st #141 Christian Berrington-Smith
2nd #324 Cassie van Zyl
3rd #280 Kabelo Ledwaba
                      MX1
MX1
Heat 1
The premier class delivered edge-of-your-seat racing. #108 Kerim Fitzgerald and #746 Adriano Catalano kept the crowd buzzing, with Fitzgerald taking the win. Catalano followed in 2nd, while #24 Mark James Carty secured 3rd.
Heat 2
Catalano struck back, controlling the race to take victory. Fitzgerald settled for 2nd, with #141 Christian Berrington-Smith 3rd
                              Overall Results
1st #746 Adriano Catalano
2nd #108 Kerim Fitzgerald
3rd #24 Mark James Carty
                     65cc
Heat 1
#20 Luan Jordaan established himself as a strong contender early, leading from the front to win. #66 Mikah Hendrickse finished 2nd, with #117 Trey Dean 3rd.
Heat 2
Jordaan dominated once again for a clean sweep. Hendrickse repeated 2nd place, while #88 Reestin Bartlett took 3rd.
                              Overall Results
1st #20 Luan Jordaan
2nd #66 Mikah Hendrickse
3rd #88 Reestin Bartlett
          Masters & Grand Masters
Masters
Heat 1
Up next were the seasoned riders. In the Masters class, #105 Justin Bauer came out swinging in the opening heat. Bauer crossed the line in 1st place, with #28 Callan Theron taking 2nd and #113 Jaco Smit finishing 3rd.
Heat 2
Bauer and Theron both had strong runs, but Theron proved the quicker rider to claim the win. Bauer secured 2nd place, with Smit again finishing 3rd.
                             Overall Results
1st #28 Callan Theron
2nd #105 Justin Bauer
3rd #113 Jaco Smit
Grand Masters
Heat 1
The Grand Masters showed that age is just a number, delivering an impressive performance. #159 Adrian Maguire took the win, followed by #67 Blane Gaugian in 2nd and #7 Gary Killian in 3rd.
Heat 2
In the final heat of the day, Killian made all the right moves to secure the win. Maguire crossed in 2nd, with Gaugian taking 3rd.
                              Overall Results
1st #159 Adrian Maguire
2nd #7 Gary Killian
3rd #67 Blane Gaugian
                85cc JNR & Pro
85cc JNR
Heat 1
The unmistakable scent of two-stroke filled the air as the riders lined up behind the gates. #204 Luke Schlorke controlled the junior class, riding smoothly to claim the win. #413 Rocco Kapp finished 2nd, with #199 Nicky Kasser in 3rd.
Heat 2
Schlorke produced another strong performance, charging to the line for a second win. Kasser crossed in 2nd, followed by Kapp in 3rd.
                             Overall Results
1st #204 Luke Schlorke
2nd #199 Nicky Kasser
3rd #413 Rocco Kapp
85cc Pro
Heat 1
The gates dropped and #234 Cassie van Zyl launched off the line. The riders pushed hard through the laps, with Van Zyl taking the chequered flag. #40 Hendrico Barwise finished 2nd, and #246 Ryan Boggett secured 3rd.
Heat 2
Barwise stepped up in the second heat, riding confidently to take the win. #14 Ohan Graven finished 2nd, with #333 Parker Cik in 3rd.
                              Overall Results
1st #40 Hendrico Barwise
2nd #14 Ohan Graven
3rd #333 Parker Cik
                      MX2
MX2
Heat 1
Some of the best racing of the day came from the MX2 riders. With no quarter given, the field battled hard from the start. The fight was eventually settled when #24 Mark James Carty pulled clear to claim the win. #141 Christian Berrington-Smith finished 2nd, with #84 Marco Cherti crossing the line in 3rd.
Heat 2
It was once again all about Carty, who powered to the line to secure a double victory on the day. Berrington-Smith maintained a strong pace to take 2nd, while #96 Keno Pereira completed the podium in 3rd.
                             Overall Results
1st #24 Mark James Carty
2nd #141 Christian Berrington-Smith
3rd #84 Marco Cherti
The 2026 race season is shaping up to be a big one, so don’t miss Round 2 at Ridgeway MX Park on 21 February.
