MOTO X VOLUME 1 NUMBER 2

ANDREW BUTCHER
GARY BUTCHER
Moto X S.A. Page 2
Just Kidding!
The strength of any sport can generally
be gauged by the quality of its very junior
participants because these young people
will become the champions of tomorrow,
and the enthusiasm and competitive spirit
shown by South Africa's minicross riders
indicates that the future of motocross in
the Republic is a bright one.
These determined 8 to 12 year olds
provide spectators with as much excitement
as their older counterparts, and
their handling of bikes, which in most
cases weigh more than the rider, over the
jumps and round the berms leaves little
doubt as to their ability.
Moto X S.A. recently spoke to a
number of minicross competitors in order
to introduce them and their views and
ambitions to our readers.
In the predominantly male world of
motocross, 11 year old Mandy Meuter has
shown that females can hold their own.
Mandy, on her Super Steel Honda XR75,
is well known in motocross circles, so
much so that it was 10 year old Andrew
Butcher's (Honda XR75) prime objective
to "beat the girl". In the 2nd heat at the
recent Inter-provincials he did so and we
will be looking forward to further clashes
between Mandy and Andrew at future
meetings.
The Trow brothers, Alan (IO) and
Andrew (11), are no newcomers to the
track and between them have won 9 cups.
Their father recently imported a DG kit
for Alan's Yamaha, and we should see
some impressive riding from him. Andrew
is prone to coming down very often and
because of this carries the nickname
"Crasher" .
Grant McCleary, with 15 consecutive
wins under his belt, needs no introduction
to motocross regulars. Grant has a
new Honda XR75 and is still getting used
to it, but new bike or not will always be
amongst the mini cross leaders if his present
form persists. Another very promising
rider is Gary Butcher (9) who has 13
cups to his credit. Gary rides Suzuki and
can look forward to a great future.
The consistent Jeremy Davies (11) is
nearly always placed in the races in which
he competes. His brother Chris looks
after the mechanical side of his Honda
XR75.
Donovan Kotze is only 8 years of age,
and rides a Kawasaki 85. Donovan is a
quiet and unassuming little chap and has
a bit of time to go before matching the
minicross leaders. Craig Draper (11) rides
the Draper Plant Honda XR 75 and is a
stable mate of Charlie Tissen. He is still a
learner but feels that he is improving all
the time, and with some guidance from
Tissen could very well follow in that
rider's tyretracks. Robert Davies, on his
Yamaha 80, is a very game young rider.
This is his second minicross season.
It is interesting to surmise who the big
names in motocross will be within the
next ten years. With a lot of hard practice
and dedication it could well be that many
of our current minicross competitors will
become champions, and hopefully the
minicross riders at that time will be as
good as our current brood.
TO BE CONTINUED IN OUR NEXT
ISSUE.
ROBERT DAVIES