Bloemfontein is gearing up for two adrenaline-filled weekends of motocross action at the Tempe Motocross track, with some of the country’s top riders set to descend on the city.
The Bloemfontein Off-Road Club will host a club race this Saturday, followed a week later by the fourth round of the South African National Motocross Championship.
Saturday’s second round of the club race series will give local riders the perfect opportunity to sharpen their skills ahead of the national showdown on a track that has been closed since Sunday. Widely regarded as one of the premier motocross circuits in South Africa, the Tempe track has been freshly prepared for the upcoming national event.
It won’t only be local riders taking advantage of the opportunity, with competitors from across the country expected to travel to Bloemfontein to familiarise themselves with the demanding layout and conditions before next weekend’s championship races.
With several title races hanging in the balance, spectators can expect fierce competition and high-intensity battles as South Africa’s best motocross riders go head-to-head in the City of Roses.
Johan Vogelsang, who currently sits sixth in the national MX1 standings and will compete on both weekends, told Bloemfontein Courant the club race provides the ideal build-up to the national event.
“It’s a great opportunity to get the track dialled in, get the bike set-up sorted, and also attract riders from all over the country to come and train here over the next few weekends,” said Vogelsang.
“We’ve already had riders from across South Africa here recently, with more arriving again this weekend and next weekend. It’s an awesome opportunity for the track and for the town to see some of the best riders in the country competing in our own backyard.
“Our track is one of the favourites in the country, so we’re really excited for the two weekends coming up.”
The experienced rider added the recent rainfall in Bloemfontein, and more predicted, could actually play into the organisers’ hands by helping to create ideal racing conditions.
“I think the rain is actually going to be a blessing for this weekend. From a track preparation point of view, the amount of rain we’re expecting should be perfect – it will make the track easier to prepare and help keep the dust down.
“We’ve had a tough few weekends recently with the track being closed, which made training difficult for the local riders, but I think the conditions heading into this weekend and next weekend will actually help us deliver the best possible track conditions.”
The junior classes are also expected to provide plenty of excitement, with the likes of Casper Kruger, Ruan Wessels and Ethan Style tipped as strong podium contenders. However, they are unlikely to have it all their own way, with several other talented young riders eager to challenge for top honours.
Heat 1 of Saturday’s club race gets underway at 10:00, with classes ranging from 50cc and junior categories right through to the MX divisions, as well as veterans, masters, ladies and support classes will also all be in action. – MORGAN PIEK
