The country’s best motocross riders will be assembling in Bloemfontein this weekend for the third round of the South African National Motocross Championship at the Tempe Motocross track.
Last week there was a taste of what is to come with it being the pre-national or otherwise NR Regional Championship. This was an opportunity for numerous riders of the region, as well as the rest of South Africa, to prepare and fine-tune for the big one this week.
The track at Tempe has long been regarded as one of the very best, if not the best in South Africa and it will provide an excellent challenge for the riders this week.
The MX1 rider, Eben van Rooyen, who is unfortunately injured and can’t compete this week, told Bloemfontein Courant the riders will be in for a good test.
“It’s a very good track and it makes for excellent racing and battles, it’s amazing. The track gets real rough and that makes it a lot of fun,” said Van Rooyen.
While there are too many good riders to mention – who could be contenders for a national title this weekend – the 11-time consecutive Free State Champion, Johan Vogelesang, is definitely a rider to watch, while the former national champion, Tyson Engelbrecht, is making a strong comeback after a two-year layoff.
On the weekend, Engelbrecht finished second overall in his class during the pre-national. In the 50cc class, Mason Visser will be a real contender after winning both of his heats on Saturday.
Among the ladies, Misha Beukes is certainly also a rider to keep an eye on this weekend. Another women rider Mienke Cawood ended 3rd overall in the Ladies Class and is currently lying 3rd on the National Championship’s standings.
The action at Tempe will get underway on Saturday at 10:00. – MORGAN PIEK
