MRW Issue 54

COVER PIC BY TRACYS PICTURES

THIS ISSUE IS POWERED BY

ISSUE 54

ROAD

RAGE

ALL THE ACTION FROM THE ISLAND

SHIFT

HAPPENS

FIRST RIDE ON YAMAHA’S

NEW MT-09 Y-AMT

2SA RIDER

WATCH

ALSO INSIDE:

• BMW SBK CONCEPT

• DUNLOP RACING PAGES

• THE RAW EXPERIENCE

MOROCCO ADVENTURE

EDITOR’S NOTE

Welcome to Issue 54 of Motor Rider

World, South Africa’s best and boldest

digital motorcycle magazine – your

monthly gateway into the local and

international two-wheeled world we live

and breathe.

This month, we take you to the legendary

roads of the Isle of Man, where South

Africa’s own AJ Venter once again

flew our flag high at the 2025 TT. AJ

continues to prove why he’s the fastest

South African ever around the Mountain

Course, clocking new personal bests

and reminding the world that our local

talent can shine on the most dangerous

road circuit on earth. Respect, AJ – we’re

proud of you!

From the Isle to the circuits of South

Africa – Dunlop’s new soft Sportmax

Slicks made a sensational debut in

the SA Short Circuit Racing Series,

dominating from the get-go. We’ve got

the inside scoop on this game-changing

rubber, plus a full breakdown of all

things Dunlop Racing, across multiple

disciplines and provinces. If you’re

racing, Dunlop’s in it.

racing is brutal – and once again, our

boys brought the fight.

Back on home soil, our long-term Suzuki

GSX-S1000GX has just had its first

run-in service and received a brand-new

set of BAT Tech HP2 tyres – stay tuned

as we rack up the miles and share our

impressions. We also got our hands on

Yamaha’s new MT-09 YAMT – and trust

us, it’s a riot of a ride.

To round it off, feast your eyes on

stunning imagery from British Superbikes

at Donington Park, captured by the

incredibly talented team at Bourne Photo,

along with highlights from the MotoGP

round at Silverstone, where the thrills,

drama, and damp British weather didn’t

disappoint.

As always, we do this for the passion,

the people, and the love of motorcycling

– and we couldn’t do it without your

support. So, until next month – stay safe,

keep it on two wheels, support your local

bike shops, and most importantly…

Get out there and ride

CONTRIBUTORS

Beam Productions

Sheridan Morais

CONTACT

DETAILS

EDITOR/OWNER

Shaun Portman

072 260 9525

shaunpotman@gmail.com

Copyright © Moto Rider World:

All rights reserved. No part of this

publication may be reproduced,

distributed, or transmitted in any

form or by any means, including

photocopying, articles, or other

methods, without the prior written

permission of the publisher.

We also head into international waters

with the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies

Cup, where rising star KJ Mononyane

continues his climb against the best

young racers in the world.

And from sprint to stamina – we bring

you coverage from the 8 Hours of

Spa-Francorchamps, part of the FIM

Endurance World Championship, where

South African riders Sheridan Morais and

Steven Odendaal joined the global elite

in one of the toughest, most demanding

tests in world motorsport. Endurance

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www.gasgas.com

SPECIAL

EDITION

EC 300 GP

GASGAS ’25/EC 300 GP/GET ON THE GAS/

Easily the best looking enduro bike we’ve ever produced, taking inspiration

from the GASGAS raced to victory in the 1994 Enduro World Championship,

this stunning new model is much, much more than ‘just’ a beautiful looking

bike. Beyond the black rims, black frame, sick graphics, and the anodized

hardware like the front axle puller and SUPERSPROX rear sprocket, there’s

a Map Select Switch for tailored power and a skid plate to protect the

motor for continued performance. Speaking of performance, a radiator fan

keeps things cool no matter how wild things get. In addition, there’s also

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know you’re going to love it just as much as we do.

CHECK IT OUT!

Please make no attempt to imitate the illustrated riding scenes, always wear protective clothing and observe the applicable provisions of the road traffic regulations!

The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and some illustrations feature optional equipment available at additional cost.

NEWS DESK

BMW MOTORRAD

UNVEILS CONCEPT

RR: A GLIMPSE

INTO THE FUTURE

OF SUPERBIKES

At the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the

shores of Lake Como, BMW Motorrad pulled the covers

off its latest vision for the superbike world: the BMW

Motorrad Concept RR — a bold performance and design

statement that previews the next generation of RR models.

Markus Flasch, Head of BMW Motorrad, described the

unveiling as a landmark moment:

“Never before has BMW Motorrad offered such an early

look at a future RR model. The Concept RR is a true

masterpiece — a showcase of technical prowess and

distinctive design language. Drawing direct inspiration

from our factory superbike, the M 1000 RR, which carried

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu to a dominant World Superbike

Championship victory, this concept bike offers a

spectacular fusion of racing DNA and road-readiness.”

NEWS DESK

Race-Bred Power and Technology

At the heart of the Concept RR lies the formidable, watercooled

inline four-cylinder engine derived from BMW’s

WSBK-winning machine, delivering more than 230 hp (169

kW). This powerplant brings track-proven adrenaline to

the road, supported by cutting-edge electronics, including

engine management, traction control, and engine brake

systems directly sourced from the championship M 1000 RR.

A New Benchmark in Lightweight and Aerodynamics

BMW Motorrad’s commitment to lightweight excellence

is evident throughout the Concept RR. Using advanced

materials like carbon fiber and aluminum alongside

innovative manufacturing methods, every component has

been stripped to its essentials, focused on performance.

The sharp, purpose-built design features an embossed RR

logo on the tail and an illuminated RR symbol beneath the

sculpted aluminum rear — a signature touch that reflects the

brand’s design evolution.

“This powerplant brings track-proven adrenaline to the road,

supported by cutting-edge electronics, including engine

management, traction control, and engine brake systems

directly sourced from the championship M 1000 RR.”

NEWS DESK

Aerodynamic efficiency was a top

engineering priority. Balancing stability

at extreme speeds with minimal drag

and maximum cornering capability, the

Concept RR channels airflow not only

around but through the bike — from its

ventilated front to its monolithic, ventilated

rear. Integrated winglets and a trackfocused

fairing further reduce resistance

while maximizing downforce, optimizing

the machine for both street thrill and race

dominance.

those lessons directly to production bikes.

Every detail, from its high-performance

brakes to its compact silhouette, is built for

uncompromising riders who demand the

very best.

With the Concept RR, BMW Motorrad

doesn’t just offer a look at what’s next — it

sets the bar.

From Track to Street, Without

Compromise

The Concept RR captures BMW

Motorrad’s passion for

motorsport — and their

commitment to translating

SUPREME

SPORT

CROSSOVER

R299 900

EXCLUDING PANNIERS

BI-DIRECTIONAL QUICKSHIFTER

STANDARD

EQUIPMENT

www.suzukimotorcycle.co.za

NEWS DESK

LIVING LIFE WITH THE LONG-TERM

SUZUKI GSX-S1000GX

It’s been just over a month since we welcomed

Suzuki’s all-new GSX-S1000GX into our long-term

test fleet, and while winter hasn’t exactly made it

easy to pile on the kilometers, we’ve still managed

to rack up over 1,400 km. That’s enough time in

the saddle to start forming a real relationship with

the bike — and so far, it’s been nothing short of a

rewarding one.

The GX quickly underwent its first scheduled service

at Primrose Motorcycles, and hats off to the team

there — their attention to detail and professionalism

left us impressed. It’s reassuring when your local

dealer not only understands the machine, but clearly

cares for it as much as you do. If you’re in the area,

they come highly recommended.

The bike itself remains completely stock at this

stage — no aftermarket bits, no flashy bolt-ons.

And yet, we’ve been living life with it in a big

way. From solo commutes and weekend coffee

runs to quick mountain loops when the weather

allows, the GSX-S1000GX continues to deliver that

special balance between sporty edge and longhaul

comfort that defines modern sport-tourers.

The only change we’ve made is swapping out the

stock tyres for a set of BATT HPII’s, fitted shortly

after the 1000Km service. And what a revelation

they’ve been. These tyres heat up quickly — a

must during these frosty Johannesburg mornings

— and they’ve offered impressive grip across

the range of conditions we’ve encountered so

far. From wet tarmac to cold, greasy surfaces, the HPII’s have

complemented the GX’s character perfectly.

There haven’t been any mechanical issues or complaints to

report — it’s been smooth sailing all the way. And with winter

beginning to ease ever so slightly, we’ve got some exciting

riding on the horizon.

We’re particularly looking forward to joining the Suzuki Rider

Safety Day at Red Star Raceway on June 29th, where we’ll

get the chance to stretch the GX’s legs on a controlled circuit

environment. If you haven’t attended one of these Suzuki

training days before, you’re seriously missing out. It’s a great

way to sharpen your riding, meet fellow Suzuki fans, and enjoy

some safe, structured fun on two wheels.

And just a few days later, we’ll be heading to Suzuki’s 2025

Numbi Weekend Away from 4–6 July. This promises to be

another standout event on the calendar, and we can’t wait

to take the GX along for what should be an unforgettable

weekend of twisty roads, good company, and shared passion.

So, the next chapter of our GX journey looks set to be a busy

one. More kilometers, more adventures, and more stories to

tell. If you spot the GX out on the road, don’t forget to scan the

barcode on the bike, snap a selfie, and tag Moto Rider World

and Suzuki South Africa. You might just feature in one of our

future updates and get a T-shirt from Suzuki.

Here’s to more miles, more smiles, and a whole lot more GSX-

S1000GX in our lives.

NEWS DESK

HONDA REACHES HISTORIC 500

MILLION MOTORCYCLE MILESTONE

— A WORLD FIRST

Honda has become the first manufacturer in

history to reach a cumulative global production of

500 million motorcycles, marking an extraordinary

achievement in its 76-year journey since launching

mass production with the Dream D-Type in 1949.

Founded in 1948, Honda has consistently

delivered products that align with its core

philosophy: “the purpose of technology is to make

people’s lives easier.” From early days in Japan to

becoming a global powerhouse, the company’s

approach to localized production — beginning

in Belgium in 1963 — has been instrumental in

meeting diverse customer needs around the

world.

This milestone is the latest in a series of

production landmarks for Honda:

100 million units reached in 1997

200 million in 2008

300 million in 2014

400 million in 2019

Despite pandemic-related disruptions in 2020,

Honda’s motorcycle production rebounded

strongly, exceeding 20 million units annually.

Today, the company maintains production

operations in 23 countries with 37 facilities,

supported by a global dealer network of over

30,000 locations.

The 500 millionth unit — a Honda Activa — was

produced at Plant 4 of Honda Motorcycle

and Scooter India Private Limited (HMSI) in

Vithalapur, Gujarat, a symbolic nod to the growing

significance of India in Honda’s global strategy.

Toshihiro Mibe, Director, President, and

Representative Executive Officer of Honda Motor

Co., Ltd., commented:

“The motorcycle business is our founder’s

business — and it remains central to Honda’s

identity. This milestone is a result of the trust our

customers have placed in us over decades. I

would like to extend heartfelt thanks to everyone

involved, from development to production, sales,

and service. We will continue to bring the joy of

mobility to more people across the world.”

Honda’s future motorcycle strategy focuses on

a multi-faceted approach: enhancing its product

range, building operational efficiency, pursuing

electrification, and continuing to deliver the joy

and freedom of mobility to millions.

In addition to its leadership in internal combustion

engine (ICE) models, Honda has now entered

what it calls the “first year of global expansion” for

electric two-wheelers, launching new models and

accelerating efforts toward carbon neutrality and

product diversification.

NEWS DESK

WORLD SUPERCROSS HEADS

TO AFRICA FOR HISTORIC 2025

FINALE IN CAPE TOWN

The 2025 FIM World Supercross Championship

will conclude with a landmark event in Cape Town,

as the full season calendar confirms South Africa’s

debut on the global stage. On 13 December, the

South African GP will roar into the DHL Stadium,

marking the championship’s first-ever race in Africa

and setting the scene for a dramatic title-decider.

Promoted by Showtime Management, the Cape

Town finale represents a major leap for World

Supercross as it expands to a fifth continent. Set

against the backdrop of one of the world’s most

vibrant sporting cities, the event will crown the 2025

champions in front of an electrified crowd.

“Hosting the World Supercross Championship

finale in Cape Town is a milestone for motorsport

in South Africa and the entire continent,” said Tony

Feldman, Director of Showtime Management.

“Beyond the racing, this brings massive value to

our region through tourism, media exposure, and

economic impact.”

The 2025 season launches on 18 October in

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — the series’ first visit to

Southeast Asia — followed by rounds in Argentina

(8 November), Canada (15 November), and

Australia (29 November), before culminating in

Cape Town. Each round is strategically selected

to grow supercross’ global fanbase while bringing

high-octane action to new markets.

Now in its second year under SX Global

management, the 2025 season introduces a

bold rebrand for World Supercross. A new globeinspired

logo and rugged “W” emblem reflect the

championship’s international scale and gritty DNA.

Fans can expect the new identity to be woven

throughout the season across branding, digital

media, and live events.

“This is a defining year for World Supercross,” said

Tom Burwell, CEO of World Supercross. “We’re

delivering elite competition to five continents and

growing the sport in exciting, untapped markets.

From Kuala Lumpur to Cape Town, this will be our

most expansive and ambitious season yet.”

Antonio Alia Portela, FIM Motocross Commission

Director, added: “World Supercross is forging

a bold new path. Last season set a thrilling

standard, and this year’s calendar proves SX

Global’s commitment to growing the championship

worldwide.”

As anticipation builds, eyes now turn to the

returning champions — Eli Tomac (450cc), Shane

McElrath (250cc), and Fire Power Honda (Team) —

and who will rise to challenge them on the road to

Cape Town.

Team and rider line-ups will be announced in the

lead-up to the season opener in Malaysia.

For ticket presale and event details, visit

worldsupercrosschampionship.com.

NEWS DESK

DUNLOP SPORTMAX SLICKS

MAKE AN EXPLOSIVE RACE

DEBUT IN SOUTH AFRICA

The all-new soft compound Dunlop Sportmax

Slicks made their highly anticipated South African

race debut during Round 3 of the Short Circuit

Series Championship—and what a debut it was.

Behind the bars was none other than rising talent

Cayden Robert, who put the new rubber to the test

in a dramatic and unforgettable weekend of racing.

With no prior testing and freezing early morning

temperatures, Cayden rolled out onto track for

qualifying with nothing but instinct, experience, and

a set of fresh slicks beneath him. Despite the odds,

he immediately gelled with the tyres and secured

pole position in the morning session. However,

just as qualifying ended, disaster struck—Cayden

suffered a heavy crash, one that left the bike

damaged and the rider bruised.

But resilience defines a racer. Cayden and his team

rebuilt the bike in time for the races, and despite

the physical toll of the crash, he lined up for all

three heats with determination in his eyes and

Dunlops underfoot. What followed was a showcase

of pure grit and performance. He finished second

in race one, won race two, and closed the day with

another second-place finish in race three—clinching

the overall victory for the day.

It also marked an overall debut victory for

the new Dunlop Sportmax Slicks, and the

performance of the tyres was nothing short

of sensational. Even in cold and unforgiving

conditions, the slicks offered excellent

feedback, fast warm-up, and confidenceinspiring

grip. Cayden clocked a best lap time

of 55.750, further underlining the race pace

capabilities of these Moto3-derived tyres.

What’s even more impressive is that the team

is still fine-tuning the setup—particularly in

finding the ideal pressures to unlock their

full potential. Despite their strong debut, it’s

clear that these slicks still have massive room

for improvement. As development continues

and more data is gathered, even more

performance is expected to be extracted from

this promising new compound.

Originally designed for Moto3 racing in the

world championship before the switch to Pirelli

control tyres, these slicks have now landed

in South Africa, offering top-tier performance

for local racers—especially those in the

competitive 150cc category.

With sizes including 90/80 x 17 front and

115/70 x 17 rear, these slicks may look small,

but their grip and consistency are mighty.

Riders are already praising their aggressive

corner entry traction, strong mid-corner

stability, and predictable feel.

Retailing at R4,650 per set, the new Dunlop

Sportmax Slicks are now available at official

Dunlop Motorcycle dealers across South

Africa. If you’re looking to slice lap times, win

races, or simply push harder with confidence,

these tyres are a game-changer.

Victory on debut. Performance under pressure.

And with more to come—the Dunlop Sportmax

Slicks have arrived.

NEWS DESK

RAZGATLIOGLU’S FUTURE DECIDED:

SECURES MOTOGP MOVE WITH

PRAMAC YAMAHA FOR 2026

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad

WorldSBK Team), a two-time title winner in the

MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship,

will move to MotoGP next season after signing

a contract with Prima Pramac Racing to race

their Yamaha M1 machines. ‘El Turco’ will once

again be a Yamaha rider, having won the 2021

WorldSBK title with the Japanese brand and

getting his first taste of MotoGP machinery after

that, before his shock move to BMW for 2024

where he won the second of his two titles in

WorldSBK.

TOPRAK’S RISE THROUGH THE PADDOCK:

STK600 Champion, STK1000 runner-up

Razgatlioglu made a name for himself in 2014

when he made a one-off appearance in STK600

at Magny-Cours, winning the race. He returned

for 2015 and dominated the season, winning five

races and standing on the rostrum in all seven

races, as he claimed the title before earning a

move to STK1000 for 2016. He was fifth in his

second season before finishing as runner-up in

2017 with three wins and five podiums in eight

NEWS DESK

races; he was beaten to the title by Michael

Rinaldi. However, he had still done enough to

secure a ride in WorldSBK with Kawasaki Puccetti

Racing, who he raced for in STK1000.

FIRST TWO SEASONS IN WORLD SUPERBIKE:

podiums in his first year, wins in his second

‘El Turco’ wasted no time in getting up to speed

on the Kawasaki ZX-10RR, taking his first podium

at Donington Park with P2 and his second in

Argentina with P3. He finished that season

ninth in the standings before improving to fifth

in 2019 – when he claimed his first two wins at

Magny-Cours, taking P1 in Race 1 and the Tissot

Superpole Race from 16th on the grid. In total, he

finished with 13 rostrums in his second season,

before making the move to Yamaha for 2020.

SUCCESS AT YAMAHA: winning his first race in

blue, taking the 2021 title

It didn’t take long for the Turkish superstar to be

up to speed on the Yamaha R1 in 2020, winning

his first race in blue at Phillip Island – a circuit that

isn’t his strongest – while he ended the year with

two more wins at Estoril. In 2021, he upped his

game in terms of consistency, winning 13 races

out of 37 and taking a remarkable 29 podiums as

he beat six-time Champion Jonathan Rea (Pata

Maxus Yamaha), then riding for the Kawasaki

Racing Team WorldSBK, and Scott Redding

(MGM BONOVO Racing), a Ducati factory rider

at the time, to the title. More wins in 2022 than

2021 followed – 14 compared to 13 – as he

relinquished his crown to Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it

Racing - Ducati), before he finished second again

in 2023. Following his 2021 success, Razgatlioglu

got a couple of runs on the Yamaha MotoGP

machine, first at Aragon in 2022 and then at Jerez

in 2023.

THE BOMBSHELL MOVE: moving from the R1

to the M 1000 RR

Eyebrows were raised when it was announced

Razgatlioglu would join BMW for 2024, but it

was a move that paid off. He broke the record

for consecutive wins, with 13, on his way to the

title – his second and BMW’s first – despite

missing two rounds through injury. 18 wins and

27 podiums in his 30 races made it a recordbreaking

campaign for the #1, who is in search of

a second consecutive crown. Ahead of the Pirelli

Emilia-Romagna Round, Razgatlioglu has six wins

and 11 podiums in 15 races, sitting second in the

Championship standings behind Nicolo Bulega

(Aruba.it Racing - Ducati).

NEWS DESK

THE NEXT CHALLENGE: a MotoGP

switch awaits

Razgatlioglu will leave WorldSBK at the end of

the 2025 season and move to MotoGP as he links

up with the Prima Pramac Racing squad with

the Yamaha M1 machine. He leaves WorldSBK

as the rider with the joint-second most wins (63),

the second-most podiums (264), 11th-most race

starts (237), sixth-most poles (20) and fourthmost

fastest laps (53). In terms of wins and

podiums, Razgatlioglu is only beaten by Rea,

while only three riders have more than two titles

in WorldSBK: Rea (6), Carl Fogarty (4) and Troy

Bayliss (3).

“We are thrilled to welcome Toprak back into

the Yamaha family. Toprak, the most victorious

Yamaha rider of all time in WorldSBK, has

proven to be an exceptional talent, securing the

WorldSBK title twice, which is no mean feat. His

transition to MotoGP is both a ‘homecoming’ and

an exciting new challenge that’s been set up with

the clear goal of progressive growth over time.

His fighting spirit and determination are a perfect

fit for both the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP

Team and Yamaha’s bold MotoGP strategy, so we

believe 2026 is the right time to make the move

that many fans have been waiting for.”

YAMAHA SAYS: “We are thrilled to welcome

Toprak back into the Yamaha family”

Managing Director at Yamaha Motor Racing,

Paolo Pavesio, said of Razgatlioglu’s move:

MICHELIN TO BECOME

OFFICIAL TYRE SUPPLIER FOR

WORLDSBK FROM 2027

Michelin will become the exclusive official tyre

supplier for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World

Championship from the 2027 season onwards.

The five-year partnership, running through to

2031, highlights the shared commitment of

Michelin and the Championships to innovation,

sustainability, safety, and ongoing development

benefiting motorcycle users. Michelin will focus

specifically on continuous improvement in tyre

quality, durability, and safety, aligning closely with

the Championship’s high technical standards and

competitive spirit.

Michelin will supply tyres to all categories,

including WorldSBK, WorldSSP, and the newly

introduced World Sportbike (WorldSPB) class,

as well as the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World

Championship (WorldWCR).

Michelin’s extensive motorsport experience and

technological know-how will ensure consistent

performance across diverse conditions and the

range of tracks featured on the Championship

calendar, supporting teams and riders in

maintaining a highly competitive field throughout

the season.

Until then, Pirelli will remain the Official Tyre

Supplier through to the close of the 2026 season,

continuing to provide dedicated support to

participants competing at the highest level while

further developing its tyre line-up.

This will mark the end of a significant era, as

Pirelli’s pioneering partnership with WorldSBK

since 2004 established the Championship as the

first global motorsport series to adopt a single tyre

supplier, setting a standard later followed by other

leading racing series.

NEWS DESK

VIÑALES DENIES BEZZECCHI

LATE ON AS ARAGON’S

TEST CONCLUDES

New items and stories were promised; new items

and an abundance of stories were delivered. The

Official Test at MotorLand Aragon – following

Round 8 of the year – gave us plenty to get stuck

into, from late improvements, new aero packages,

carbon fibre swingarms, fairing adaptations and

a star debutant who impressed many. Maverick

Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) edged out Marco

Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) by 0.006s with a

1’47.694 on his last flying lap to go P1, with Marc

Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) third, 0.049s

covering the top three at the end of play.

in the afternoon heat, before a final flying lap took

him to the top. ‘Bestia’ went faster than he did all

weekend, coming away with P16.

Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)

and Brad Binder both donned new ‘stegosaurus’

wings, seen for the first time with the Austrian

manufacturer. Acosta fell at Turn 7 before lunch

but then went out without any rear aero at all, so

experimenting was certainly the call of the day for

the #37. Both riders tried a new side fairing too,

potentially for engine cooling purposes. Acosta

was out on track into the final hour and completed

it a solid fifth, whilst the #33 of Binder set personal

best laps in the closing 30 minutes to finish P13.

Besides the four regular riders, Pol Espargaro

was present, taking 19th at the flag and doing

important work. All KTMs continued well into the

last hour, improving as the temperature dropped

back down.

KTM: plenty of new parts seen across

both garages

KTM had another busy test, just like at Jerez

in April. Starting with Viñales and teammate

Enea Bastianini, they had a revised front

fairing, very similar to Ducati’s, whilst both

were spotted using the salad boxes (or

mass dampers to be more technical) at

the rear of the bike, which was hailed as a

positive to dial out chatter, but only when set

up correctly, otherwise it exacerbates the

issue. This was previously seen in the preseason

tests, but only Bastianini has used it

regularly. Viñales was up inside the top three

NEWS DESK

APRILIA: new aero and a debut for a new rider

Trialling a new front fairing and with good

feedback, Aprilia. The shape is slightly altered and

instead of it being more angular, it’s now simpler

and has a straight down outer edge. Then, the

wings on the front have also changed slightly, with

a more pronounced side edge to them but really,

it’s a minor update.

Other work included engine management,

chassis setup and electronics, all to improve

stability coming out of corners. Test rider Lorenzo

Savadori was busy as usual but a crash at Turn 8

brought out a brief stoppage. Bezzecchi was a late

improver up the order to P5 before topping the

times on a 1’47.700, until ultimately finishing P2

by just 0.006s; Savadori was 20th.

also in action and improved late on to go P12. For

all Aprilias, it was a vital test in hot temperatures, a

weakness in 2024 and something they’ll continue

to face as the season evolves.

DUCATI: Pecco enjoying new fairing, Marquez

into 1’45s immediately

Ducati were working on a new fairing, previously

seen in pre-season and whilst Francesco Bagnaia

(Ducati Lenovo Team) enjoyed it but wasn’t 100%

sure, Championship leader and teammate Marc

Marquez echoed the #63. That was the main item

for the factory team to test, not wanting to upset

the good feeling that they enjoyed on Sunday.

Asked whether or not this will be used for Pecco

at Mugello, team boss Davide Tardozzi stated that

it’s likely to be seen at Mugello, whilst also saying:

“I think we have Pecco back.”

Come the close of the day, Marc was P2 whilst

Pecco was ninth but the feeling was the main

reference of success.

For BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, Fermin Aldeguer

was in brilliant form and up inside the top two on

the combined sheets for a good part of the day

before finishing P4. He spent time working on

front feeling after a weekend where he lacked total

confidence. Teammate Alex Marquez took P8 and

worked on suspension and electronics settings.

Whilst the factory riders looked for corner exit

stability, it was a whole different approach

at Trackhouse Aprilia as Manuel Gonzalez

(Trackhouse MotoGP Team) debuted on MotoGP

machinery and was instantly quick. Deputising for

the injured Ai Ogura, ‘Manugas’ was straight on

the pace and despite a Turn 2 fall, impressed team

boss Davide Brivio, who spoke of how “proud” he

was to give a chance to a young rider who deserves

it. The #18 improved in the final laps to move into

P21, whereas team leader Raul Fernandez was

NEWS DESK

In the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team box,

improving the feeling was key as well as getting set

for their home Grand Prix at Mugello, something

they dedicated a portion of the day to. Franco

Morbidelli suffered a crash at Turn 10 in the closing

stages of the day, but it was a good day besides

that in P6. Teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio was

11th after getting to grips with Ducati’s new front

fairing, he was doing plenty of running on that

alongside Marc Marquez and Pecco.

YAMAHA: swingarms remain pivotal, V4 later in

the week in Barcelona

Over at Yamaha and it was a productive day with

plenty of items to try; whilst Fabio Quartararo

(Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) had the same

swingarm in the morning as he used throughout

the weekend, teammate Alex Rins was using a

newer version as well as back-to-backing it with

the old one. On the aero front, the latest package

continues to be used by Quartararo, and Rins,

whilst keeping the old aero package at the front,

tried other aspects of aerodynamic work. The

#42 also crashed twice – once at Turn 12 and the

other after running off at Turn 8 – but both riders

finished early, choosing not to cause confusion

with the extra grip created after three days of track

action. P7 for Fabio, P18 for Alex.

At the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP squad,

swingarms were the biggest call of the day too,

with both varieties showcased. Yamaha’s problem

has been rear grip, and this is something that is

always at a premium at circuits like Aragon and

Barcelona-Catalunya. That’s why the full-time

riders are here this week as well as Jack Miller and

Miguel Oliveira joining official test rider Augusto

Fernandez on track in Barcelona in a few days

– where Fernandez and fellow official test rider

Andrea Dovizioso will be using the latest version

of Yamaha’s V4. For Miller and Oliveira, a steady

but positive day, 14th and 15th respectively.

HONDA: evolution, not revolution

In the Honda camp, the main talking point centred

on Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) testing the

carbon fibre swingarm, which test rider Aleix

Espargaro first raced with at the Spanish GP. With

the absence of Mir’s teammate Luca Marini, a lot

of the testing load was placed on the 2020 World

Champion’s shoulders. Mir was P10 and ensured

all five manufacturers were present inside the allimportant

top ten, something to keep an eye on

moving forward.

Team Manager Alberto Puig commented that

other small items were being run during the

Test by Mir. French GP winner Johann Zarco

(CASTROL Honda LCR) also tried and liked the

new swingarm, and rookie Somkiat Chantra

(IDEMITSU Honda LCR) continued to chip away,

but there was nothing radical in terms of engine

and aerodynamic parts as HRC make small gains

with the RC213V. Zarco took 17th whilst Chantra

completed the order in 22nd.

SILVERSTONE

MOTOGP

CAPTURED BY

RACHEL

MRW had the pleasure of attending the

recent Silverstone round of the 2025 MotoGP

Championship in the UK. As always with

MotoGP—and especially at Silverstone—it was

a weekend packed with high-octane action

and some of the most thrilling racing we’ve

seen all season across every class. Capturing

the intensity and drama on track was Rachel

Bourne of Bourne Photo. Over the next few

pages, we’re excited to share a selection of her

standout images from the weekend. Enjoy!

SHIFT HA

For over a decade, the Yamaha MT-09 has been a symbol of aggress

unmistakable styling and the torque-heavy CP3 triple-cylinder engine

pushes the boundaries even further with the introduction of the MT-0

evolution of the MT-09. It’s a complete reimagining

FIRST SA RIDE

YAMAHA’S NEW

MT-09 Y-AMT

PPENS

ion, raw power, and agile handling in the Hyper Naked class. With its

, it became an icon in the “Dark Side of Japan” lineup. Now, Yamaha

9 Y-AMT—now officially available in South Africa. This isn’t just an

of the ride experience. Words Shaun Portman | Pics by Beam Productions

At the heart of this new chapter is Yamaha’s

innovative Y-AMT system—Yamaha Automated

Manual Transmission. It offers riders the choice

between fully manual gear changes using intuitive

finger-operated switches or automatic shifting

through two selectable ride modes. Gone is the

traditional clutch lever and foot gear shifter. In

their place, a new level of control and fluidity is

introduced, allowing riders to either flick through

gears manually with see-saw paddles on the left

handlebar, or sit back and let the bike handle

shifts seamlessly.

Manual mode offers precise and rapid

gear changes with a pull or push of the index

finger and thumb. It’s an incredibly satisfying

experience—especially when you realise you

never need to lift your foot from the peg or your

hand from the bar. Automatic mode, on the other

hand, provides two options: D+ for a sportier,

higher-revving ride that taps into the full potential

of the CP3 engine, or D for smoother, low-rev

shifts that are ideal for urban riding or touring. At

any moment, even in auto, you can take over and

shift manually with the paddles.

OUT ON THE ROAD, THE

MT-09 Y-AMT PROVES

WHY IT MAKES SO MUCH

SENSE. IT’S ESPECIALLY

SUITED FOR DAILY RIDERS

OR THOSE NEW TO THE

SPORT WHO MIGHT

FIND TRADITIONAL GEAR

SHIFTING INTIMIDATING.

This fluid control system enhances the overall

riding experience by sharpening the rider’s

connection with the machine. By shifting with

your hands rather than your feet, and without the

need to modulate a clutch, your focus is freed up

to hone in on throttle control, body positioning,

braking, and cornering—all critical in dynamic, fastpaced

riding scenarios. It’s a system that rewards

attention to detail and gives back with heightened

precision and confidence.

Out on the road, the MT-09 Y-AMT proves why

it makes so much sense. It’s especially suited for

daily riders or those new to the sport who might

find traditional gear shifting intimidating. There’s

no fuss—just twist the throttle and go. In traffic, it’s

smooth and effortless. On long highway stints,

cruise control works beautifully, reducing fatigue

and allowing you to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Despite being a naked bike, wind protection is

surprisingly good, with little buffeting even at speed. For

riders of average height, it strikes a comfortable balance

between airflow and resistance.

Performance remains as thrilling as ever. The 890cc

triple churns out a healthy 119 horsepower and 93 Nm of

torque, and top speed easily pushes past 220 km/h. It’s

lively, punchy, and smooth—whether you’re charging down a

backroad or navigating city streets. The chassis, a lightweight

CF aluminium die-cast unit, provides exceptional agility,

while fully adjustable suspension and Brembo radial braking

components keep everything controlled and responsive.

Build quality, as always with Yamaha, is top-tier. The bike

feels solid, refined, and thoughtfully engineered. That said,

the addition of Y-AMT controls makes the left switchgear

a bit crowded, which can lead to some button-fumbling

until muscle memory sets in. Still, this is a minor flaw in an

otherwise stellar package.

Y-AMT itself is a triumph of Yamaha’s “Jin-Ki Kanno”

philosophy—the pursuit of creating machines that feel like

natural extensions of the rider. Every ride becomes a more

immersive, more exhilarating experience. You don’t think

about shifting; you just feel it happen, intuitively and instantly.

It elevates the thrill of acceleration and the art of cornering,

delivering consistent, crisp shifts with none of the guesswork

or fatigue of traditional setups.

Priced at R259,950, the Yamaha MT-09 Y-AMT is now

available in South Africa, redefining what a performance

naked bike can be. Whether you’re an experienced rider

craving something different, or someone looking for a

premium riding experience without the intimidation factor,

the MT-09 Y-AMT delivers on all fronts. It’s the future of

motorcycling—ready now.

ONE W

RID

2,500 KM ACROSS MOROCCO ON ROYAL

ILD

EXCLUSIVE

FEATURE

THE RAW

EXPERIENCE

MOROCCO TOUR

E

ENFIELD MOTORCYCLS. Words Daniella Kerby | Pics by Beam Productions

I’m here to tell you about the 12 most insane days of my life — 2,500

km across Morocco on motorcycle’s with 12 men, a questionable

GPS, and goats. Sounds wild? It was. Now throw in snowball fights in

the Atlas Mountains, borderline-illegal toilet stops, daily snack heists,

and grown men who treated coffee like oxygen and whisky like religion.

Oh — and the plot twist? I was the only woman and the youngest.

But let me tell you — it was insane in the best way. It was glorious. It

was Morocco, baby. I got sunburnt and had snow ball fight in the same

day. I laughed so hard I almost needed medical attention. I saw ancient

cities and desert moonscapes.

And I got to do it all with a band of misfit legends on motorcycles

who made every wrong turn feel like the right one, And trust me—we

made plenty of wrong turns, And U-turns. So many U-turns.

But the real magic? The crew, the riders. So before I dive into the full

madness, meet the legends I had the joy (and occasional headache) of

touring with:

THE LINEUP: MEET THE MOROCCO 13

13 LEGENDS. 13 BIKES. 1 UNFORGETTABLE

ADVENTURE.

1. John Swart – The coolest rider in the desert. Calm, cautious,

always observing... and somehow always spotless.

2. Dirk Kruger – Smooth operator with a cigar, very calm and relaxed.

3. Dr. Francois Swanepoel – The doctor is always in. Sweet, kind,

and always up for an adventure.

4. Sarel Naude – Aka Black Hawk Down. Loud, hilarious, and a

professional prankster.

5. Leon Pheiffer – Running a business empire from the handlebar’s

of his bike. Always hungry, always funny.

6. Johan Smalberger – Our official bike tester and professional

medina shopper. Rode hard, haggled harder.

7. Rian Swart – Lost a shoe sole mid-tour and fixed it with duct tape.

Still finished in style.

8. Eugene Van Niekerk – Silent by sunlight, party by moonlight.

Gravel guy? Absolutely not.

9. Warren Stott – Arrived mysterious, left legendary. Still searching for

the exclusive Moroccan bottle store.

10. Coenie Middel – The negotiator. Half undercover spy, half media

guy. Always getting pranked—or secretly orchestrating one.

11. Gerrit Erasmus – My partner in crime and co-organizer. Human

toolkit, GoPro whisperer, fixer of all things, and human rider-assist.

12. Dale Ingram – Our GPS in human form. Never lost—even when

the rest of us were.

13. Me, Daniella Kerby – the only lady, the organizer.

MOROCCO MOTORCYCLE TOUR

12 DAYS OF CHAOS

DAY 1 – STICKERS, SPIRITS & SPA LIFE

The riders landed in Marrakech around 3PM and headed

straight to the Palm Plaza Hotel & Spa—a beautiful brown

hotel (like every hotel in Morocco, honestly). While most of

the crew got cozy at the hotel bar, Daniella, Gerrit, and Dale

were out in the parking lot playing “Extreme Motorcycle

Makeover”—slapping on sponsor stickers (big thanks to our

awesome sponsors!) and installing the Gearsell camera

system, complete with front and rear cams on 1 of the

Royal Enfield.

Dinner was a hit, the wine was flowing, and the

excitement was real. Spirits were high—literally and

figuratively.

DAY 2 – OIL LEAKS & WINE MECHANICS

After a big breakfast, we hit the road for a scenic 336km ride

through the breathtaking Atlas Mountains. Around half way,

Coenie noticed oil dripping onto his boot—turns out his bike

was missing its entire oil cap. Not ideal. This is a problem!

The emergency fix? Duct tape. Not ideal but a temporary

fix, 10min ride later we arrive a remote coffee shop, Gerrit

casually grabbed a bottle of wine from the van (no, drinking

and riding I said, I have an Idean Gerrit said), poured it into

an NPL juice bottle (sponsor win again!), then removed

the corkscrew and screwed it into the oil hole on the bike.

Boom—instant plug. Who needs a mechanic when you’ve

got a corkscrew? And a Gerrit?

We rolled into Kasbah Tizzarouine hotel just in time for a

spectacular sunset, with a view so phenomenal it looked like

a postcard. And this was only Day 2… this hotel is definitely

one of a kind, it has cave rooms!

DAY 3 – GORGES, CAMELS &

UNFORGETTABLE SMELLS

This was meant to be our longest ride of the tour—408km.

So naturally, we started way too early, before the sun had

even committed to rising. We wolfed down breakfast, geared

up, and stepped outside... straight into an icebox.

All 13 of us were shivering, but that didn’t stop us—

we jumped on the 450cc Royal Enfield’s and hit the

dirt like champs (very cold champs). Our route took us

toward Dades Gorges, mountains like you have never

seen before! This is the crown jewel of Morocco’s riding

roads—and the very reason we signed up for this crazy

trip in the first place.

First stop: the bizarre and beautiful Monkey Fingers

rock formations, followed by Narrow, sweeping roads

that looked like they’d been designed by a motorcyclist.

Then came Todgha Gorge and Dades Valley, and

let me tell you—I was speechless. Not because I was

frozen solid (although that was part of it), but because

the scenery was mind-blowing.

We stopped for a quick coffee break to defrost our

organs in Dades Valley took photo’s, then hit the road

again, aiming for the Merzouga Desert. After 6 hours

of riding, dust in every crevice imaginable, we arrived...

and traded motorcycles for camels.

Now, no one tells you this before a camel ride, so

let me be the one: camels stink. Not just “farm animal”

stink—this was biblical funk, but even with that, the

sunset ride into the desert was magical. A few of the

guys were hesitant at first, but by the end, every single

one of them was grinning like a kid on Christmas.

We arrived at our luxury desert camp—cozy tents,

soft beds, and wine that tasted like victory. Dinner was

fantastic, and the night ended around a bonfire with

local Berber musicians playing drums and guitars

under a sky so packed with stars it looked fake.

Honestly? Cold toes, smelly camels, 408km of

asphalt and dust—and it was still one of the best days.

DAY 4 – SHORT RIDE, BIG BITES

Day 4 felt like a breeze—just 127km to Hotel Rissani.

The highlight? The food. No jokes—Hotel Rissani

served up one of the best meals of the trip. Full

stomachs and happy riders. Every day of the tour we

would pick a fine master, and the fine master during

dinner would present his fines for the day, now even

thou the ride was short, the fines list definitely was not!

Everyone got fined! Even the fine master got a fine.

Fine’s were payable in drinks.

DAY 5 – TWISTS, TRAFFIC & TOES

IN DANGER

We left Hotel Rissani and cruised through 347km of

roads—an absolute dream… until we hit Fez.

The last 5km? Utter chaos. The traffic was like

something out of a video game set on “nightmare

mode.” No robots (that’s traffic lights, for the non-South

Africans), just endless circles of doom. Rules? None.

Logic? Absent.

It took us 20 minutes to move 1km, even on bikes. At

one point, a car literally parked on Dale’s foot while he

was still on his bike. You can’t make this stuff up.

Cars were so close, you could read people’s

WhatsApp messages through their windows (if you

could understand there writing). Welcome to Fez.

Honestly, Fez traffic isn’t driving—it’s survival.

DAY 6 – MEDINA MAZE &

MARKET MADNESS

Free day in Fez! Some of the guys stayed at the hotel to

catch up on work (aka nap), while the rest of us went

full tourist mode in the Fez medina.

We hit the markets, saw the famous tanneries

(smelled them before we saw them), and got

completely lost in the winding alleyways. It’s like

someone built a shopping mall, shook it up, and turned

off Google Maps.

It was all left, right, left, right, wait—weren’t we just

here? Pure chaos. But the Moroccan tea hit the spot,

and the shopping was top-notch.

Fez gave us culture, confusion, and a solid cardio

workout. 10 million steps later!

DAY 7 – MOUNTAINS, MISADVENTURES

& MISSING DESSERTS

We left Fez and aimed for Chefchaouen—but not the

touristy part. Oh no, we went full bush edition. During

the start of our morning Gerrit was riding behind John,

and noticed that something was not right as john pull

over his bake brakes started smoking, so half of the

rider’s including myself went ahead to the closed coffee

shop for some coffee and warmth, while Gerrit, Dale &

few other gents went to sort out johns back brakes, in

not time they where on the road again

Twisting through mountain passes, dodging goats,

and climbing higher than our phone signal could reach,

we were surrounded by insane views that looked

Photoshopped in real life.

As we started getting closer to Chefchaouen, the

legendary Blue City appeared in the distance like a

magical Smurf kingdom. Then—parking lot. We ditched

the bikes and headed to our hidden hotel.

Our hotel? Nestled beside a crystal-clear river

and a waterfall so pretty it made you question all

your life choices. The water was so transparent you

could see your future in it—and so cold it could reset

your Wi-Fi router.

We settled in with sundowners in the bush,

surrounded by trees, laughter, and just enough wine to

forget how sore our butts were. Dinner was amazing…

Every dessert was out of stock. but thankfully the wine

wasn’t. Crisis averted.

DAY 8 – WATERFALLS, WILDERNESS

& WINE IN DISGUISE

We started the day feeling brave—a casual 12km hike

to Achour waterfall. Eight of us set off, backpacks full

of ambition. By the end, only five survivors remained.

The others retreated to the hotel spa likewise,

pampered warriors.

The hike was brutal—up, down, river crossings,

slippery rocks, one donkey, two confused dogs, and

a constant internal monologue of “Why did I agree to

this?” But the waterfall? Absolutely worth it. It looked

like something out of a postcard... until three of the

Gents jumped in and immediately came out looking

like they’d seen a ghost. That water wasn’t just cold—it

had personality.

Not wanting to feel left out, having Francois, Sarel,

John and Gerrit tell me I must get in. I dipped my feet

in for about 30 seconds—just long enough to lose

all circulation below the knee and question my life

choices. The water was freezing, I could feel my legs it

just went num.

Now here’s the kicker: I’m 25 years old, and I was

hiking with men in their 50s and 60s who powered

up those trails like mountain goats on protein shakes. I

was gasping for air, praying for a helicopter extraction,

and they were casually chatting like they were on a

stroll to the fridge. I swear one of them might actually

be Chuck Norris in disguise. They not just hiking, they

hiking in hurry.

After surviving the hike, we headed into

Chefchaouen—aka the Blue City, aka Instagram

heaven. Everything is blue. Walls? Blue. Doors? Blue.

Cats? Probably blue.

We got lost, shopped, explored, and drank wine out

of a teapot (because Ramadan rules). Then, the sunset

call to prayer hit—and within seconds, the city went

from buzzing to completely empty. Not a soul in sight.

It was like the apocalypse. Ten minutes later? Boom!

Life returned, families in the streets, music, laughter—

Chefchaouen was reborn. Everyone has finished eating

or was busy eating, it was so beautiful to see the life of

the city!

We ended the day with a taxi ride that felt more like

a Formula 1 qualifier. Our driver was clearly Michael

Schumacher’s Moroccan cousin, dodging goats,

tourists, and gravity. We held on for dear life—and loved

every second.

DAY 9 – LOST & MCFOUND

We left Chefchaouen and made our way to Avanti

Beach Hotel in Mohammedia. Somewhere along the

way, John and Dirk went missing—classic. After some

backtracking, panic texting, and blaming Google

Maps, they eventually found their way to the hotel (alive,

thankfully).

Once reunited, Coenie saved the day with a surprise

delivery of McDonald’s for everyone. Nothing like a

Big Mac after a long ride. The beach, the burgers, the

banter—pure bliss.

Later, the hotel lobby turned into a MotoGP fan

zone. All 13 of us gathered around the TV like kids on

Christmas morning. Staring at the MotoGP race on this

tiny tablet! It was great!

DAY 10 – COFFEE, CULTURE &

CASABLANCA’S SECRET LIQUOR LAIR

Day 10 was a “do what you want” kind of day, so

naturally, we did what we do best—ride, eat, and hunt

for coffee and chaos.

We kicked things off with breakfast, then hit the

streets of Casablanca. First stop: petrol and caffeine,

the lifeblood of any respectable motorcycle crew. Once

refuelled (both man and machine), we rolled up to the

stunning Hassan II Mosque—and immediately began

debating if our bikes were allowed in the courtyard.

(Spoiler: no.)

After soaking up some culture and grabbing another

coffee (obviously), we stumbled across the iconic Rick’s

Café—yes, that one, from Casablanca. Super cool,

super classy, and totally unexpected.

Half the squad called it a day, but me, Gerrit, and

Warren went on a mission—the liquor mission. After

following a series of clues that felt like a Moroccan

version of National Treasure, we ended up behind a

fridge door in a random shop, where—surprise!—we

found a secret booze stash. Hidden. Behind. A. Fridge.

Because nothing screams “cultural experience” like

whiskey in a walk-in freezer.

DAY 11 – THE FINAL RIDE &

FAREWELL TO NUMB BUMS

Our last day of real riding—and wow, the

mood was emotional. Not like “tears in the

rain” emotional, but more like “my butt may

never feel normal again” kind of emotional.

Determined to squeeze every last drop out

of the adventure, we took the scenic route,

detouring through another city just for the heck

of it (and for coffee, obviously). The roads were

smooth, the views were stunning, and the

realization hit: this was it—our final throttle twist.

We rode like legends… or at least like a

group of 13 slightly sore legends who didn’t

want the trip to end.

One last ride, one last coffee stop, and a

million memories packed into our saddlebags.

DAY 12 – MOTORCYCLES

RETURNED, MOROCCANS

UNLEASHED

The final day kicked off with a sad farewell to

our beloved Royal Enfield’s. Some hugged

them. Some whispered “thank you.” Others

handed the keys over like they were returning

a rental toaster.

With the bikes gone, everyone went full

freestyle—some hit the souks, some hit

the shops, some hit the minibar. We were

supposed to go water go-karting… but by

lunchtime, the crew had one too many giggles

and wine that we skipped it. No drinking and

Riding, weather its 1 wheel or 4 wheels.

Post-Ramadan Morocco came ALIVE.

The quiet streets turned into a full-on festival.

Restaurants packed, music pumping, locals

celebrating, and yes… belly dancers were

involved (don’t ask who, just know they had a

great time).

Meanwhile, the rest of us kept it mellow

with T-bones, wine, and heartfelt toasts at the

hotel—because nothing says “end of an epic

tour” like red meat and wine.

DAY 13 – SQUEEZED, SQUASHED

& HOMEBOUND

We stuffed 13 slightly sunburnt, mildly

hungover adventurers (plus luggage) into

a bus built for about 8 and headed to the

airport like a touring rock band on a budget.

The vibe? Bittersweet. Tired but happy. A

little sore, a little emotional, and still slightly

smelling like camel.

After 12 days, 2500km, no back brakes

and one corkscrew oil plug—we were

heading home.

Morocco: you were pure madness. And

we’d do it all again in a heartbeat.

OVERALL – MOROCCO, MADNESS

& MEMORIES

Morocco was pure magic on two wheels.

Sure, the locals could be a bit... grumpy

(talking about the Moroccans, not our riders—

although that’s debatable before morning

coffee), but the experience was unreal.

The bikes? Absolute legends. Those 450cc

Royal Enfield’s handled everything—from

snow-capped mountains to flat out to the

camel-crossed deserts—and didn’t complain

once (unlike some riders).

We laughed, we froze, we sweated, we

nearly cried (mostly from traffic in Fez). We

got lost in medinas, had snowball fights on

the roadside, and survived more near-death

donkey encounters than we care to admit.

The food? Different—but delicious. The

people? Wild and wonderful. The memories?

Unforgettable. To explain the feeling and the

moment is near to impossible, you need to do

this once if your life, experience what it means

to Explore.

But what made it truly special was the crew.

Traveling with The RAW Experience isn’t just

a tour—it’s a lifestyle. It’s that no-rules, all-fun,

choose-your-own-adventure:

Want to ride solo all day? Do it. Want to

drink wine and talk nonsense with legends?

Pull up a chair. Want to go hike waterfalls or

swim in ice-cold rivers like a lunatic? Be our

guest. Want a hotel room ready, food sorted,

and nothing to worry about? Already done.

Morocco gave us everything. And we gave

it our full throttle.

As we wrap up this unforgettable Morocco

motorcycle tour with The Raw Experience, we

want to take a moment to give a heartfelt thank

you to the incredible sponsors who made this

journey possible.

Your support was far more than just

logos on a banner—it was a vital part of our

adventure, woven into the fabric of each day.

From the grit of the trails to the laughter around

the dinner table, your contribution added a

layer of magic that uplifted not only our team

but every single rider on this journey.

You didn’t just sponsor us—you became

part of our story. To our valued sponsors:

@ridgewayracebar @npl_international

@bikewise.za @motul_south_africa

@print & promo crew @acerbismotorsport

@pretoriusblomme @libertas_gh

@camalot_sa @motoriderworld

@beamproductions @ianddtech

@_nikonsouthafrica

Thank you for believing in this dream. Your

support made a real difference—and we’ll

carry that with us, mile after mile.

Please make no attempt to imitate the illustrated riding scenes, always wear protective clothing and observe the applicable provisions of the road traffic regulations!

The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and some illustrations feature optional equipment available at additional cost.

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BLAST

FROM THE

PAST FEATURE

In this feature, we rewind to September 2020 — the very beginning

of Moto Rider World. This was our first major test and feature as

MRW, featured in Issue 1, putting a pair of fire-breathing naked

sports bikes through their paces on some of South Africa’s most

stunning roads. Though our creator, Rob Portman, is no longer with

us, this remains a powerful story we’re proud to share once again.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

We do live in a beautiful country, and we

sometimes take that for granted—well, at least

I know I do. Yes, there are so many problems

we as South Africans have to deal with, but just

like anything we love, you have to take the good

with the bad. This is our home and always will

be, no matter where we end up in life.

On a recent trip down to George, I got to

experience a little more of this beautiful home

I live in. In my 38 years of living in SA, I had

only been to George once before—many

moons ago—while driving through to Knysna.

My gorgeous wife Amy and I stopped at a little

restaurant for a rest and to grab a bite to eat.

That was as far as my George experience had

gone—until now.

I got a call from Mr. Jos Mattheysen,

owner of Ducati SA and the massive World

of Motorcycles dealership out in Centurion,

asking if I would like to accompany him and

some Ducati customers down to George for

a week of riding—not only the new Ducati

Streetfighter V4, which had just arrived in SA,

but also to sample the wonderful world that is

Ducati Scrambler.

How could I say no? Even though I was

stressed and bombarded with work before

the launch of Moto Rider World, I saw it

as a chance to quickly reset the batteries

whilst taking in some of the glory that is our

beautiful land.

Jos had bragged to me on many occasions

about just how majestic that part of SA is. “It’s

two-wheeled motorcycle heaven,” is how he

actually described it. He went on for hours

about how stunning it is down there and

could not believe I had never experienced

the famous Outeniqua Pass before. I could

hardly pronounce it—never mind heard of or

experienced it before.

So, our bags were packed and, along with

my trusty crew—Gerrit and Daniella from

Beam Productions—we were off, and our

journey to George had begun.

Before we left, I thought,

why not take another ‘Super

Naked’ bike down to test? One

that I had tested a few weeks

prior—but unfairly—around a

track where it felt very much

out of sorts. So, after a simple

phone call to Kawasaki SA, who

bent over backwards to assist

me, I soon had a third member

in the van with me: the mighty,

supercharged animal that is the

Kawasaki ZH2.

There was no doubt in my mind

that the long, open, ravishing

roads I’d been promised would

suit the powerful green mamba

down to a tee. It would finally

be a fairer fight against the new

Streetfighter V4, which had pretty

much wiped the floor with the

ZH2 at the track test we did.

After a long, relaxing 12-hour

drive, we arrived in George

and were greeted by some

very happy people and great

weather. After being shown

to our accommodation—the

lovely Lord Caledon Guest

House—we headed off to Jos’s

place in Fancourt. After a quick

welcome drink, we were promptly

instructed to kit up, as we were

heading straight for this so-called

glorious Outeniqua Pass.

With the ZH2 still nice and cozy

in the van, I was handed the key

to one of the three new Ducati

Streetfighters parked in the garage.

Two were the high-spec S models,

while the one I received was the

base model—so basically, just no

electronic suspension for me.

Another big benefit of being

close to the sea, apart from the

time away from the chaos that

is JHB, was the extra 17–19%

power we’d have on hand,

courtesy of that sweet sea air.

This would benefit the Ducatis

more than the Kawasaki ZH2,

which always runs at full power

thanks to the supercharger.

“Again, nothing but smooth sailing and big grins f

man and machine were loving life on this pass, w

and turns than a Quentin Tarantino

rom all involved; both

hich has more twists

movie.”

Kit on, key in, time to head off and out of

the alluring and massive Fancourt Golf Estate,

through a small part of George, and up to the

famous pass—which I had sampled on the way

down in the van—and I was more excited than

ever to experience it on 200hp beasts of the

green and red kind.

It was the Red Dragon up first, and instantly I

could feel the extra power available on tap. My

first squirt in anger (okay, that sounded a bit

wrong, but get your heads out of the gutter and

focus) nearly tore my arms from their sockets,

but the brute force exerted from the now

intensified V4 powerplant was insane. FML

was my first reaction, followed by the biggest

ear-to-ear grin imaginable! Let’s just say all the

bodily fluids were activated and just about in

full swing.

Keeping myself—and my now very excited

body and mind—in check, it was almost time to

blast the red machine up the pass for the first

time. With Jos at the front, myself in the middle,

and Brandon Halasz from NuHuman at the tail

on his Streetfighter V4S, it was time for us to

head up.

The new Streetfighter is a true testament to Ducati’s

craftsmanship and the thoughtful improvements

they’ve made. From a faired superbike track demon to

an everyday mountain pass shredder and street lover,

it thrives in every role—and it made me feel completely

confident and reassured every single time.

Being the track rider I am, I

tend to find myself attacking

road passes such as this a bit

too much like a racetrack—

hammering on the brakes hard,

punishing the gearbox up and

down, physically man-handling

the bike. I have learned that

this is not the way to do it on

the road, especially through

the long, beautiful sweeps that

presented themselves on this

pass. Smooth is the name of

the game here, and Jos was

doing it to perfection, showing

off exactly how to ride the pass

flawlessly.

Nice, wide, swooping lines

kept the bike between 3rd

and 4th gear with hardly any

braking—other than when a

truck appeared out of nowhere

around a blind corner; then

it was anchors on and bum

tightened. It felt long, yet so fast,

if that makes sense, on our first

climb up. We reached one of the

lookout points right at the top

and quickly turned the fighters

around, ready to tackle the pass

again—this time going down.

Again, nothing but smooth

sailing and big grins from all

involved; both man and machine

were loving life on this pass,

which has more twists and turns

than a Quentin Tarantino movie.

Heading into this test, I was

a bit concerned about how well

the new Streetfighter would

handle being out on the road.

Yes, it’s a naked streetfighter,

“Like Elton John’s fingers on the keys

of a piano, the Streetfighter V4 flowed,

caressed, and made passionate love to

the smooth, curvy tar.”

but what I tested on the track

was an aggressive, direct

weapon—a Panigale without a

fairing, which is exactly what the

SF V4 is. Would that aggression

translate on the road? Yes,

and better than I could have

ever expected. The SF V4 has

transitioned from track weapon

Jos on his beautiful, one-and-only

Bumblebee Streetfighter V4

to street lover with ease, loving every second of me

thrashing it out on the bendy pass. Like Elton John’s

fingers on the keys of a piano, the Streetfighter V4

flowed, caressed, and made passionate love to the

smooth, curvy tar. It was at one with the smooth,

flowing bends, urging me to go harder and faster

(okay, minds out of the gutter again, please).

The power on hand was direct, smooth, yet forceful

— it had it in abundance, and the electronics package

was happy to play along. On passes like this, it’s all

about keeping the revs up and in the sweet spot,

having power ready to blast out of the turns. Well,

this thing had a sweet spot at every rpm. There was

no lagging, no hiccup at any point in the rev range.

I found myself gently caressing through 3rd and 4th

gear, using the wealth of power on hand to blare out of

the turns, and the perfect measure of engine braking

on deceleration to help scrub off speed and line me

up for the next corner. When I wanted power, it was

there; when I wanted to turn, it did; and when I got

the turn slightly wrong and needed to correct, the SF

V4 graciously assisted — my concerns about whether

the SF V4 could translate to the road were

profoundly cast aside, and this was only after

two runs on the pass.

Needless to say, we spent another hour or

so racing up the pass

at will, carefully and

cautiously dodging

traffic and enjoying

the splendor of the SF

V4 on the pass. After

some pants-staining

moments, both front

and back, it was time

to head back down to Fancourt for some

much-needed rest and food—although

there wasn’t much rest, but rather plenty of

food and beverages (as we call them), and

loads of smiles and chatting. We eventually

left and headed back to the guest house

for some rest, ready to tackle day two in

Gorgeous George.

Day 2 had arrived, and so had the freezing

cold weather. On our way up in the van the

day before, we had seen signs of snow on

the mountain, and on day two, there was

“...my concerns about whether the SF

V4 could translate to the road were

profoundly cast aside, and this was

only after two runs on the pass.”

plenty more. Icy-topped mountains in the

distance were a pleasing sight—even if it

meant we could not ride. It’s not every day

you see snow on mountains here in SA.

Videos and pictures soon blasted all over

social media of snow on the mountain and

surrounding areas, so it was going to be a

day of chilling, enjoying great company, and

some beverages, as we call them.

It’s the raw power of the ZH2 that keeps

pulling you back for more.

I wasn’t concerned about the gearbox

or handling—my only focus was

smashing that throttle and feeling the

explosive rush that made everything

else fade away.

Day 3, and the weather had cleared up, opening

another chance for us to experience more of the

wonderful roads surrounding the George area.

Our plan was to get as many people on bikes as

possible and head out over the pass again, down

Robinsons Pass, and through De Rust towards the

glorious Meiringspoort—or so I was told.

On this day, I would be spending all my time

in the saddle of the supercharged beast that is

the green mamba, the Kawasaki ZH2. Complete

comfort greeted me as I climbed on—a little bulkier

compared to the SF V4, but still really comfy.

I had done some street riding on the ZH2 up in

JHB and loved it, so I was excited at the prospect

of thrashing it around some long bends. Instantly,

as always, that supercharged power just gets the

eyes popping and the bum clinching—it really is just

ridiculously fast, this thing! For sure faster than the

SF, even with its 17-19% increase.

I was very grateful that the braking system, which

is ABS-equipped, works so well on this bike, as it

was put to the test more often than not trying to

stop this beefy animal. The extra weight (around

40kgs heavier) compared to the Ducati was felt

around the turns, where the ZH2 needed some

persuasion to get into the corners. The extra weight

was welcomed out on the open straight roads,

where it felt planted at high speeds, but around the

bends, that’s where things got a bit edgy.

The ZH2 handles well; it’s just that speed that

makes things a bit more exciting than you’d want.

This bike has so much pace that it’s hard for the

brain to keep up—I really can’t explain how damn

fast this bike is. Hitting the brakes and getting the

240kg-plus bike stopped and around long bends

is a full-time job, and you have to stay focused;

otherwise, you’ll be taught a proper lesson.

Like we had done the night before, and the night

before that, the green mamba enjoys its beverages,

and just like a thoroughbred racehorse, doesn’t

like keeping it in the tank. All that power comes

at a price, and if you’re a trigger-happy rider like

me, then you’ll be spending some time at garages

helping quench the thirst of this very fast machine.

“This bike has so much pace

that it’s hard for the brain to

keep up—I really can’t explain

how damn fast this bike is.”

“Hearing those booming Ducati

V4 symphonies bouncing off the

mountain walls was something

I’ll never forget...”

After a quick coffee and samie stop in De Rust, we headed off in

the direction of the beautiful icy mountain in the distance and towards

Meiringspoort.

I was told this section of road was even better than Outeniqua,

and the views were simply breathtaking—and they were indeed. Holy

moly, what a stunning place. I felt bad and ashamed that I, a bornand-bred

South African, never even knew this place existed. Shame

on me, but I was determined to make up for lost time. After about

6000 laps up and down through the mountains, I finally parked the

ZH2 on the side of the road to take in the sights and sounds. Hearing

those booming Ducati V4 symphonies bouncing off the mountain

walls was something I’ll never forget—I could have stayed there all

day, just closing my eyes and letting my ears get off on that oh-soseductive

sound.

Life was good, and I was taking it all in. Even though the green

mamba acted like a kid on too much sugar more than once, more

often than not it was the perfect companion. It’s a really good

machine—just please, if you do get one, respect the power on hand,

as it’s more than most can actually handle.

Another fantastic day of riding came to a close, and after a very

chilly ride back to Fancourt, it was time to light up the braai, get warm,

and enjoy great company, food, and beverages (as we call it) once

more. Bodies and minds were tired after an eventful day.

Overall, I learned many things on this trip. I learned that Ducati

sportbikes translate well to road riding, and that sea-level air really

does help get the best out of V4 engines, amplifying what is already

an exhilarating ride. I also learned that naked bikes can be the perfect

companion out on the open road, and that they really are a perfect

blend of sport and touring in many ways. I learned that the ZH2 needs

your full attention and respect to be fully appreciated and enjoyed, and

that supercharged power is ridiculously fast!

But most of all, I learned what riding motorcycles in this beautiful

country is all about: it’s about freedom, it’s about expression, it’s

about forgetting all your worries and gripes, and just focusing

on living. It’s about spending time with great friends, in great

environments, on great motorcycles more often—and not letting this

crazy world we live in corrupt you or bring you down. It’s about getting

out there and living, exploring, and enjoying life as much as possible.

I did just that on this trip, and I will never forget this experience for

as long as I’m around. One thing is for sure—I will be back in George

sooner rather than later, hopefully on some amazing machines, with

amazing people once again. The only thing missing on this trip was

my family, who will definitely be coming along next time around.

RACING

FEATURE

2025 ISLE OF

MAN TT

ALL THE TT COVERAGE IS PROUDLY POWERED BY

ROAD

RAGE2

The 2025 edition of the Isle of Man TT was disrupted by poor weather, but

that didn’t stop the riders from delivering an incredible show. From a South

African perspective, it was a proud moment—not only did our road racing

hero AJ Venter take part, but MRW also had our very own man on the

ground, capturing exclusive, up-to-date video content for our social media

channels. In this feature, Greg Moloney breaks down this year’s TT event.

Well, That’s TT for Ya... It’s a phrase you’ll hear

often on the Isle of Man—and for good reason. With

unpredictable conditions wreaking havoc on teams,

riders, and race control alike, this year’s TT was

nothing short of chaotic. Minimal practice sessions,

reshuffled qualifying slots, delayed race programs,

and curveballs from the Mountain Course itself all

added to a rollercoaster two weeks that only the TT

can deliver.

DAY 1 – Welcome to the Isle

Qualifying was brought to an immediate halt after

the newcomers’ sighting laps—both solo riders and

sidecars—due to worsening conditions. But that

didn’t stop Kiwi newcomer Mitch Rees from making

a big impression. In his first TT qualifying session,

Rees set a blistering 123.05mph lap—the fastest ever

by a TT newcomer.

Free Practice schedules were reworked, and even

I doubted if the session would go ahead. But sure

enough, Tuesday evening delivered. Yes, you read

that right—evening sessions are a TT norm, thanks to

daylight stretching well past 11pm.

To everyone’s surprise, Shaun Anderson topped

the opening evening with a 125mph lap. Still, the

usual suspects—Michael Dunlop, Dean Harrison,

Peter Hickman, and Davey Todd—weren’t showing

their cards yet.

That changed during the first full qualifying

session. All four cracked the 130mph barrier, joined

by a rejuvenated Nathan Harrison, who clocked his

personal best aboard a privateer Honda Fireblade.

Meanwhile, a massive moment for South African

motorsport: the TT debut of Allann-Jon Venter,

riding the FuturExotics BMW S1000RR. Seeing

the livery roll off the line and down Bray Hill was an

unforgettable sight.

AJ opened his campaign with a 115mph lap—shy

of expectations, but understandable for a brandnew

machine. The team went straight to work on

adjustments.

Back on track, the speed kept climbing.

Harrison and Todd both clocked 133mph laps in

the Superbike/Superstock (SBK/STK) sessions.

Harrison also led Supersport (SSP) with 127mph

aboard the Honda CBR600RR, while Rob Hodson

caused a stir in Supertwins (SPT) at 119mph.

AJ returned for Q1 on his TH Racing machines:

the Kawasaki Supertwin and Honda CBR600

Supersport. He lapped the twin at 114.87mph and

the 600 at 117mph—strong, confident rides.

In the three-wheeler camp, the Crowe brothers

kicked off their title defense with a solid 118mph

opening lap.

DAY 2 – Washed Out, Aussie-Style

Rain led to a total washout, but it gave me the

chance to ride the Duke Travel VIP coach and catch

up with Davo Johnson. We chatted about learning

the course and lap strategies—with classic Aussie

humour and a few choice words thrown in for

good measure.

While on the subject—accommodation for the

TT is hectic. I scouted two solid South Africanfriendly

options with Duke Travel:

Braddan Glamping Tent Camp: https://www.

facebook.com/watch/?v=583423538137287&r

did=brGqYAvBSrL0biI5

Duke TT Village: https://www.facebook.com/

watch/?v=1023312559999581&rdid=sCym6m

B0pgKbuHLF

DAY 3 – Fast Laps, Big Falls

With better weather, a double qualifying session

was squeezed in. AJ’s pace improved, but he

remained 10mph short of his goal. Todd topped

the SBK sheet with 132.008mph, and Harrison

reached the 131s in STK.

The Crowes weren’t done either—setting a new

Sidecar qualifying lap record at 120.202mph!

Meanwhile, Dunlop reminded us why he’s

the man in SPT with a late flier: 123.159mph,

knocking Evans off top spot with just seconds left

on the clock.

But the Mountain had its say again. On Day 3, a

red flag ended the session after a massive crash

involving Peter Hickman, who was airlifted out.

DAY 6 – Weather Woes and Coffee Runs

Another qualifying attempt was halted due to poor

visibility. Sidecars were escorted off the Mountain

by the new BMW M5 pace cars.

I took a detour to Milky Quayle’s coffee shop,

where I stumbled into Richard Hammond and the

crew from The Smallest Cog, prepping for the TT

Legacy Lap.

Race Day 1 – SBK Monday

RST x D3O Superbike Monday replaced the

weather-affected Sunday, and what a way to kick

things off.

In the race, it was a three-way showdown: Todd

vs. Dunlop vs. Harrison. No one could stop Todd.

His winning lap? 135.327mph. Back-to-back wins

on the Isle after claiming the 2024 Senior TT.

AJ had a stellar debut, finishing 13th with a

125.653mph—just 0.3mph off his PB.

The Sidecar TT Race 1 was all Crowes. Not only did

they win, but they smashed the lap record, breaking

121mph. Game-changing stuff.

Then came the Monster Energy Supersport Race

1. Dunlop had the weight of history on his shoulders,

chasing a 7th straight win and a 7th different manufacturer

victory—this time on the Ducati V2.

AJ put in another solid ride on the TH Racing Honda,

finishing 25th at 118.874mph.

Race Day 2 – Records, Podiums, and History

Dunlop took win number 31, and added another SPT title.

Mickey Evans grabbed P2, and Rob Hodson rounded out

the podium—a great moment for the Manxman.

The RL360 Superstock Race 1 was cut short to a 2-lap

sprint. Dean Harrison made it count, beating Todd and

Dunlop.

Later in the week, Harrison doubled up with a win in

the Opul Superstock Race 2, while the Crowes, Dunlop

(again), and Evans all completed memorable doubles.

But for South African fans, the ultimate high came when

AJ Venter set the fastest lap ever by a South African at the

TT—126.982mph!

The Rest Day and the End

MRW got involved in the Monster Energy Fan Zone, met

fans, and even tracked down AJ to sign our limited edition

MRW Arai TT Helmet, soon up for auction.

Sadly, the Milwaukee Tool Senior TT was cancelled due

to high winds. After rider consultations, COC Gary Martin

made the call.

And that, as the saying goes… That’s all, folks.

Massive thanks to MRW for sending me to the island,

and to all the sponsors who made it possible. It’s been an

honour to bring you this multimedia coverage once again.

AJ VENTER AND FUTUREXOTICS DELIVER

SA’S STRONGEST SHOWING YET

South African motorcycle racing icon AJ Venter

has completed his 2025 Isle of Man TT campaign

with a series of record-breaking performances,

proudly representing South Africa at the world’s

most dangerous and demanding road race. Now

in his ninth year competing at the TT, Venter

describes this season as a turning point.

“Even my worst day this year was better than my

best day last year. Everything just felt more dialled

in – from the bike, to the team, to the mindset –

and that’s all thanks to the incredible support I

received from Zunaid Moti and FuturExotics. It was

the most prepared, focused, and professionally

supported I’ve ever been,” he said.

Backed by luxury automotive brand

FuturExotics, in the first year of a three-year

sponsorship deal, Venter competed in both the

Superbike TT and Superstock TT races – two

of the event’s most prestigious categories. He

was also registered for the Senior TT, traditionally

regarded as the blue-riband event of the Isle of

Man. However, due to adverse weather conditions,

the Senior TT was cancelled for the first time in the

race’s 117-year history.

Venter placed 15th out of 54 riders in the

Superbike TT, and 21st and 24th out of 57 in the

Superstock TT, going head-to-head with some of

the world’s top factory and privateer teams.

PIC BY MUNRO NEL

PIC BY TRACYS PICTURES

He kicked off the event by reaching a top speed

of 304km/h during the first night of practice,

signifying an exciting personal milestone and

his first time breaking the 300km/h barrier. This

performance set the tone for a powerful showing

across the two-week racing festival.

In a significant moment for South African

motorsport, Venter further cemented his place in

the TT record books with a new personal best

lap speed of 204km/h average, officially making

him the fastest South African to ever race the Isle

of Man TT. The performance also earned him the

distinction of becoming the 61st fastest rider in TT

history since the race began in 1907.

His all-South African crew, managed and

funded through the FuturExotics partnership, also

delivered a standout performance – clocking the

third-fastest pit stop in the Superbike TT at just 53

seconds, outperforming dozens of international

and factory-backed teams.

“This was a huge year for us,” said Venter.

“We’ve never had this kind of support before.

With FuturExotics, I was finally able to focus on

performance instead of logistics, fundraising, or

running around behind the scenes. This was

the first time I could just race, and it made all the

difference. I’m incredibly thankful to Zunaid Moti

and the entire team for believing in this journey.”

Zunaid Moti, founder of FuturExotics, said the

experience was equally exhilarating for the brand.

“This was an absolutely thrilling and highoctane

event to be a part of,” said Moti. “Seeing

AJ go head-to-head with global factory teams

and still deliver such a strong showing proves the

depth of South African talent. This was just year

one of our three-year partnership, and if this is

what we could achieve together in our first outing,

I have no doubt that next year we’re going to be

even bigger and better.”

The 2025 Isle of Man TT will go down in

history as only the second time in 118 years

of competition that races were postponed and

cancelled due to exceptionally poor weather

conditions. But despite the disruptions, Venter

and his team-maintained focus throughout, and

delivered a consistent, calculated campaign under

extreme pressure.

For Venter, competing in the TT is about

more than personal achievement, representing

an important opportunity to inspire the next

generation of racing hopefuls.

“Back home, I work with a lot of young riders,

and I want them to see what’s possible. I’m just

a normal South African who shows up and does

the work. If I can do this, so can they. That’s what

drives me. And we’re just getting started.”

With the 2025 Isle of Man TT Race now

complete, preparations are already underway for

year two of the FuturExotics partnership, as AJ

Venter continues building a motorsport legacy

on the world stage and paving the road for future

generations of local motorsports champions.

PIC BY MUNRO NEL

RACING PAGES

SA RIDER

WATCH

The

MotoAmerica

Supersport class

delivered two unforgettable races at Road

America, and South Africa’s finest — Cameron

Petersen and Mathew Scholtz — were right at the

heart of the action all weekend long.

From the very first qualifying sessions, it was

clear that the pace was going to be relentless.

Tyler Scott topped the combined timesheets

with a blistering 2:16.790, just fractions ahead of

MOTOAMERICA 2025 – ROUND 3

PETERSEN AND

SCHOLTZ BRING

THE HEAT

Scholtz and Blake Davis. Cameron Petersen, on

his Warhorse HSBK Ducati, was right in the mix,

setting up what would be a dramatic weekend of

racing.

Race 1 was a barnburner. A four-way dogfight

between PJ Jacobsen, Tyler Scott, Mathew Scholtz,

and Cameron Petersen unfolded, with positions

changing almost every lap in a display of precision

and bravery. It all came to a head on the final lap.

Petersen looked poised to challenge for the win

until he made contact with the rear of Scott’s bike.

The incident forced him off the circuit, dropping

him to a hard-fought fifth after what had been one

of his best rides of the season.

With Petersen momentarily out of the picture,

Scholtz made a last-lap dive on Jacobsen to take

the lead — but couldn’t get the Yamaha stopped in

time. He ran wide and rejoined in third, salvaging

a podium in what had been an all-out battle to the

finish. Jacobsen took the win, with Scott second

and Scholtz third. Petersen crossed the line in fifth,

frustrated but undeterred.

RACING PAGES

Race 2 saw the script flip once again. This time it

was Blake Davis who came out on top, executing a

calculated and patient ride to take victory. Mathew

Scholtz was again in the mix, dicing at the front

and launching a final-corner attack for the win. But

fate had other plans. He lost drive exiting the last

corner, slipping back to fourth in a heartbreaking

drag to the flag.

Petersen, however, bounced back superbly

from his Race 1 misfortune. Keeping calm amid

the chaos, he pushed hard and capitalized on the

final lap drama to claim second place — just 0.195

seconds behind Davis. It was a gritty, determined

performance that underlined his maturity and

experience.

As the chequered flag waved on an actionpacked

weekend, both South Africans proved why

they’re at the top level of American road racing.

Scholtz leaves with a podium and a strong showing

in both races, while Petersen’s comeback in Race

2 highlighted the fight and finesse that make him

such a force in the class.

Road America served up racing at its finest —

and for Petersen and Scholtz, it was a weekend

that showed their skill, courage, and unwavering

determination.

SA RIDER

WATCH

Photo Credit: Brian J. Nelson

Photography

CAMERON PETERSEN

GRIT AND GUTS IN THE

BAGGERS BATTLE AT

ROAD AMERICA

Cameron Petersen faced one of his most testing

weekends yet in the 2025 MotoAmerica King of

the Baggers Championship, as mechanical issues

plagued the SDI Racing Indian team from the

outset at Road America.

It was a weekend filled with frustration as a string

of technical problems severely limited track time

and robbed Petersen of the opportunity to build

rhythm or confidence. In fact, the challenges were

so significant that the team was forced to withdraw

from Race 1 entirely, unable to get the Indian

Challenger race-ready in time.

But true to their character, Cam and the team

never gave up. Working tirelessly behind the

scenes, they managed to get the bike patched up

and ready just in time for Race 2.

Despite having missed an entire race and with

virtually no meaningful track time, Petersen suited

up and rolled out with one goal in mind: salvage

something from an otherwise disastrous weekend.

With limited traction, a far-from-ideal setup, and

no recent race data, he delivered a gritty and

determined ride to bring the bike home in 9th

place — a small victory in the face of a weekend

dominated by setbacks.

“We had so many issues this weekend, it was

honestly one of the toughest I’ve experienced,”

Petersen said after the race. “Missing Race 1

was a huge blow, and we were still struggling with

traction and setup in Race 2. But the team worked

so hard just to get the bike on the grid, and I gave

it everything I had. Ninth place doesn’t sound like

much, but given where we started, I’m proud of

what we pulled off.”

It wasn’t the result Petersen or the team were

hoping for, but it was a weekend that showcased

their resilience, dedication, and refusal to quit.

With the problems behind them and a reset on

the horizon, all eyes will be on Cam as he looks to

bounce back stronger at the next round.

RACING PAGES

KJ MONONYANE: A TEST

OF GRIT AT MOTORLAND

ARAGÓN

South Africa’s rising MotoGP hopeful, KJ

Mononyane, endured one of the most testing

weekends of his Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup

campaign at MotorLand Aragón — a weekend that

demanded far more than just pace.

Qualifying was marred by misfortune. Mononyane

was involved in a heavy incident, taken out by

another rider. It was a blow that could have ended

the weekend before it began. Describing it as “the

worst qualifying of the season,” KJ was transported to

the medical centre for evaluation. Thankfully, he was

declared fit to race, albeit battered and bruised.

Starting from 24th on the grid in Race 1, Mononyane

showed immense determination. Despite the physical

setback and mental fatigue, he worked his way through

the field to finish in 18th — a small but significant

victory considering the circumstances.

Race 2 brought its own challenges. Progress proved

more elusive, and he crossed the line in 21st. While

not the result he would have hoped for, the experience

added another chapter to his steep learning curve in

what is arguably the most competitive junior series in

the world.

Mononyane now sits 23rd in the championship

standings with 8 points. Though these aren’t headlinegrabbing

results, they reflect the reality of developing

in a world-class field — where grit, consistency, and

perseverance often mean more than silverware.

“Tough weekend, but we keep moving. Thank you to

everyone for the support — we’ll come back stronger,”

he said after the final race.

With more rounds to come and plenty of track time

ahead, Mononyane remains one of South Africa’s

brightest MotoGP prospects. His response to adversity

in Aragón is exactly the kind of spirit that builds future

champions.

SA RIDER

WATCH

RACING PAGES

Photo Credits: Bourne Photo

DIGGING DEEP: DAVID

LINDEMANN BATTLES

THROUGH A BRUTAL

DONINGTON ROUND

It was a weekend defined by pain, persistence,

and pure heart for South African youngster David

Lindemann, as Round Two of the AJN Steelstock

Kawasaki British Superteen Championship

unfolded at a cold and unforgiving Donington Park.

Still recovering from a heavy crash at Oulton Park

just weeks earlier, Lindemann arrived at Donington

far from 100%. From the first Free Practice session,

it was clear the weekend was going to be a fight

— not just against the competition, but against

physical pain and setup struggles that plagued his

early sessions.

Qualifying didn’t go to plan, but Lindemann

pushed hard to secure 9th on the grid. And when

the lights went out for Race 1, he immediately

showed his trademark aggression, slicing

through the pack and climbing into the top five.

But just as momentum was building, disaster

struck. A gearbox failure sent him into the gravel

— race over.

Undeterred, the teenager regrouped for Race

2, starting from P5. Still sore, still riding a bike

not at its best, Lindemann launched into the

early laps with fire, even holding second place

briefly. But the toll of the weekend soon set in —

physically and mechanically. Fighting to keep the

bike upright with limited grip and a faulty gearbox,

David pushed through immense adversity to finish

8th, salvaging valuable points.

“I didn’t realise just how much pain I was still in

until I got on the bike,” he said post-race. “It was

tough, but I kept my head down. Hopefully, with

SA RIDER

WATCH

some rest and work on the bike, we

can bounce back strong at Snetterton.”

Team Manager and father Gareth

Lindemann summed up the grit

shown by his son in a heartfelt social

media post: “He gave it absolutely

everything. Gearbox issues had him

nearly crashing every lap, but instead

of backing off, he gritted his teeth and

got it home. I couldn’t be prouder.”

The David Lindemann Racing

team also extended their gratitude to

Andy Smith of ATP Racing, R&G, LS2

Helmets UK, and ARN Race Leathers

for their critical support throughout a

challenging weekend.

With a well-earned break before

Round Three at Snetterton, Lindemann

will take time to recover, reset, and

return stronger. One thing’s for sure —

this is a rider with serious heart, and

the championship hasn’t seen the last

of his fight.

RACING PAGES

EWC 2025 – 8 HOURS

OF SPA: ENDURANCE

MASTERCLASS

IN TRICKY

CONDITIONS AT THE

LEGENDARY SPA-

FRANCORCHAMPS

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps once

again hosted the FIM Endurance World

Championship, this time for the 2025 edition

of the 8 Hours of Spa Motos. While the race

distance may have been shortened from the 24-

hour epic of previous years, the challenge was

anything but reduced. Riders faced a gruelling

test of endurance, racecraft, and adaptability, as

Spa’s iconic 6.985 km layout dished out everchanging

conditions — from damp patches to

full dry, back to rain again — making this one of

the trickiest races in recent memory.

After the financial burden of hosting three

24-hour events in a single season became too

great, the Spa round returned to an 8-hour

format in 2024. Yet the prestige, danger,

and complexity of this classic Belgian venue

remained unchanged. The technical layout

and high-speed sweepers of Spa — freshly

modified for endurance racing use in 2021

— were compounded by wet and drying

conditions that demanded absolute focus from

every team and rider.

South Africa’s Steven Odendaal once again

showed his class on the world stage, teaming

up with BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team

for another run at glory. In an intense battle at

the sharp end, the BMW squad kept themselves

in contention throughout the race, responding

to each twist in the weather with sharp strategy

and flawless execution. Completing 188 laps

SA RIDER

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RACING PAGES

and finishing just 50 seconds behind the winners, it

was a well-earned second-place finish for Odendaal

and his teammates. The result plays a crucial role

in BMW’s ongoing championship campaign and

confirms Odendaal’s status as one of the key

players in the EWC paddock.

For Sheridan Morais and the Motobox Kremer

Racing Yamaha squad, it was a very different

kind of challenge. A strong start gave way to

a demanding middle stint as conditions grew

increasingly unpredictable. A late-race incident

added further difficulty, but Morais and his

teammates fought to the end. They completed

178 laps and crossed the line in 15th place

overall, securing 10th in the EWC class — valuable

points in what’s shaping up to be a closely

contested season.

Victory ultimately went to F.C.C. TSR Honda

France, whose performance in the pits and on

track proved just enough to hold off BMW and

the charging YART Yamaha team. Their calm

approach and adaptability to the changing

conditions paid dividends, netting them maximum

points and momentum heading into the second

half of the season.

The 2025 8 Hours of Spa delivered a pure

endurance spectacle — a day of attrition, strategic

chaos, and mental fortitude. For the South Africans

involved, it was a reminder of both the rewards and

the risks that come with competing at this level.

And for endurance fans, it was a perfect showcase

of why Spa remains one of the crown jewels of the

EWC calendar.

SA RIDER

WATCH

MX2 LATVIA GP

REPORT – CAMDEN MC

LELLAN CLAIMS 6TH

OVERALL IN KEGUMS

It was a promising and hard-fought weekend

for Camden Mc Lellan at the MX2 Grand Prix of

Latvia, held at the fast and challenging circuit of

Kegums. The South African rider, representing

Triumph Racing, delivered two consistent moto

performances to secure 6th overall, earning 30

valuable championship points and moving him to

7th place in the 2025 MX2 World Championship

standings.

From the outset, Mc Lellan looked competitive,

showing solid pace throughout practice and

qualifying. In Race 1, he charged to an impressive

5th place, followed by a gritty ride to 7th in Race

2, despite having to fight through the pack in both

outings due to an outside gate pick.

Reflecting on the weekend, Mc Lellan

commented: “I didn’t quite join the party yesterday,

but we weren’t far off. It was a much better

weekend overall – the pace and the feeling were

there in every session. The weather made the track

quite one-lined and not very ‘racy,’ and starting

from the outside gate meant I had to come through

the field in both motos. That made things tough,

but I’m pleased with what I managed to do.

Sixth overall is a good confidence boost heading

into the weekend off. Thanks to my crew for all

their hard work, and it was really special to have my

entire family trackside – it’s been a while.”

With a clear upward trend in form and fitness,

Mc Lellan will be aiming to carry this momentum

into the next round as he continues to build on an

already impressive 2025 campaign.

MRW Issue 54

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