RACE REPORT:
YAMAHA RAKES IN MX VICTORIES AT DIRT BRONCO
27 February 2013
Published with Permission
The opening round of the 2013 WOMZA National Motocross Championships
got off to a flying start this past weekend with an incredibly well
organised two day event at Dirt Bronco Raceway in Krugersdorp. With
nearly two hundred entries from the best motocross riders around
the country, the racing was out of the top drawer, and Yamaha pilots
abounded with race success.
A new format for 2013 sees racers having to compete in three heats
over four two-day race meetings for their respective class championships.
Full Throttle Yamaha’s ten times South African Motocross Champion,
Richie van der Westhuizen, showed the two thousand strong spectator
base what an awesome combination he and his Yamaha’s are, when
he took a clean sweep of victories in both the MX1 class (YZ 450
F) and the MX 2 class (YZ 250 F)!! Six victories from six starts
against the very best South Africa has to offer is an incredible
achievement and proof of Richie’s commitment and fitness, as
well as the extreme competitiveness of the Yamaha YZ 450 F and Yamaha
YZ 250 F.
Richie van der Westhuizen piloted his Full Throttle Yamaha’s
to six victories out of six starts at the opening Round of the WOMZA
National Motocross Championships at Dirt Bronco Raceway.
Richie’s Full Throttle Yamaha’s teammate in the MX 2
class, Zane Farquharson, had to content with a number of crashes,
but still managed to pull of a well deserved third place in the
final moto, giving him a fifth overall for the weekend.
In the 125cc High school class, Full Throttle Yamaha’s Dirco
van der Westhuizen, having being pushed up into this class early
(age wise) and having only spent three weeks practicing on a Yamaha
YZ 125, proved his awesome talent with consistent top five finishes
in all three heats, giving him a well deserved second overall for
the weekend. Liquid Blast Yamaha’s Dylan Stokes from Cape Town
also showed the race prowess of the Yamaha YZ 125 by taking the
first heat victory, and followed that up with the second position
in the second heat. Unfortunately a technical issue saw only claim
10th place in the last heat, giving him a third overall for the
weekend. Full Throttle Racing Division Yamaha’s Brad Thompson
gave Yamaha three positions in the top five overall by claiming
fifth overall with an impressive and consistent performance after
a seven month lay off from racing through injury.
Full Throttle Yamaha’s Justin Thompson, the 2012 WOMZA National
85cc Junior Champion, put in an amazing effort in his first appearance
in the bigger Pro Mini class, and put his Yamaha YZ 85 into second
position overall with a victory and two fourth places. Justin’s
teammate, Seth van den Abeele from Port Elizabeth, had similar success
in the 85cc Junior class, when he rode his Yamaha YZ 85 to a third
overall. A crash in the first heat saw Seth finish in third position,
but the diminutive rider made up for that with a solid win in the
second heat. A big crash in the first corner after securing the
holeshot in the third heat saw Seth get up in last place and half
a lap down on the leaders. But he showed the spirit of a true champion
and charged through the field to bring his steed home in a solid
eighth position, earning him a well deserved third overall.
The second round of the WOMZA National Motocross Championships
will take place on the 30th and 31st March 2013 at the Melkbos Motocross
track in Cape Town.
Photo credits: Brodalka Photography: http://www.facebook.com/BrodalkaPhotography.
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