North vs. South 2024 Motorcycle racing | Motocross dirt bike racing

Photos by Zygmund Brodalka/ Brodalka Photography.

Words by Deon vdl.

With almost 300 entries for the epic North vs. South 2024 race Bloemfontein was buzzing with motocross fever. It’s been universally dubbed one of the best ever.

With great weather and a well prepared track it was a perfect day for racing, a couple of crashes and a whole lot of action.

50cc SNR.

Heat 1.

To get raceday started, first up was the 50cc SNR class with 20 riders lined up behind the gates. Giving it all, they took to the track.

It was a close race for the four frontrunners with #11 Riley Geldenhuys taking the first win, #34 Joshua Zion Naude followed shortly in 2nd #420 Mason Visser was not far behind in 3rd place.

Heat 2.

Two of the top three riders from heat 1 had some misfortune and were not able to fight for top spots, this was some good news for Naude who kept his cool and won the race, #20 Luan Jordaan got 2nd place and #44 Tiaan Schepple took 3rd.

Overall Results.

1st #34 Joshua Zion Naude

2nd #20 Luan Jordaan

3rd #44 Tiaan Schepple

50cc JNR.

Heat 1.

The juniors were up next and produced another great race. The kids kept pushing until the flag came out. Taking the flag in 1st place was #16 Travis Hart, #88 Reestin Bartlett had a tough time but he just managed to cross the line in 2nd with #30 Brayden Tucker right next to him in 3rd.

Heat 2.

Not too happy with his 4th place in heat 1 #413 Ethan Style had a better race and claimed the win, he was followed by Bartlett in 2nd with Hart in 3rd place.

Overall Results.

1st #16 Travis Hart

2nd #413 Ethan Style

3rd #88 Reestin Bartlett

125cc High School & 125cc SNR.

High School.

Heat 1.

With a whopping 32 riders in the High School class you just know that it was an awesome race. The 1st rider to cross the line was #268 Ryan Adler and he did so quite comfortably. 2nd place was taken by #125 Blade Tilley with #24 Ronald Graven in 3rd.

Heat 2.

Adler kept his pace and was just too much for the pack. He made it to the line in 1st place, this time it was #114 Damion Venter who took 2nd with Tilley in 3rd.

SNR.

Heat 1.

#101 Grant Frerichs had a cracker of a race and had no problem claiming the 1st spot. #51 James Lottering rode well to take 2nd with #100B Sean Stunkheide in 3rd place.

Heat 2.

It was a much tighter race for Frerichs this time around, he managed to clinch 1st with Strunkheide right behind in 2nd and Lottering taking 3rd.

Overall Results.

High School.

1st #268 Ryan Adler

2nd #125 Blake Tilley

3rd #114 Damien Venter

Seniors.

1st #101 Grant Frerichs

2nd #100B Sean Stunkheide

3rd #51 James Lottering

Grand Masters.

Heat 1.

With a line-up of 18 riders it was #67 Blane Gaugian who outrode his competitors. He took 1st place. #47 Shaun Lloyd came through in 2nd and #4 David de Witt claimed the 3rd spot.

Heat 2.

Another great race from Gaugian had him crossing the chequered flag 1st. Lloyd kept his momentum and took another 2nd place with #74 Steve Baker in 3rd.

Overall Results.

1st #67 Blane Gaugian

2nd #47 Shaun Lloyd

3rd #47 Steve Baker

Ladies.

Heat 1.

Some great racing from #1 Kayla Raaff saw her powering her GASGAS over the line to take 1st place. #202 Mienke Cawood crossed the line in 2nd and the 3rd spot was taken by #32 Ivana Venter.

Heat 2.

The ladies followed Raaff to replicate the top three spots with Raaff claiming the top spot again, Cawood taking 2nd and another 3rd spot for Venter.

Overall Results.

1st #1 Kayla Raaff

2nd #202 Mienke Cawood

3rd #32 Ivana Venter

65cc.

Heat 1.

Out of 26 riders starting it was #30 Brody Bircher who came out swinging and it paid off as he took the win, #85 Ross Mackenzie got 2nd place and #14 Ohan Graven got 3rd.

Heat 2.

Another home run saw Bircher taking 1st place, Mackenzie followed with 2nd and this time crossing in 3rd we had #778 Viv Cameron Howell.

Overall Results.

1st #30 Brody Bircher

2nd #85 Ross Mackenzie

3rd #14 Ohan Graven

MX2.

Heat 1.

This was a race that gave the crowd a good show with a close finish #747 Jordan van Wyk clinched 1st with #25 Ricky Raaff not far behind in 2nd and #600 Barend du Toit in the 3rd spot.

Heat 2.

Going out in full force, Du Toit picked all the right lines as he made a beeline for the finish and grabbed the win. Raaff had no problems taking 2nd with #717 Calum Marriott grabbing 3rd place.

Overall Results.

1st #600 Barend du Toit

2nd #25 Ricky Raaff

3rd #747 Jordan van Wyk

MX3 Vets & Masters

MX3 Vets Heat 1.

The Wheeler brothers were out to prove a point. #135 Dean Wheeler outrode the pace and took 1st place, #73 Brandon Wheeler took the flag in 2nd with #958 Wade Wright in 3rd.

Heat 2.

The brothers did it once again taking the two top spots, Dean Wheeler with a comfy win, Brandon Wheeler crossing in 2nd place and Wright taking 3rd again.

Masters Heat 1.

An outstanding race had #511 Jan Ryan take the win. In 2nd place we saw #111 Marc Ansley cross the line with #50 Nicolaas van der Linden in 3rd spot.

Heat 2.

Hungry for gold, Ryan again powered his way to 1st place. Ansley collected silver and Van der Linden took home the bronze.

Overall Results.

MX3 Vets.

1st #135 Dean Wheeler

2nd #73 Brandon Wheeler

3rd #958 Wade Wright

Masters.

1st #511 Jan Ryan

2nd #111 Marc Ansley

3rd #50 Nicolaas van der Linden

MX Support.

Heat 1.

The Support class had 26 riders making their way to the gates. The race had some action throughout the pack, but in the end #56 Jason Visser took the win. #34 Greg Gildenhuys came in 2nd with #20 Dorren Loureiro in 3rd spot.

Heat 2.

A battle for first place took form and the fight was on, when the dust settled it was Gildenhuys who came out on top with the win, Visser with a close 2nd and in 3rd place we had #722 Alex Glockie.

Overall Results.

1st #34 Greg Gildenhuys

2nd #56 Jason Venter

3rd #722 Alex Glockie

85cc JNR & Pro Mini.

JNR Heat 1.

A banging start from #778 Viv Cameron Howell had him take the flag in 1st place, #111 Keegan Miles took 2nd and #711 Keagan Burns followed in 3rd.

Heat 2.

Some epic racing took form as two riders boxed for 1st place and it was a close one.

Miles crossed the line for the win, with Howell beside him in 2nd and Burns claiming 3rd place.

Pro Mini Heat 1.

As the Pro-Mini class took to the track, things got exciting in the front. The winner of this race was #418 Cruz Martin with #234 Cassie van Zyl coming in a close 2nd. In 3rd place was #280 Kabelo Ledwaba.

Heat 2.

Cruising his way to the finish line was Martin who took 1st place. A better pace in this race saw #28 Evan Frost grabbing 2nd with Van Zyl coming through in 3rd.

Overall Results.

JNR.

1st #111 Keegan Miles

2nd #778 Viv Cameron Howell

3rd #711 Keagan Burns

Pro-Mini.

1st #418 Cruz Martin

2nd #234 Cassie van Zyl

3rd #28 Evan Frost

MX1.

Heat 1.

Leaving the best for last was the MX1 class who took centre stage.

#135 Dean Wheeler stole the show in 1st place. #25 Ricky Raaff managed to take 2nd and not far behind was #600 Barend du Toit in 3rd spot.

Heat 2.

Before the curtain dropped, Wheeler grabbed the gold and exited stage left. #5 Johan Vogelesang danced his way to 2nd with #24 Mark James Carty taking a bow in 3rd place.

Overall Results.

1st #135 Dean Wheeler

2nd #5 Johan Vogelesang

3rd #25 Ricky Raaff