Rover MX Track Turns Up the Heat
Photos by Brodalka Photography.
Warm winter sunshine, a well-prepared circuit and healthy rider entries combined to produce an action-packed round of the South African National Motocross Championship at Rover MX Track. From the first gate drop to the final chequered flag, spectators were treated to bar-to-bar racing, massive jumps and plenty of championship drama across every class.
The track held up well throughout the day, allowing riders to push hard and reward the crowd with close battles from the juniors right through to the premier classes. With valuable championship points on the line, there was no shortage of commitment as South Africa’s best motocross talent put on another fantastic show.
MX50cc
The smallest bikes produced some of the biggest entertainment of the day. Heat one saw #72 Nate Small narrowly get the better of #181 Casper De Mist Kruger after an exciting battle from start to finish, while #16 Paul Graven rode consistently to claim third.
The second heat saw De Mist Kruger return the favour, edging Small in another close contest to secure the race win. Graven once again crossed the line in third, completing a solid day’s racing.
Overall Results
1st #181 Casper De Mist Kruger
2nd #72 Nate Small
3rd #16 Paul Graven
MX65cc
The MX65 riders didn’t disappoint, with #33 Riley Geldenhuys and #15 Cody Kretzmann locked in a brilliant fight for the lead during the opening moto. Geldenhuys managed to hold on to win the heat, Kretzmann in a close second while #34 Joshua-Zion Naude took third.
Heat two followed a similar script as Geldenhuys once again fended off Kretzmann, with Naude maintaining another consistent ride in third.
Overall Results
1st #33 Riley Geldenhuys
2nd #15 Cody Kretzmann
3rd #34 Joshua-Zion Naude
MX High School
The High School class produced one of the closest battles of the meeting. #94 Trenton Kretzmann and #300 Trent Valsecchi traded blows throughout the opening heat before Kretzmann claimed the victory by the narrowest of margins. #315 Caden Weise completed the top three.
Valsecchi struck back in heat two with a convincing win ahead of #444 Tristan Durow, while Kretzmann finished third. The combined scores were enough to hand Valsecchi the overall victory.
Overall Results
1st #300 Trent Valsecchi
2nd #94 Trenton Kretzmann
3rd #444 Tristan Durow
MX1
Reigning champion #1 Cameron Durow stamped his authority on the premier class with two commanding race wins. Although #337 Slade Smith kept him honest throughout both motos, Durow never looked like surrendering the top step.
#4 Ethan Hoffman completed the podium in both races after another solid day’s work.
Overall Results
1st #1 Cameron Durow
2nd #337 Slade Smith
3rd #4 Ethan Hoffman
MX85cc
The MX85 class delivered fast, aggressive racing all day. #30 Brody Bircher claimed the opening moto ahead of #85 Ross Mackenzie, with #345 Rayden Woolls right on Mackenzie’s rear wheel in a thrilling fight for second.
Heat two belonged to #42 Aiden Retief, who took the win ahead of Bircher and Mackenzie. Bircher’s consistency across both motos proved enough to secure the overall victory.
Overall Results
1st #30 Brody Bircher
2nd #85 Ross Mackenzie
3rd #345 Rayden Woolls
MX3 Vets & MX Senior Support.
MX3 Vets
There was simply no stopping #73 Brandon Wheeler, who dominated both motos with impressive pace and control.
Behind him, #15 Jonathan Du Plooy and #144 Morne Janse van Rensburg entertained the crowd with two incredibly close battles for second place, with Du Plooy just managing to keep Janse van Rensburg behind him in both heats.
Overall Results
1st #73 Brandon Wheeler
2nd #15 Jonathan Du Plooy
3rd #144 Morne Janse van Rensburg
MX3 Senior Support
#402 Zak Gulliver enjoyed a flawless weekend, taking victory in both motos ahead of #29 Craig Kruger, while #11 Daniel Forbes taking third in each race.
Overall Results
1st #402 Zak Gulliver
2nd #29 Craig Kruger
3rd #11 Daniel Forbes
MX Ladies
The opening moto of the Ladies class delivered one of the closest battles of the day as #349 Mackenzie Bam and #16 Kelly Beetge went wheel-to-wheel for the lead. Bam eventually edged clear to take the win, with #1 Jessica Osner finishing third.
Heat two was a more commanding performance from Bam, who controlled the race to complete a perfect day’s racing. Beetge again finished second, while Osner backed up her first moto result with another third-place finish.
Overall Results
1st #349 Mackenzie Bam
2nd #16 Kelly Beetge
3rd #1 Jessica Osner
MX2
The MX2 class produced another thrilling showdown. #584 Cameron Durow and #37 Trey Cox were inseparable for much of the opening moto before Durow claimed victory, while #337 Slade Smith crossed the line in third.
Durow completed a perfect day in heat two, taking another win ahead of Smith, with #747 Jordan van Wyk finishing third. Smith’s consistency earned him second overall, while Cox’s strong first moto secured the final podium position.
Overall Results.
1st #584 Cameron Durow
2nd #337 Slade Smith
3rd #37 Trey Cox
Another successful National Motocross Championship round is now in the books, with Rover MX Track delivering fantastic racing, excellent track conditions and a brilliant atmosphere for riders and fans alike. The championship battle now heads to Round 6 at Ridgeway MX Park from 14-16 August, where another exciting weekend of motocross action is waiting…
