Maybe you’ve heard about the Zeemans clan and their rider X initiative? No? Well then let’s catch you up.
Next year, one lucky rider will get the use of a 2026 Honda CRF 250, tyres and parts and a backup team to see them through the 2026 inland MX championship season.
Zeemans Motorcycles in The South of GP are the good peeps who came up with the concept. Honda SA got behind the initiative and the good guys from Autocycle (with famous brands like Michelin tyres and Circuit Equipment) have climbed in boots and all to support.
How it all worked:
Riders from the all over the country and Africa put in applications. Zeemans Hooligan MX Team made some selections and thirty riders received a Golden Ticket, which put them into the running…
All thirty riders congregated at Dirt bronco near Krugersdorp to drop the hammer and compete for their seat next year…
From the minute the gates opened, you could feel it, families rolling in with camp chairs, kids in mini-roost boots pretending to be the next Chase Sexton, and a whole lot of nervous riders trying to look casual. Classic SA moto scene… lekker.
The field included a fantastic mix: Young chargers, seasoned club racers and everything in between all with big talent and yes, girls throwing down just as hard as the boys.
Everyone had the same mission: prove they have the speed, style, work ethic and attitude to become the first official Rider X.
The format was simple but intense:
Two riders at a time, heading out in scheduled slots for a full-gas evaluation. Even though there were a few other riders on track there was no hiding and no excuses. Just you, the bike, the stopwatch, and a bunch of judges staring at your every move.
Trackside support came from none other than Gary Killian, suspension whisperer and long-time setup genius. Between sessions he was elbows-deep in clickers, offering personalised advice, making sag tweaks, and helping riders unlock those precious seconds.
Your judges for the day.
A heavy-hitting panel of judges watched every corner, jump and race line:
Paul Jacobs – Honda Wing South Africa.
Bradley Zeeman – Zeemans.
Mark Vine – Autocycle Centre.
Ty Taylor – Hooligans MX Team.
These guys know fast. They know smooth. They know commitment. And they were looking for the whole package, not just speed, but coachability, attitude, consistency, and that “let’s go racing!”
This wasn’t just a try-out, it felt like a proper MX festival with Kids chasing each other with mini helmets, moms shouting encouragement, dads trying not to look more nervous than their riders…
Spectators lined the fence, cheering for every pair of riders heading out onto the circuit.
The RIDER X winner is going to walk away with a monster prize pack:
- A 2026 Honda CRF 250 for the entire 2026 season.
- All race entries covered.
- Full maintenance & mechanical support.
- Pit setup & paddock assistance.
- Media exposure & brand backing.
- Integration into the Hooligans MX / Zeemans partnership structure.
Basically… someone’s life is about to change. This is the kind of support that turns hopeful racers into real contenders.
From the first pair to the final two, every rider left it all on the track.
There were sketchy saves, perfect ruts, big air moments, a few stalls, a few near-misses and tons of heart. You could feel the determination, nobody wanted to waste their shot.
The event was a huge success, well-run, well-supported, family-friendly, and packed with passion. If this is what Rider X looks like in Year One, the future of the programme is going to be wild. And somewhere among those 30 warriors, one new South African motocross star is about to rise.
The winner will be announced on 5 December… We’ll keep you posted…
