The 2026 MSA Short Circuit GP Championship is underway following a successful opening round at Vereeniging Kart Circuit on 28 February. Close racing across all categories and strong participation levels set a positive tone for the season ahead, with valuable support from the FIM helping to strengthen the championship’s growth and development.
From the youngest development riders to experienced senior competitors, the programme featured non stop racing across junior, senior and supermoto classes, each running three competitive heats. The entries in the PW50, NSF100 and 150 Junior classes were particularly encouraging and point to a healthy pipeline of young talent in South African motorcycle racing.
Several riders made an immediate impact on the championship standings. Tsebo Mafokate took top honours in the PW50 class, Naledi Ntwari led the way in Clubmans, and Ryan van Nieuwkerk produced a dominant display in Supermoto with three wins from three starts. Liam Bronkhorst controlled the NSF100 category, Kiros Taliotes edged a close Junior Supermoto contest, Blake Robert secured victory in 150 Junior through consistent results, and Cayden Robert claimed the 150 Senior win.
Off track, strong sponsor backing saw R19 000 distributed across five classes at the prize giving. An additional highlight was a season long lucky draw featuring signed caps from Brad and Daryn Binder, awarded at each round. The first recipients were Marnitz Otten and Jack Green.
Despite a few minor incidents during the day, safety standards remained high and no serious injuries were reported. Competitors and teams responded positively to the event, reinforcing confidence in the championship moving forward.
With early championship leaders established, attention now turns to Round 2 at Redstar Raceway on 28 March. The opening round has provided a solid foundation for what looks set to be a competitive and entertaining 2026 season.
Click here to view and download the full race report
Photography by: Lawrence Paiken