Terra Topia rises to the occasion…
Race report and photos by dirtandtrail.co.za and Deon vdl Photography
For years, South African motocross fans have watched the MXGP World Championship from afar, wondering if the greatest riders on the planet would ever return. At Round 11, that wait finally came to an end and it was worth every second.
The Mlimi family took on the enormous challenge of bringing MXGP back to South African soil, and Terra Topia didn’t just host a World Championship round, it embraced it. From months of preparation and constant track maintenance throughout the weekend, every lap reflected the dedication behind the scenes.
Between races the track crew worked tirelessly, grooming the circuit to world-class standards despite the punishment dished out by some of the fastest motocross riders on Earth.
Then came the fans.
An enormous number of fans descended on Terra Topia, creating an atmosphere rarely seen at a South African motocross event. The roar of the crowd echoed across the circuit as bar-to-bar battles unfolded in both MXGP and MX2. Every gate drop delivered edge-of-your-seat racing, proving that South Africa not only deserved to host a round of the World Championship, but that it belongs on the MXGP calendar.
If there were any doubts before the weekend, they disappeared with the chequered flag. Terra Topia delivered, the fans delivered, and South African motocross announced itself to the world once again.
What an experience!
Watching MXGP on television is impressive enough, but nothing prepares you for seeing it unfold in front of your own eyes. The intensity and sheer violence of the racing, is something that you simply can’t appreciate through a screen. Watching the guys twist the trottles wide from the start gate is, literally, an earth shaking affair.
Seeing the riders attack every jump, rail every berm and skim whoops at impossible speeds is nothing short of spectacular. These international riders operate on a level that has to be seen to be fully understood.
As media, we’re often lucky enough to experience the event from behind the scenes, inside the ropes, running from corner to corner, watching the mechanics make last-minute adjustments, seeing riders mentally prepare behind the start gate, and witnessing the precision of the entire factory operation offers a fascinating glimpse into what it takes to compete at the highest level of motocross.
Every member of every team has a job, every movement has a purpose, and every second counts.
Then there were our South African riders. They lined up against the very best in the world, gave everything they had and never backed down. Competing at this level is a challenge in itself, and every one of them can be immensely proud of the way they represented South African motocross.
The results only tell part of the story, the determination, commitment and heart they showed all weekend deserve just as much recognition.
MXGP – Coenen Completes the Perfect Weekend
If anyone arrived at Terra Topia with something to prove, it was Lucas Coenen. The Belgian youngster delivered a flawless performance, taking victory in both MXGP races and leaving South Africa with a maximum points haul.
Race One saw Coenen launch straight into the lead, but he had no time to relax as motocross legend Jeffrey Herlings kept the pressure on from the opening laps. The pair traded blistering lap times around the demanding Terra Topia circuit, while reigning champ Romain Febvre rode a calculated race to secure third. South Africa’s Calvin Vlaanderen enjoyed a strong opening moto, riding consistently among the front runners to finish an impressive seventh.
The second outing followed a similar script, although the intensity never faded. Coenen once again looked completely at home on the South African circuit, riding with remarkable confidence and precision. Herlings threw everything he had at the young Belgian but simply couldn’t find a way through, while Febvre once again banked valuable championship points with another composed ride to third. Vlaanderen saved one of his best rides for the final race, crossing the line in an outstanding fourth after running with the world’s elite throughout the moto.
A perfect 1-1 scorecard gave Lucas Coenen the overall victory, with Jeffrey Herlings second overall and Romain Febvre completing the podium. Vlaanderen’s seventh and fourth-place finishes earned him an excellent fourth overall.
Overall Results
1st #5 Lucas Coenen
2nd #84 Jeffrey Herlings
3rd #1 Romain Febvre
MX2 – Farres Announces Himself
The MX2 class delivered some of the closest and most exciting racing of the weekend, with Spain’s Guillem Farres emerging as the standout rider.
Farres took control of Race One with an impressive ride, keeping his cool under relentless pressure from Sacha Coenen, who finished a hard-fought second. Simon Längenfelder finished third after another consistent performance, while South Africa’s Camden McLellan gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about with a determined ride to fifth.
Race Two produced plenty of drama almost immediately. Sacha Coenen’s hopes of another podium disappeared on the opening lap after a crash left him buried deep in the sand.
Refusing to give up, the young Belgian launched an incredible comeback ride, carving his way through the pack to finish in sixth.
Out front, Farres was once again unstoppable. He completed a perfect weekend with his second race victory, while Simon Längenfelder claimed second place ahead of Janis Reisulis in third. Camden McLellan capped off a superb ride in fourth, narrowly missing the podium but earning huge applause from the South African spectators.
With two race wins from two starts, Guillem Farres deservedly claimed the overall victory. Simon Längenfelder’s consistency earned him second overall, Janis Reisulis rounded out the podium in third, while Camden McLellan’s fifth overall was a performance every South African motocross fan should be proud of.
Overall Results
1st #99 Guillem Farres
2nd #1 Simon Längenfelder
3rd #772 Janis Reisulis
South Africa’s Wildcards
One of the biggest stories of the weekend wasn’t found on the podium, it was the performance of South Africa’s wildcard riders. Lining up against the world’s best is daunting enough, but scoring FIM World Championship points in the MXGP is something else entirely.
In the premier MXGP class, Cameron Durow led the local wildcard charge with five World Championship points after two determined rides. Slade Smith also made his mark, collecting four points, while Maddy Malan and Jayden Proctor each left Terra Topia with two World Championship points to their names.
Johan Vogelsang and Matthew Correia may have missed out on the points, but simply racing against the world’s elite is an achievement they can be immensely chuffed with.
The MX2 wildcard contingent was equally impressive.
Trey Cox was the standout South African, banking an excellent 14 World Championship points over the weekend. Jordan van Wyk wasn’t far behind with 12 points, while Riley Roucher continued the strong local showing with eight. Tristan Durow added six points, Aiden Henley and Ashton Martin each collected five, Luke Grundy finished the weekend with four, and Thor Johnson rounded out the South African scorers with two World Championship points.
For these riders, the weekend was about far more than points. It was an opportunity to measure themselves against the very best motocross riders on the planet, to learn what it takes to compete at world championship level
Next Stop: Great Britain
With an unforgettable South African Grand Prix round now in the history books, the MXGP World Championship heads to Round 12 on 19 July at the legendary Foxhill circuit in Great Britain. After the incredible atmosphere and spectacular racing at Terra Topia, the battle for both the MXGP and MX2 championships is far from over, and the world’s best will once again be pushing the limits in their quest for championship glory.
Well done guys! It was pretty darn cool to watch!
