| www.motorsport.co.za | 10 September 2010 |
|
|
|
||
-horz.jpg)
It seems that the recession is fading as entries are pouring in for the first senior national motorcycle and quad off-road race of 2010 to be held at Ermelo, Mpumalanga on 12 and 13 February. There is a lot of buzz around and judging by enquiries, it seems as if a significant number of new competitors wants to experience off-road bike and quad racing on national and regional level and even more so if seeing that this event is held in the picturesque mountains and forests of the Sheepmoor area.The route for the Ermelo Toyota 400 has been finalised and consists of a Red Loop which will be fairly technical and will take competitors through picturesque and dramatic landscapes and through mountains. They will pass waterfalls, dams and beautiful sandstone cliffs. The Green Loop, which will also be ±110 km long, is somewhat faster and traverses private forests in the area with beautiful, but windy and twisty roads to ensure a really nice and fairly fast ride. Different to previous years will be the time trial that will start at the Douglas Dam just outside Ermelo. This will offer a very challenging 50 km test to man and machine with rocky and fast sections alongside two major dams and some pretty tough ‘koppies’. Innovations will be plentiful and all competitors will be able to log onto the official scorer’s computer by way of a wireless connection if they are within 600m thereof. It will be as simple as logging in and off-loading times of each rider or class etc. In addition there will be a huge plasma screen connected to the timekeepers that will continuously show the times of riders as they come into the main pits. Mr Francois Pretorius, the new Managing Director of Motorsport South Africa will be attending the Ermelo Toyota 400 and will deliver a special speech to the riders. This has not happened in off-road motorcycle and quad motorsport for many years. In addition he will mingle with competitors at the prize giving and answer questions as he really wants to get to know the off-road fraternity. The Ermelo Toyota 400 is going flat-out to win the coveted “Event if the Year” award – they have even enlisted the services of some of South Africa’s top officials from as far as Cape Town, Botswana, Zambia, Durban and East London. A novelty will be that the main team running the race will be entirely female with both the MSA and the SORC CoC being female as well as both Assistant Clerks of the Course. The cherry on top of this enjoyable ride is a massive party at the Ermelo show grounds where a band from Namibia will provide the entertainment in the main hall. This function will also serve as a prize giving where the 2009 championship awards will be made. One thing is for sure – the Ermelo Toyota 400 promises to be exciting and the entries are pouring in. Visit www.ermelotoyota.co.za for more information and be sure not to miss it! |
