Photos by: Zygmund Brodalka – Brodalka Photography and Deon vdl Photography.
Race report Deon vdl.
The last MX National took place at Terra Topia last weekend. It was a day to remember as riders took on the new track and banged bars in the blazing sun…
It was a carnival atmosphere at the track. Nope better than that – and it’s been a long time since Terra Topia has seen so many racers and spectators out to enjoy the racing.
The pits were heaving, the boys from Jungle Rush FMX were sailing through the air and the fights for the final points on the track were real.
The heatwave that GP is experiencing did not help much… trying to keep core temperatures down was a challenge as riders dived into dustbins full of ice water between motos and used wet towels and lappies to keep cool in the staging areas.
We saw the little 50’s battling their way through the muddy ruts, falling over, jumping back up and tearing off again. We saw the 2-smokers tearing off in a puff of smoke and the four strokes roaring over the massive jumps.
Here are your 2024 National Champions: What a year for KTM!
MX1: Cameron Durow – KTM
MX2: Cameron Durow – KTM
MX3: Dean Wheeler – Yamaha
MX Ladies: Leah Heygate – KTM
MX High School: Trey Cox – KTM
MX 85 – Trenton Kretzmann – KTM
MX 65: Brody Bircher – KTM
MX 50’s: Riley Geldenhuys – KTM
MX3, MX3 Vets. MX Support.
MX3 & Vets Combined.
Heat 1.
With only one heat win needed to secure the title #135 Dean Wheeler knew he couldn’t afford to make any mistakes. He rode an excellent race and didn’t put a foot wrong and crossed the line in 1st place and with that he became the 2024 Champion. #73 Brandon Wheeler got 2nd and #99 Levi Doherty took 3rd.
In heat 2, sporting a Golden #1 Dean Wheeler rode his way to a double win. Brandon Wheeler kept a strong pace and took 2nd with Doherty Following in 3rd Place.
MX Support.
Heat 1.
Sharing the track with the MX3 and Vets Riders #34 Greg Gildenhuys pushed hard and crossed the line for the win. #21 Riccardo Caforio came through in 2nd and #64 Shane Steenkamp took 3rd place.
In heat 2, he repeated his win, kept his head down and took the flag for his second win in his class. Caforio grabbed 2nd and Steenkamp crossed in 3rd.
Overall Results.
MX3 & MX Vets.
1st #135 Dean Wheeler – Yamaha (2024 MX3 Champion)
2nd #73 Brandon Wheeler – KTM
3rd #99 Levi Doherty – Yamaha
MX Support.
1st #34 Greg Gildenhuys – KTM
2nd #21 Riccardo Caforio – Yamaha
3rd #64 Shane Steenkamp – KTM
MX High School.
#37 Trey Cox went into the day 57 points clear and won the championship before he even started a race. This didn’t stop anyone from giving the best they have. #141 Christian Berrington-Smith back from injury came through with the win, #268 Ryan Adler took 2nd place with Trey in 3rd.
Heat 2.
To finish off his race year on a high note Cox outrode his competition by finishing in 1st and securing 1st place overall. Adler had a mighty run, taking his place on the 2nd step. #247 Jean Visser placed 3rd.
Overall Results.
1st #37 Trey Cox – KTM (2024 MX High School Champion)
2nd #268 Ryan Adler – Husqvarna
3rd #141 Christian Berrington-Smith – KTM
MX85cc.
Heat 1.
Everyone knew that this was going to be an exciting race as the top two riders went into the last round with only a 3 point deficit.
#28 Evan Frost who was second in the points had his hands full as he had to face a three time champion and the reigning 85cc Champ #94 Trent Kretzmann.
Kretzmann fought hard to keep #234 Cassie van Zyl behind him as they raced toward the flag. He grabbed the win with Van Zyl in a close 2nd and Frost in 3rd place.
In Heat 2, van Zyl had great race pace as he started to pull away from the pack crossing the line for the win. #418 Cruz Martin with a better run in heat two clinched a very close 2nd with Frost in 3rd. Kretzmann won his fourth championship title in a row by just 3 points.
Overall Results.
1st #234 Cassie van Zyl – KTM
2nd #94 Trenton Kretzmann – KTM (2024 MX85cc Champion)
3rd #28 Evan Frost
MX1.
Heat 1.
Already crowned champ, Cameron Durow, still didn’t stop. He took the win in the first heat with #135 Dean Wheeler in 2nd and #81 Jayden Proctor in 3rd place.
Heat 2.
What a race by the Yamaha Out of Africa rider! Jayden Proctor claimed the win and took 2nd place in the championship.
Wheeler took another 2nd place with #24 Mark-James Carty 3rd.
Overall Results.
1st #81 Jayden Proctor – Yamaha
2nd #135 Dean Wheeler – Yamaha
3rd #1 Cameron Durow – KTM (2024 MX1 Champion)
MX Ladies.
Heat 1.
The reigning champ #1 Kayla Raaff came into the last round trailing by 18 points. #176 Leah Heygate entered with a big advantage.
The racing was nail biting between the two ladies with Heygate winning the race by just over a second, Raaff took 2nd place and #32 Ivana Venter was 3rd.
Heat 2 was another great race for Heygate as she crossed the line and became the 2024 MX Ladies Champion, Raaff finished on a high note to take 2nd with #202 Mienke Cawood placed 3rd.
Overall Results.
1st #176 Leah Heygate – KTM (2024 MX Ladies Champion)
2nd #1 Kayla Raaff – GASGAS
3rd #202 Mienke Cawood – KTM
MX50cc.
Heat 1.
There was only one kid who could spoil the reigning Champ #1 Riley Geldenhuys’ chance of taking back to back titles. #34 Joshua-Zion Naude was trailing by 31 points. #20 Luan Jordaan rode like a future champ as he grabbed the win. #117 Trey Dean collected 2nd and Nuade took 3rd.
Geldenhuys finished 4th and with 19 points scored in this heat, he collected enough points to secure the 2024 MX50cc Championship.
In Heat 2, the last race for the year, Jordaan was just too fast for the rest of the pack. He took the double win for the day. Geldenhuys clinched 2nd place with ‘24 champ Naude not too far behind.
Overall Results.
1st #20 Luan Jordaan – KTM
2nd #1 Riley Geldenhuys – KTM (2024 MX50cc Champion)
3rd #117 Trey Dean – KTM
MX65cc.
Heat 1.
If #30 Brody Bircher won the first heat, he would walk away the 2024 Championship. And that’s exactly what he did as he crossed the line in 1st place. #345 Rayden Wools placed 2nd and was followed by #85 Ross Mackenzie in 3rd.
In heat 2, Bircher, with a good run won again with Woolls following shortly in 2nd place and #40 Hendrico Barwise in 3rd.
Overall Results.
1st #30 Brody Bircher – KTM (2024 MX65cc Champion)
2nd #345 Rayden Woolls – Husqvarna
3rd #40 Hendrico Barwise – Husqvarna
MX2.
Heat 1.
The MX2 Championship was already taken by #1 Cameron Durow. This did not stop the champ from taking the win with his team mate #450 Luke Grundy taking 2nd place. #24 Mark-James Carty rode well and placed in 3rd.
Heat 2.
Durow finished the year’s racing with a perfect season winning every MX2 race this year. Grundy was not far behind the champ and took 2nd place with #101 Barend du Toit in 3rd.
Overall Results.
1st #1 Cameron Durow – KTM (2024 MX2 Champion)
2nd #450 Luke Grundy – KTM
3rd #81 Jayden Proctor – Yamaha
What a year for MX in South Africa! We are already looking forward to the 2025 season!
