What South African Cross Country Motorcycles Round 3 Preview
Where Vryburg, Northwest Province
When Saturday 25 May 2024
Community South Africa National
UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda primed for Vryburg success
UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda Wing Racing with Tork Craft and Dunlop Tyres is locked and loaded and ready to strike at the third round of 2024 Trademore South African Cross Country Motorcycle Championship at Vryburg in the Northwest semi-desert on Saturday 25 May. The team is looking to improve on its impressive start to the season, with two riders in the overall top ten and the rest in strong class positions.
“We have had a great start to the 2024 National Cross Country Championship and are looking for more of the same, or even a little better in Vryburg,” UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda Wing Racing team boss Harry Grobler suggests. “Both Mike Pentecost and Louwrens Mahoney are in the overall championship top ten with Louwrens the dominant leader in Seniors.
“Other team riders looking very good are young Nathan Westerdale leading the High School 125s, Warrick van Schalkwyk sits second in Seniors and little Ruald Potgieter is third in 85cc Seniors. We are also in our favourite conditions in the desert, but Vryburg has tended to shake things up in the past and we have even had freezing cold and wet conditions there. So we’re ready for whatever the Northwest dishes up this year.”
Louwrens Mahoney has proven unstoppable in over-30 Seniors aboard his UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda CRF 450 RX, regularly mixing it with the young guns in the overall top six. Mahoney intends keeping his growing winning run intact in the Northwest. Super-quick Over-40s Masters rider Warrick van Schalkwyk has had a good run to sit second in that championship chase and he’s fully focussed on a first win of the season.
It’s just as exciting in the High School class, where UB Leisure TFC Sleepover trio, Nathan Westerdale leads the class, with Murray Smith and Seth Young fourth and fifth in the teenager class. Ever-improving UB Leisure TFC Sleepover primary school age rider Ruald Potgieter meanwhile heads to Vryburg a strong third in 85cc Seniors.
Among the TFC Sleepover Honda Wing Racing with Tork Craft and Dunlop riders looking for a break in Vryburg, Mike Pentecost has been incredibly quick, but also very unlucky in the first two rounds and he will be looking for a clean run in open Class OR1 as he chases an overdue first win of the National season aboard his CRF 450 RX. Fellow top class rider Hayden Louw is keen to go a position or three better than his fourth place last time out.
The team’s 250cc OR3 squad has also fared well so far this year, with all three UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda CRF 450 RX riders in the class top ten. High School graduate Blake Young sits fourth, Tyron Beverley is sixth and Erik Merry tenth in the table, and all three are looking to star in the desert this weekend.
“UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda Wing Racing with Tork Craft and Dunlop Tyres is ready for whatever the third round of the 2024 Trademore South African Cross Country Motorcycle Championship delivers at Vryburg this weekend,” team boss Harry Grobler concludes. “The bikes are ready, the team is prepared and the lads are hot for success, so bring it on!”
*Honda Wing Racing salutes its partners, UB Leisure, The Franchise Co, Sleepover Motels, Tork Craft Tools, Henderson Racing Products & Dunlop Tyres, Motul Oils, Justiracing USA, Bikewise, TBR Suspension & 515 Racing.
Issued on behalf of Honda Cross Country
Photography by: Action in Motion
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