Race report by Deon vdl – Photos by Blackie Swart, Deon vdl Photography & Sean Spijkers/Steel Blade Photography.
Round 6 of the South African National MX Championship at Ridgeway MX Park saw a fantastic 112 riders line up behind the gates, with a full day of racing shaking up the championship standings.
MX1 championship leader Cameron Durow is now out of the title fight due to injury, that’s left the door wide open for Slade Smith heading into the final round.
The fans were glued to the trackside action throughout the day, with plenty of close racing and battles across the classes.
MX3 & Senior Support
MX3
Heat 1
From the moment the gates dropped, #73 Brandon Wheeler took control and quickly opened a gap over the chasing pack. He never looked back, taking the chequered flag ahead of #94 Keegan du Plooy and #34 Greg Gildenhuys.
Heat 2
The second outing followed a similar pattern, with Wheeler once again controlling proceedings from start to finish aboard his Honda. Du Plooy secured second, while Gildenhuys completed the podium in third.
Overall Results:
1st #73 Brandon Wheeler – Honda
2nd #94 Keegan du Plooy – Yamaha
3rd #34 Greg Gildenhuys – Yamaha
Senior Support
Heat 1
#65 Jack Roche was in top form in the opening heat, riding strongly to take the win. #28 Callan Theron made up serious ground after a slow start to finish second, while #64 Shane Steenkamp secured third.
Heat 2
Theron got away cleanly this time and wasted no time moving to the front. He maintained his advantage to take the win, with Roche second and Steenkamp third.
Overall Results:
1st #28 Callan Theron – Kawasaki
2nd #65 Jack Roche – KTM
3rd #64 Shane Steenkamp – KTM
MX High School
Heat 1
The High School class had 18 eager young riders behind the gates, and they wasted little time getting stuck into the racing. The opening laps produced plenty of bar-to-bar action, with #300 Trent Valsecchi eventually emerged victorious.
The battle for second was intense, with #94 Trenton Kretzmann taking the position ahead of #229 Riley Roucher.
Heat 2
Valsecchi made his intentions clear in the second heat, looking determined to leave Ridgeway with maximum points and extend his championship advantage. He duly delivered, taking another victory. #28 Evan Frost finished second, with Roucher third.
Overall Results:
1st #300 Trent Valsecchi – GASGAS
2nd #28 Evan Frost – Yamaha
3rd #229 Riley Roucher – KTM
MX Ladies
Heat 1
Although the Ladies class had a smaller entry, the racing certainly lacked nothing in intensity. #349 Mackenzie Bam put on a strong performance to take the opening heat, with reigning champion #1 Jessica Osner second and #16 Kelly Beetge third.
Heat 2
Bam backed up her first victory with another strong ride, taking the second heat win. Beetge crossed the line second, followed by Osner in third.
Overall Results:
1st #349 Mackenzie Bam – Husqvarna
2nd #16 Kelly Beetge – Honda
3rd #1 Jessica Osner – Yamaha
MX2
Heat 1
With 19 riders behind the gates, the MX2 class produced plenty of action. #444 Tristan Durow grabbed the holeshot, but #337 Slade Smith soon moved to the front and began pulling clear.
Behind him, #37 Trey Cox and #81 Jaydon Proctor battled hard for second. Smith took the win, Cox finished second and Proctor crossed the line third.
Heat 2
Proctor came back strongly in the second heat, charging to victory. Cox followed in second, with Smith having to settle for third.
Overall Results:
1st #81 Jaydon Proctor – Yamaha
2nd #337 Slade Smith – Yamaha
3rd #37 Trey Cox – KTM
MX65
Heat 1
The younger riders were next to take to the track, and they provided plenty of entertainment. #34 Joshua-Zion Naude made the early running before #117 Trey Dean moved into the lead.
Dean went on to take the win, with Naude second and #20 Luan Jordaan third.
Heat 2
The second heat delivered more close racing, but Dean once again proved too strong for the opposition. Jordaan finished second, while #104 Richard Smith completed the top three.
Overall Results:
1st #117 Trey Dean – Yamaha
2nd #20 Luan Jordaan – KTM
3rd #34 Joshua-Zion Naude – GASGAS
MX50
Heat 1
#72 Nate Small set the early pace, while #18 Garry Hamer and #11 Gianno Ferreira battled closely behind. Small took the win, Hamer finished second and Ferreira third.
Heat 2
Ferreira came out fighting in the final heat, eventually opening enough of a gap to secure the victory. Small and #112 Logan Fulton were locked in a close battle behind him, with Small taking second and Fulton third.
Overall Results:
1st #72 Nate Small – KTM
2nd #11 Gianno Ferreira – KTM
3rd #18 Garry Hamer – KTM
MX85
Heat 1
The MX85 class produced some of the best racing of the day, with battles taking place throughout the field. One rider stood above the rest, however, as #30 Brody Bircher controlled the race to take the win.
#345 Rayden Woolls finished second, with #85 Ross Mackenzie third.
Heat 2
Bircher had one clear objective – leave Ridgeway with maximum points and a healthy championship advantage heading into the final round. He delivered with another convincing victory.
Woolls again finished second, while #42 Aiden Retief moved into third.
Overall Results:
1st #30 Brody Bircher – KTM
2nd #345 Rayden Woolls – Husqvarna
3rd #42 Aiden Retief – KTM
MX1
Heat 1
It was disappointing to see such a small MX1 field behind the gates.
After the start, #157 Maddy Malan led the way, but disaster struck on the third lap when Malan crashed, bringing his race to an early end.
That handed the advantage to #337 Slade Smith, who went on to take the win. #81 Jaydon Proctor finished second, with #141 Christian Berrington-Smith third.
Heat 2
Smith was once again the man to beat, producing another commanding ride to take the victory. Proctor finished second, ahead of #4 Ethan Hoffman in third.
Overall Results:
1st #337 Slade Smith – Yamaha
2nd #81 Jaydon Proctor – Yamaha
3rd #4 Ethan Hoffman – Yamaha
The final round of the National MX Championship will take place at Wetherd MX Park in East London on 19 September, where the 2026 champions will finally be decided.
