Photos by Brodalka Photography
The riders made their way down to East London for the first round of the National Motocross Championship at Wethered MX track. With over 160 entries across the board the fans were treated to some great racing.
By all accounts, Shane Rutherford and the Wethered team put on a superb show.
The Red Bull KTM team made a statement with Cameron Durow, Luke Grundy, and Trey Cox all stepping onto the podium…
But there was also a Honda, a Husqvarna and a GasGas on the top step…
MX1.
Heat 1.
The MX1 class was the first to line up behind the gates. The gates dropped and the riders kicked off raceday. The reigning champ and KTM Factory Rider #1 Cameron Durow battled it out with Out of Africa Monster Energy Yamaha Racing Team Rider #81 Jayden Proctor. In the end it was Durow who crossed the line for the win with Proctor close behind in 2nd place, #24 Mark James Carty took 3rd.
Heat 2.
In heat 2, Durow was again in top form as he flowed through the track all the way to grab the double win. Honda rider #337 Slade Smith had a great run as he fought hard and grabbed 2nd followed by Proctor in 3rd place.
Overall Results.
1st #1 Cameron Durow – KTM
2nd #81 Jayden Proctor – Yamaha
3rd #337 Slade Smith – Honda
125cc High School.
Heat 1.
The riders of the 125cc High School class were up next with a great start from the riders, giving way to some great racing.
As the laps fell away, it was the 2024 Champion and KTM Factory Rider #1 Trey Cox who led the way. Cox’s pace was just too fast as the took 1st place. GASGAS rider #300 Trent Vasecchi claimed 2nd with #444 Tristan Durow on his KTM home in 3rd.
Sadly as of yet, the results have not been confirmed for the balance of the 125cc Hi8gh school race
Ladies, Husqvarna dominates.
Heat 1.
With the reigning champ Leah Heygate absent in round one, the ladies were going to take full advantage to grab a proper head start in the championship points.
It was #32 Ivana Venter who took control and rode her way to the win, #128 Zoe Botha came through in 2nd place and #21 Jessica Osner took 3rd.
Heat 2.
Repeating her performance from the first heat Venter rode like a lady on a mission as she out paced her competitors and finished the day in 1st place. #16 Kelly Beegte had a great run placing 2nd with Botha crossing in 3rd.
Overall Results.
1st #32 Ivana Venter – Husqvarna
2nd #128 Zoe Botha – Husqvarna
3rd #16 Kelly Beegte – Husqvarna
85cc.
Heat 1.
As the gates dropped, the race was started in a big puff of two-stroke smoke.
The youngsters attacked the track with all they had. Pushing his Husqvarna hard was the reigning champ #1 Trenton Kretzmann and he did so all the way to the end as he took the win, #30 Brody Bircher followed in 2nd with #28 Evan Frost finishing in 3rd place.
In Heat 2.
Kretzmann had his hands full as he played catch up with Frost.
Frost kept his lines clean and clinched 1st place. Kretzman finished in 2nd with #280 Kabelo Ledwaba in 3rd.
Overall Results.
1st #1 Trenton Kretzmann – Husqvarna
2nd #28 Evan Frost – KTM
3rd #30 Brody Bircher – KTM
MX3 / Vets & MX Senior Support.
MX3 / Vets (combined results).
Heat 1.
The MX3 riders gave the spectators a great show. There had to be a star and that star was #141 Royce Griffin on his Honda who took the first win, #21 David Goosen placed 2nd with #73 Brandon Wheeler claiming 3rd place.
Heat 2.
The top three riders did exactly what they did in heat one as they crossed in the same order. Some great dices were had!
MX Senior Support.
Heat 1.
In the Senior Support riders it was #56 Jason Venter who jumped on the gas on his GASGAS and just kept it open all the way to the chequered flag to claim 1st place, #22 Ferdinand du Plessis took 2nd, followed by #331 Ashlin Nicholas in 3rd.
In Heat 2,
Venter had another good run, but this time Nicolas was hot on his tail…It was a proper dice, but Venter stayed calm and took the win.
Nicolas followed closely in 2nd with Du Plessis claimed the 3rd step.
Overall Results.
MX3 / Vets.
1st #141 Royce Griffin – Honda
2nd #21 David Goosen – Husqvarna
3rd #73 Brandon Wheeler Yamaha
MX Senior Support.
1st #56 Jason Venter – GASGAS
2nd #331 Ashlin Nicolas – KTM
3rd #22 Ferdinand du Plessis – GASGAS
65cc.
Heat 1.
The riders in the 65cc class had their shot at the Wethered MX track and they grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
2024 Champ Brody Bircher moved up a class to the 85cc which means that the 2025 season will have a new champion.
Last years number 3 #85 Ross Mackenzie came out swinging as he claimed the win.
#404 Rhys Carl Wentzel took 2nd with #345 Rayden Woolls grabbing 3rd place.
In Heat 2,
Mackenzie sounded a warning to his competitors as he claimed both wins for the day and took full points. Woolls and Wentzel battled for 2nd, but when the flag came out – it was Woolls who placed 2nd with Wentzel followed in 3rd place.
Overall Results.
1st #85 Ross Mackenzie – GASGAS
2nd #345 Rayden Woolls – Husqvarna
3rd #404 Rhys Carl Wentzel – KTM
MX2.
Heat 1.
This was the biggest class of the day with 26 riders lined up behind the gates. MX2 is one of the most competitive classes in the championship.
KTM Factory Rider #450 Luke Grundy took the fight to his team mate and reigning champ #1 Cameron Durow. He claimed the win with Durow taking 2nd place. #81, Yamaha’s Jayden Proctor found himself in 3rd.
Heat 2.
This time it was all about the 2024 Champ Durow as he powered his way to 1st place and secured 1st overall. Proctor kept his head down and crossed the line in 2nd followed by #24 Mark James Carty in 3rd.
Overall Results.
1st #1 Cameron Durow – KTM
2nd #450 Luke Grundy – KTM
3rd #81 Jayden Proctor – Yamaha
50cc.
Heat 1.
Things were left up to the youngsters of the 50cc class to finish off the day, and they did so in style.
#16 Travis Hart took his KTM through all the right race lines as he claimed the win. #44 Tiaan Scheppel followed in 2nd place with #14 Ethan Style in 3rd.
Heat 2. No results just yet…
With some epic motocross action in Round 1, we can’t wait to see what the next round will bring. So don’t miss out on Round 2 at Legends MX in Rayton on the 5th of April.
