Race report & photos by Deon vdl Photography.
The brand new MSA Short Circuit GP launched its inaugural round at Global Touch Raceway in Vereeniging. While the entry list wasn’t bursting at the seams, something fairly typical for a brand-new championship, the event itself ran smoothly and professionally, without a hitch.
What the grid may have lacked in numbers, it more than made up for in intensity. The racing was pretty fierce.
Clubmans
Heat 1
The Clubmans opened proceedings, with #43 Naledi Ntwari securing the first pole position of the series.
Ntwari made a textbook start, grabbing the holeshot and immediately settling into a strong rhythm. She maintained a relentless pace to the chequered flag, taking the win ahead of #12 Rikus van der Merwe in 2nd and #34 Liam Steele in 3rd.
Heat 2
Van der Merwe got the better launch this time and led until lap three, when Ntwari made her move and took control. From there she didn’t put a foot wrong, claiming another victory. Van der Merwe secured a second consecutive runner-up finish, with Steele once again 3rd.
Heat 3
Early drama unfolded with a tangle between riders, allowing Van der Merwe to seize the advantage. Ntwari quickly regrouped and launched a determined chase, but Van der Merwe held firm to take the win. Ntwari crossed in 2nd, Steele completing a consistent weekend in 3rd.
Overall Results.
1st #43 Naledi Ntwari
2nd #12 Rikus van der Merwe
3rd #34 Liam Steele
Amalgam Welding Shop – PW50
Heat 1
The young guns lined up, nerves buzzing. As the lights went out, they sprinted their little machines off the line and into Turn One almost side by side.
#143 Tsebo Mafokate emerged ahead, with #218 Tyler Purificati and #117 Jack Green glued to his rear wheel. Mafokate and Purificati exited the final corner locked together, but Mafokate just edged it to the line. Purificati took a razor-close 2nd, Green 3rd.
Heat 2
This one was special. Mafokate and Purificati were locked in a proper old-school scrap. Purificati grabbed the early lead under relentless pressure.
They rounded the final corner side by side, and Purificati snatched victory by a mere 0.072 seconds. Mafokate settled for 2nd, Green again 3rd.
Heat 3
Confusion on the grid saw Purificati get away late, but she charged through the field in determined fashion. The race culminated in a frantic drag to the line, Mafokate just holding on for the win. Purificati followed inches behind, Green securing another podium.
Overall Results.
1st #143 Tsebo Mafokate
2nd #218 Tyler Purificati
3rd #117 Jack Green
Junior Supermoto
Heat 1
After qualifying, #550 Marnitz Otten stood proud on pole. Once racing got underway, Otten gradually built a comfortable gap and controlled proceedings to take the win.
#27 Kiros Taliotes claimed 2nd, with #17 Liam Bronkhorst in 3rd.
Heat 2
A near carbon copy of Heat 1, Otten launched hard and never relinquished control, taking another commanding victory. Taliotes again 2nd, Bronkhorst 3rd.
Heat 3
Taliotes came out swinging in the final heat, leading with Otten glued to his rear wheel. The crowd watched, captivated.
Then, disaster. Otten crashed out while challenging for the lead. Taliotes stormed to victory, Bronkhorst promoted to 2nd, and #4 James Nijmeijer grabbed 3rd.
Overall Results.
1st #27 Kiros Taliotes
2nd #550 Marnitz Otten
3rd #17 Liam Bronkhorst
Lumi Racing 150cc Junior & RVN Racing 150cc Senior
(Combined Report)
Heat 1
Juniors and Seniors lined up together, poised for battle. When the lights went out, they charged into Turn One cleanly.
#22 Cayden Robert initially led, trading blows with #13 Ryan van Nieuwkerk. Van Nieuwkerk briefly snatched the advantage before the fight intensified further back, where #110 Bohlale Mafokate and #40 Lorenzo de Ponte were disputing third.
A heavy crash for De Ponte brought out the red flag, thankfully, he was unharmed.
On the restart, Robert reclaimed control and held on for victory, Van Nieuwkerk a close 2nd, with #74 Tristan Andalaft 3rd.
Heat 2
Van Nieuwkerk led early, but Robert piled on the pressure. On lap eight, Robert attempted an ambitious inside move as Van Nieuwkerk shut the door, both riders collided and slid into the tyre wall.
Robert remounted after a lengthy delay, but Van Nieuwkerk’s race day was over.
Andalaft inherited the lead, ahead of Mafokate, #22 Blake Robert and #21 Nicole Purificati. Although Andalaft crossed the line first, a false start penalty of 15 seconds dropped him to 4th. Mafokate was declared the winner, Blake Robert 2nd, Purificati 3rd.
Heat 3
Cayden Robert took the holeshot, while behind him Mafokate and #57 Diego de Ponte fought tooth and nail. Battles raged throughout the pack. Robert claimed the win, Mafokate 2nd, De Ponte a close 3rd.
Overall Results.
150cc Junior.
1st #22 Blake Robert
2nd #74 Tristan Andalaft
3rd #110 Bohlale Mafokate
150cc Senior.
1st #22 Cayden Robert
2nd #21 Nicole Purificati
3rd #13 Ryan van Nieuwkerk
Green Thumb – NSF100
It was fantastic to see the SAMRA (South African Motorcycle Racing Academy) youngsters competing in a series that extends beyond a single circuit.
Heat 1
#17 Liam Bronkhorst took the early lead, with Otten and #74 Zian Andalaft battling over second. Bronkhorst claimed victory, Otten 2nd, Andalaft 3rd.
Heat 2
Behind him, Otten and Andalaft resumed their scrap, while further back #14 Tsebo Mafokate and #4 James Nijmeijer were elbow-to-elbow, neither willing to yield an inch.
Bronkhorst secured another win, Otten narrowly 2nd, Andalaft 3rd.
Heat 3
Bronkhorst delivered a commanding performance to seal the overall. Otten finished 2nd, with #39 Ajay Venter taking 3rd.
Overall Results.
1st #17 Liam Bronkhorst
#550 Marnitz Otten
3rd #74 Zian Andalaft
Family Fitness – Supermoto
Heat 1
The headline act rolled onto the grid. #13 Ryan van Nieuwkerk hit the front immediately and checked out from the field.
Behind him, #18 Hunter Dreyer and #3 Thabang Keswa were locked in a fierce duel until Keswa went down. He remounted and salvaged third, while Van Nieuwkerk took the win ahead of Dreyer in 2nd place.
Heat 2
Another explosive start saw Van Nieuwkerk lead once more. This time Keswa got the better of Dreyer in their scrap for second. Van Nieuwkerk controlled the pace to the flag, Keswa 2nd, Dreyer 3rd.
Heat 3
The final race of the day delivered more fireworks. Van Nieuwkerk led, though not by the margins seen earlier. Keswa and Dreyer had the crowd on their feet in a no-holds-barred battle.
Van Nieuwkerk crossed the line in style with a celebratory wheelie, completing a clean sweep. Keswa secured 2nd, Dreyer just 0.2 seconds behind in 3rd.
Overall Results.
1st #13 Ryan van Nieuwkerk
2nd #3 Thabang Keswa
3rd #18 Hunter Dreyer
Round 2 of the MSA Short Circuit GP heads to Redstar Raceway on 28 March for a combined event alongside the SASCS and Redstar Social Racing. Three series, one circuit, one shared passion for the sport.
It promises to be a family-friendly day of close racing and grassroots competition at its finest.
See you at Redstar.
