What South African Cross Country Moto Round 2 Report
Where Elim Farm, Gauteng
When Saturday 13 April 2024
Community South Africa National
UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda scores big at home National
UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda Wing Racing with Tork Craft and Dunlop Tyres painted the Goldfields red on Saturday. The team came home from the second round 2024 Trademore South African Cross Country Motorcycle Championship at the West Gauteng Elim Farm with three machines in the top ten, two class wins and a clutch of other medals.
“We enjoyed another brilliant outing at our Elim home race this weekend,” UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda Wing Racing team boss Harry Grobler confirmed. “Louwrens Mahoney took the Senior win, our hot new young gun Nathan Westerside won High School in a team 1-3-4, Warrick van Schalkwyk came back with a second in Masters and our OR3 guys all had decent outings too. So all in all, another great day at the races!”
Looking at the overall race, Hayden Louw finished a fine fourth overall and in OR1 aboard his Open Class OR1 UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda CRF 450 RX. Seniors superstar Louwrens Mahoney once again rode well within the young guns in the overall top six as he took a dominant over-30s win in fifth overall. And Michael Pentecost was seventh overall and fifth Open class machine home in spite of a torrid day in the saddle.
“Our National season is turning out to be a bit of a cracker,” Louwrens Mahoney reported. “I had another brilliant outing at Elim and I am really enjoying going toe-to-toe with the youngsters in the big classes. I made my racing comeback a year ago and we have worked hard at it. My UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda was on point, in the Goldfields, my team was awesome with great stops and everything just clicked again. Huge thanks to Harry and the guys for everything – this is a team effort and its working!”
“I had a good day in the saddle today,” Hayden Louw explained. “My great Honda Wing team put a huge effort into this Elim race and as always, my UB Leisure TFC Sleepover CRF 450 RX ran like a train, and for once it all went as planned. “I pushed where I needed to, paced myself on the harder bits and got into a good rhythm. “I’m delighted with fourth overall and in class, but there’s still a long year of racing ahead of us. “Now to step up on to that National podium!”
“Today was one of those races I’d rather forget,” Mike Pentecost rued. “My UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda CRF 450 RX was perfect, but I managed to wrong slot and lost a lot of time in the time trial. So I started 24th, which is a major disadvantage on a fast track like this, so it was a battle. I’m just relieved to have made up enough time to end up seventh overall and fifth in class. “Thanks so much to Harry and the team, I think I owe you one after today!”
“It was just so good to be back in the saddle,” Warrick van Schalkwyk grinned. “I’ve missed racing so much through all that time off, so it was good to celebrate my comeback with second in Masters aboard my fierce UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda CRF 450 RX. Now I’m getting my eye back in, so the oaks up front had better watch out, oom Warrick is coming for you!”
Its senior riders were not the only UB Leisure TFC Sleepover entries to star at the Elim National. The team’s junior trio, Nathan Westerside came home 17th overall to win the 125 cc High School class on his first National outing for UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Racing. Even better, his teammates Seth Young and Murray Smith third and fourth in the teenage High School class. And young Ruald Potgieter ended sixth in the 85cc Seniors.
The team’s UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda CRF 250 RX OR3 trio also enjoyed a positive run with all three riders well within the class top ten. High School class graduate Blake Young ended 11th overall and fourth in class. Teammates Tyron Beverley came home fifth and Erick Merry eighth in class.
“That’s Elim done and very much dusted,” Harry Grobler concluded. “Now it’s just a week to the Bapsfontein Gauteng GXCC third round, where UB Leisure TFC Sleepover Honda Wing Racing will hopefully once again dominate, and then the next National up in the North West on 25 May. Bring them on!”
*Honda Wing Racing salutes its partners, UB Leisure, The Franchise Co, Sleepover Motels, Tork Craft Tools, Henderson Racing Products & Dunlop Tyres, Motul Oils, Justiracing USA, Bikewise, TBR Suspension & 515 Racing.
Issued on behalf of Honda Cross Country
Photography by: Action in Motion
MSA Publishes media releases from a host of different sources on our website as a service to the sport. It is not practically possible to vet/approve every release that is published. Some news items and articles are written by correspondents and do not necessarily represent MSA’s views.