1612 DT final

claimed it for the third year consecutively.
The early class leader, Wynand Kleynhans
(Yamaha), was a model of consistency
and finished as the runner-up six times.
Only four points separated him from Van
Rooyen whose five consecutive race
victories ensured him the title. Lodewyk
Jansen van Vuren (KTM Centurion Liqui
Moly Racing) was third; Bruce Viljoen
(Doorzone Bikers Warehouse Husqvarna)
finished fourth with Bruce May (Agrisales
Peak Yamaha) fifth.
Like the Senior Class, the youngsters in
the High School Class also had a battle
on their hands. Adriano Catalano (D&H
Engineering Works Yamaha) took the
early lead by winning the first two events,
but it was the 2016 Junior Champion,
Stefan van Deventer (Alfie Cox Junior
KTM Racing) who took the title after being
victorious at the next four races – mere
seconds separated them most of the time
– and Catalano finished in a consistent
second place each time. Only four points
separated them. André Basson (Yamaha)
was third, only three points ahead of
Maarten van Jaarsveld (Doorzone Bikers
Warehouse Husqvarna) who was only two
points ahead of Troy Sullivan (KTM).
There was a fifth SA National
Championship title for Wayne Farmer
(Doorzone Bikers Warehouse Husqvarna)
who made his debut in the Master Class
this year. It was, however, not plain
sailing as his arch rival, former Senior
Class champion, Pieter Holl (KTM), was
breathing down his neck. Holl won three
times to finish second followed by Justin
Broughton (Sherco SA Racing) with Lyle
Roebert (Husqvarna) fourth and Harry
Grobler (Yamaha) fifth.
In the new 125cc Class, scholar Ryan
Pelser (KTM) showed what he was made
of by claiming three victories after a
problematic start to the season that saw
him not finishing the opening round. He
took the title ahead of another scholar,
Janco Pienaar (KTM) with the experienced
Izak Mans (Droomers Yamaha) third after
winning the opening round before ending
the season off in the Master Class.
Mans’ wife, Riki (Droomers Yamaha)
battled it out with scholar Karen Jansen
van Vuren (KTM) to take the title in the
Ladies Class with Yanke Pieterse (KTM),
who won three times, third. Riaan Prinsloo
(Yamaha) took the Silver Class Inter
Provincial Challenge title ahead of SJ
Bester (VANS Racing Division KTM) with
Hume Schönfeldt (Yamaha) third.
KTM won the coveted Manufacturer’s
Award ahead of Yamaha (second);
Husqvarna (third); Sherco (fourth after their
first season); Kawasaki and Honda.
In the quad category, two former Dakar
Rally participants won national titles.
Hannes Saaijman (Yamaha), who finished
in the top ten in the Dakar Rally in 2015,
took the National Quad Championship title
despite missing the opening round. He
was followed by Johan Oosthuizen (VANS
Racing Division Yamaha), who made his
debut in the national series this year with
André Park (Yamaha) rounding off the
podium after winning the opening round,
but then experiencing some problems
during the season and could not finish two
events.
Gideon Jacobs (KTM) also won once
and finished fourth with the defending
champion, Brian Baragwanath (Proudly
Bidvest Yamaha) fifth after only competing
twice before an elbow injury in Botswana
resulted in him having to call it a day to the
rest of the season.
George Twigge (Yamaha), who made
the halfway mark at the Dakar Rally earlier
this year, added a third Master Quad
Class Championship to claim a hat trick of
national titles. Stef Bester (VANS Racing
Division Yamaha) scored five podium
positions to finish as the runner-up after
his first national season with another
newcomer to the national series, Pierre van
Heerden (Honda) third. Motsumi Lekone
and Milton Thesen, both on Yamahas,
finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Morné Jansen van Vuren (Yamaha)
took the High School title ahead of the
defending champion, Keenan Hammon
(Yamaha), who was injured halfway
through the season while Megan Stander
(Yamaha) was third.
Yamaha is the winners of the
Manufacturer’s Award followed by Honda
and Suzuki.
Tel: (011) 027 9922 Fax: (086) 650 4987 / www.raceworxktm.co.za