Race Report: The WOMZA Monster Energy MX National at Teza
22 June 2014

Copyright Motocross South Africa (MX SA)
Written by Laren van der Westhuizen.
Unauthorised use of this content is prohibited.
Images by MX SA.

Facebook Gallery: Highlights WOMZA National at Teza

Once a year, mx riders in South Africa pack their bags and drive to motocross heaven, TEZA. Just north of Richards Bay, this amazing track is set in the rolling hills of Kwambonambi and is continuously voted the best track in SA by riders and spectators alike. The track was well prepped and formed deep ruts, even on the 50cc track, who started the weekends racing.

The 50cc class were faced with the stiff challenge of racing first in the morning. Fortunately the KZN weather is perfect for riding in winter and Chase Hanekom proved he is wide awake at that time of the morning with great starts in all 3 heats. He couldn’t hold off the flying Zimbabwean, Daiyaan Manuel in the first 2 heats though and even with a win in heat 3, could only manage 2nd overall. Daiyaan Manuel almost threw away his overall with a poor start in heat 3, but woke up on the 5min mark and began a chase through the field to 2nd. John Henri Vaughan started the weekend with a 5th, but 2 x 3rds on day 2 gave him 3rd for the weekend.

The 50cc junior class was a 2 horse race between the young lady superstar, Emma Jennings and Liam Botha. Liam was really fast at times and had great lap times, but couldn’t do it consistently and Emma Jennings just didn’t put a foot wrong for 3 wins out of 3.

#54 Sacha Naude

The MX2 class were the first on the BIG track and with 27 riders lined up for action, it was always going to be a tight affair. Qualifying already proved how close it was and that a start would be crucial. Sacha Naude has been renowned as a big bike rider, but Yamaha has entrusted their old regime to try and secure the lights title. Sacha certainly didn’t dominate this class, but a consistant 2nd 1st 2nd was enough for the win. Kerim Fitzgerald has been the man to beat in this class over the last few years, but 2014 has been tough for him. However, Kerim was still able to lock down 2 x 3rds and a 1st which ended the weekend off quite nicely for him for 2nd overall. Michael Kok started the weekend off with a bang. He won the first heat on Saturday and has become the new threat in the lites class. He couldn’t repeat on Sunday, but was still good for 3rd overall. Anthony Raynard still holds the points lead after he dug deep for 4th overall.

#16 Justin Thompson

The 85cc juniors has been a small class in 2014, but filled with rising talent. Slade Smith is the senior rider in the class, but would have a stiff challenge from 2 locals on their home tracks, in Cayle Dormehl and Cameron Durow. The first heat was a disaster for Slade, as he rode the whole heat with the choke on. It was only realised with 2 laps to go, when he stopped in mechanics area to change a plug. He did manage 7th place, which on the back of winning heats 2 and 3 was enough for the overall. Cameron Durow won heat 1 by a country mile. He was trying to do the same in heat 2 when he suffered the biggest crash of the weekend. Somehow he managed to stand up and come back for a 2nd in heat 3. This would only give him 7th overall though. Kargo racing, Mathew Green was 2nd overall with 3 x thirds. Cayle Dormehl got most of the holeshots and backed them up with 2 x solid 2nds. He couldn’t repeat in heat 3, but he would still end up on the podium.

The MX3’s raced next and was dominated by Roger Bergstrom. He was greeted with the news that some of his old rivals will be back in 2015 to give him a hard time. Terence Monk was 2nd overall but won the Masters. Geoff Den was able to win the Grand Masters.

The 65cc 'pocket rockets' had a tough job trying to get around a very rutty track. Camden McLellan has recently been selected to ride for SA in the junior world champs. His confidence is on a high and it showed with 2 wins out of 3. The only other rider to beat him on the weekend was Jono Mlimi who won heat 2 and finished 2nd overall, just 1 point in front of a resurgent Christiaan Cilliers.

#88 Michael Kok

The MX1 class enjoyed the torn up rutty MX track. The 2 Full Throttle Yamaha riders, Michael Kok and Sacha Naude swopped positions in all 3 heats. Michael Kok won the first and last heat and that was enough for the win. On the back of a poor Cape Town national, Mike will be feeling really good with this comeback. Sacha still leads the title chase and is looking really fit and solid. Proving that consistency is important, Royce Griffin rode to a 5th and 2 x 4ths. This was enough with other riders having issues, for 3rd overall. With 2 podiums in the bag in the last 2 nationals for Royce, he will be feeling like the hard work is paying off. David Goosen rode great for a 4th overall, ahead of Kerim Fitzgerald who had technical issues in heat 3.

The pro-mini class saw the return of Justin Thompson from the USA. He is on a high after qualifying for Loretta Lynn’s. He won heat 1 and 3 as well as the overall. Slade Smith finished 2nd and was able to win heat 2, which was his maiden win in the pro-mini class at this series. Janes Van Sandwyk didn’t have his best day, but still managed 3rd overall as the 2 PE boys, Seth Van Den Abeele and Keagan Hickson Mahoney had their troubles.

#14 Jason Visser

The high school class rode the track at it’s worst and in the setting sun. This didn’t phase the kamikaze pilots as they gave the crowd the best show. Jason Visser won the junior 125 class ahead of the hometown favourite, the TEZA kid, Charl Van Eerden. Joshua Mlimi has also been selected to represent SA at the junior worlds and he finished 3rd. The senior 125 class was won by Reid Sinnicks who has completed his incredible comeback from nearly 2 years off the bike.

The national was on another level and bodes well for the sport in SA. The road show heads to the Eastern Cape for round 4 in East London.

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