For his last 8 or so Isle Of Man TT races, Allan-Jon Venter has been hustling, borrowing bikes, begging favours and just generally making here he could to race with phenomenal success considering his nominal backing when he could get it. But racing these days is all about the money to get the right equipment under a talented rider.
At a gala event in Sandton on Tuesday the 9th of April 2025, held for the press and various VIP’s Mr Zunaid Moti of Future Exotics announced their R4,200,000.00, 3 year sponsorship for AJ Venter to race the legendary and historic Isle Of Man TT. The Isle of Man TT or Tourist Trophy races are an annual motorcycle racing event run on the Isle of Man in May and June of most years since its inaugural race in 1907. The event begins on the UK Spring Bank Holiday at the end of May and runs for thirteen days. The first week is practice with qualifying and racing happening in week two. It is business as usual during the day for the Isle of Man residents, but once they clock out their little Island in the Irish sea gets turned into one of the most exciting race tracks in the world.
The current circuit length is 37.73 miles or 60.72 km with an elevation that goes from near sea-level to 1,300 feet or 400 m with 300 plus twists and turns, a lot of which snake through the local villages. The current average speed is around 135 mph or 220 km/h. With all the bikes he has managed to cobble together over the years AJ can clock the 60 od km circuit in around 17 minutes with an average speed of about 200 km/h, making him the fastest South African to ever compete in the IOMTT. With the backing of Future Exotics, this is the first year that Allan-Jon is actually arriving on The Isle with his own and pre-prepared bike. The keen eyed amongst the gathered crowd detected AJ visibly stifling his emotions, especially when Mr Moti, in a passing comment, (that we got on video), offered him a R1,000,000.00 bonus if he won the race. Mr Zunaid Moti’s motivation is summed up in his one comment, “I just want to win, man!”
Zunaid Moti is just a really good guy that likes to help people he meets with a strong work ethic, absolute raw talent and a burning ambition to be the best. The Moti Foundation has already helped a lot of young athletes from a budding 13 year ladies tennis star from Zimbabwe, to building 600 student seating capacity schools in 70 days and so very much more, and now he has gotten behind AJ Venter.
With the backing of Future Exotics, a solid new machine under his butt, his hot shot mechanic Dad, André Venter, at his side we really don’t see why AJ couldn’t claim that million rand bonus from Mr Zunais Moti.
Then, there is more fun to come from Future Exotics. Zunaid Moti is an avid speed enthusiast, always in exotic sports cars, but gets really frustrated on Sundays when bikes come whipping past him on a breakfast run, because he can’t catch them. So, to satiate his “Need For Speed” and his desire to finally resolve which is faster, he is going to be hosting a Superbikes versus Supercars day at a local airfield with a long runway- so start prepping your bikes ladies and gents, because as gorgeous as them supercars are there is no ways they are going to beat down on bikes!!!
Until then, we are all going to be glued to our goggle boxes watching Mr AJ Venter and Mr Zunaid Moti take the challenge to the world’s most talented racers at the Isle Of Man TT from mid May to mid June this year.
Keep an eye on this site for all the news from The Isle…..
And if you happen to driving along Sandton Drive in Parkmore, look for a fighter Jet parked on the roof of a dealership – that is Future Exotics showroom – pop in and go shake Zunaid Moti’s hand and try keep your eyes from popping out when you see all the rolling art they have on display.
