2019 SA Motocross Nationals Welkom Race Report

The penultimate round of the 2019 TRP Distributors South African National Motocross Championship took place the Phakisa Freeway Motocross Track in Welkom over the weekend. As the season comes nears its end most of the championship titles will be going into the finale at Terra Topia in October.

In MX1 class Tristan Purdon turned that tables by taking the championship lead away from Maddy Malan with his 1-1 finish and overall win on the day. Malan finished in 2nd place and is still in the running for the championship. Lloyd Vercuil took home 3rd for the day and is also in contention for the title, while David Goosen went 4-4 for 4th overall and mathematically still has a chance at the title. It’s going to be a nail-biting finish at the final round.
Tristan Purdon

The MX2 class saw the Championship lead change hands as well. Anthony Raynard rode a risk free two races to get as many points possible without risking injury, finishing 4th for the day. Kerim Fitz-Gerald went on to take both heat wins for the overall, and took the championship lead. Josh Mlimi rode another incredible two races taking a pair of 2nd place finishes for runner up on the day. Slade Smith went 3-3 for 3rd overall. Fitz-Gerald has moved into a 7-point championship lead over Raynard, with Mlimi just two points further adrift.
Kerim Fitz-Gerald

Ian Topliss once again showed that he is not out of the fight in MX3 class, with two wins on the day for the overall. Brett Bircher went 3-4 for 4th overall and still hangs onto the leaders red plate. Tyson Engelbrecht finished in 2nd with Craig Kruger taking the 3rd spot.
Ian Topliss

There was a surprise in the Ladies race, when Natasha Rugani became the first rider to beat Kayla Raaff this season in the first heat, but Raaff was back to her winning ways in heat 2 and took the overall for the day. Sisters Jadene and Cheyenne de Lima took 3rd and 4th respectively on the day.
Kayla Raaff

In the highly competitive 125 High School class, Dalton Venter was the only other rider to wrap up his 2019 Championship before the final round at Terra Topia. He was beaten to 2nd in both heats by the return Camden Mc Lellen. Miguel de Waal went 3-3 for 3rd overall, while Jonathan Mlimi finished in 4th place.
Camden Mc Lellen

Leonard du Toit took a crucial 85cc Pro Mini victory as he shared moto wins with Nate Mc Lellan, with Blake Young finishing in 3rd. That has allowed du Toit to slightly open his narrow title lead over Young to eight championship points heading to the finale.
Leonard du Toit

In the 85cc Juniors Deegan Bloomfield went 1-2 for the overall and closed down on the championship leader Seth Young, who finished in 2nd on the day. Timo Maximo Toepfer finished in 3rd.
Deegan Bloomfield

Neil van der Vyver took another step to tying up his 2019 65cc title when he shared the wins with Liam Botha while Trey Cox and Jordan van Wyk shared the 3rd and 4th’s.
Neil van der Vyver

A win in heat 1 and a 2nd in heat 2 saw Christian Berrington Smith win the 50cc overall. Ethan Williamson finished in 2nd with Jake van Schoor taking home 3rd.
Christian Berrington Smith