1511 DT final

MX
RACING
Written by Laren van der Westhuizen.
Photos by Brodalka Photography.
TEARING UP TEZA
Once a year, MX riders in South Africa
head to a motocross track second to
none, TEZA.
Just north of Richards Bay, this
amazing track is set in the rolling hills
of Kwambonambi and is continuously
voted the best track in SA by riders
and spectators alike. A drought in the
area has made it tough for track owner
Leon van Eeden to prep the track to the
high levels we have come to expect, but
somehow still managed a magnificent
job to keep the dust down.
The 50cc class continued to produce
great racing and had one of the biggest
fields on the day. In practice, it looked
like Wian Du Plooy would be the man
to beat, but when the time sheets were
posted, it was clear that the fastest man
on track was James Thompson. James
would convert that speed in practice
into 2 holeshots and 2 wins. His smooth
easy riding style bodes well for a great
future. The battles would all be behind
James between championship leader,
Ace Raynard
Emmanuel Bako and 2nd place rider,
Wian DuPlooy. The 2 riders would swop
positions in the 2 heats and finished tie
on points for the day. Bako would claim
the 2nd courtesy of a better 2nd heat.
Lucca Mynhardt was 4th and Willem
Hough was 5th.
The MX2 class were the first on the
BIG track and with Maddy Malan only
needing a few points to secure the
championship, the question would
be how would he face the day. Kerim
Fitzgerald got the holeshot in heat 1.
Soon, he had the 2 big guns for Yamaha
on his tail, Neville Bradshaw and
championship leader Maddy Malan. In
true Kerim style, he proved to be a very
difficult man to beat when he is leading
and was able to hold on for a great win.
Neville held on for 2nd and Maddy was
3rd. Maddy did however hurt his ankle
during the race but only needing a 10th in
heat 2 to win the title, he could afford to
relax. Tristan Purdon finished heat 1 the
strongest and after a bad start was able
to fight to 4th right behind his teammate,
Maddy Malan. In heat 2, Neville Bradshaw
got to the front early and Tristan Purdon
got a much better start in 2nd. They
would stay in that order to the finish line.
Despite a sore ankle, Maddy was in 3rd
for most of the race. Only needing a 10th
68 NOVEMBER 2015
1511 DT MX.indd 68 2015/10/23 4:04 PM