For Round 4 of the SASCS we took a trip down to Polokwane, probably the favourite track for the riders, or shall I say it used to be…
When we got to the track, we were saddened to see just how neglected the track has become. The grass is overgrown, the toilets has seen better days and it just looked like the track has been all but forgotten by the council. Either way the racing was awesome and the atmosphere was still great.
By Deon VDL.
PW50.
Heat 1.
Getting the day started was the youngsters on the PW50s, #143 Tsebo Mafokate was fastest in qualifying and took pole position. The kids ran their bikes up to speed as the race started, Mafokate, #238 Liam Smith and #14 Zian Andalaft had a good dice for the win. Mafokate claimed 1st place with Smith in a close 2nd and Andalaft following shortly in 3rd.
Heat 2.
#39 Ajay Venter still had the Isle of Man TT adrenaline pumping through his veins as he came out swinging in heat 2. Little Venter worked hard to get to the front and rode his way to take the win, Andalaft was right behind him in 2nd place and #218, the young lady Tyler Purificati took 3rd.
Heat 3.
The last race had everyone pushing the limits, Smith took the holeshot and the early lead. A few laps in, Venter passed Smith. Venter went flat out all the way across the line and secured 1st overall, Smith grabbed 2nd and Andalaft took 3rd place.
Overall results.
1st #39 Ajay Venter
2nd #238 Liam Smith
3rd #14 Zian Andalaft
SM Junior 65cc.
Heat 1.
#26 Ethan de Freitas looked in top form as he claimed the number one spot on the grid. He launched off the line with the pack in tow.
With De Freitas in front and team mate #550 Marnitz Otten trying to chase him down, there were three riders battling for the third spot. #27 Kiros Taliotes, #13 Lungisile Tom and #14 Quandre Potgieter. De Freitas won the race, Otten took 2nd place and Taliotes claimed 3rd.
Heat 2.
Another cracker off the line from De Freitas had him take the early lead. Otten had his hands full as Taliotes went on the attack. DeFreitas crossed in 1st place with Taliotes clinching 2nd and Otten in 3rd.
Heat 3.
The last heat was quite the show.
Otten tried to fend off Taliotes, but a brilliant move from Taliotes took the second spot from Otten. Taliotes closed the gap between him and De Freitas but it was too late as De Freitas took the win for his perfect day, Taliotes settled for 2nd and Otten took 3rd place.
Overall Results.
1st #26 Ethan de Freitas
2nd #27 Kiros Taliotes
3rd #550 Marnitz Otten
150 Junior Cup and 150 Senior Cup.
150 Junior Cup.
Heat 1.
Racing amongst the Senior riders the Juniors put on a great show.
Leading the Junior Class was #110 Bohlale “Little Man” Mafokate. Little Man’s pace was just too much for his competitors as he rode his way to 1st place. #74 Tristan Andalaft crossed in 2nd followed very shortly by Zeemans Team rider #711 Tristan Swart in 3rd.
Heat 2.
Right from the start Mafokate started pulling away from his Junior competitors and without looking back he took a comfortable win. Swart finished in 2nd with #22 Blake Robert in 3rd place.
Heat 3.
Mafokate was on fire as he powered his way to his third win for the day. Blake Robert had come back from a first heat crash and collected himself the 2nd spot. Swart took 3rd place.
150 Senior Cup.
Heat 1.
The Seniors dominated the front line on the grid with #22 Cayden Robert on pole, #41 Jason van Breda 2nd and #13 Ryan van Nieuwkerk in the thirdt spot. Robert had a tough time trying to keep his nose in front, he managed to do just that as he took the flag for the win, Van Nieuwkerk crossed shortly in 2nd and Van Breda in a close 3rd.
Heat 2.
Robert and Van Nieuwkerk had a proper dice for the number one spot. Not far behind them, Van Breda and #98 Arno Erasmus had a good go. When the dust settled it was Van Nieuwkerk that came out on top with Robert in 2nd place. Van Breda took 3rd but only just as Erasmus followed in 4th.
Heat 3.
Early in the race while pushing hard for the win, Cayden Robert went down hard. He got back onto a broken bike to finish the race, but with so much damage he could only stick to the sides of the track and finished in 7th.
With nobody standing in his way Van Nieuwkerk took 1st place, Van Breda claimed 2nd with Erasmus in 3rd.
Overall Results.
150 Junior Cup.
1st #110 Bohlale Mafokate
2nd #711 Tristan Swart
3rd #45 Amohlang Phiri
150 Senior Cup.
1st #13 Ryan van Nieuwkerk
2nd #22 Cayden Robert
3rd #41 Jason van Breda
Girls Development Cup & Clubmans 1.
Clubmans 1.
The only entry for Clubmans 1 was #134 Joe Louw.
Girls Development Cup.
Heat 1.
It was good having most of the girls back on the grid.
There are still a few that need to make their way back but the Girls Cup is growing again.
Oosthuizen took the win with Smit in a close 2nd and Ntwari in 3rd place.
Heat 2.
Smit’s first race back after her surgery gave Oosthuizen a good run for her money, but Oosthuizen still claimed 1st place with Ntwari again in 3rd.
Heat 3.
Oosthuizen had an incredible run in the last heat and had a comfortable win, Smit came through in 2nd and Ntwari with another 3rd place.
Overall results.
Clubmans 1.
1st #134 Joe Louw
Girls Development Cup.
1st #135 Jessica Oosthuizen
2nd #35 Macayla Smit
3rd #43 Naledi Ntwari
Clubmans 2.
Heat 1.
Championship points leader #17 Jarrod Geypen again found himself in pole position. His 400 Ninja was unstoppable as he raced his way to 1st place. #32 Raube Ferreira took 2nd and #81 Mark Vermeulen finished 3rd.
Heat 2.
Ferreira was not going to let Geypen have it all his own way and made him work hard to get past. Geypen eventually did get through to take another win. Ferreira got 2nd and Vermeulen crossed in 3rd place.
Heat 3.
The flag dropped and the riders jumped into action. Geypen took the lead away from Ferreira and just kept going all the way until he saw the chequered flag claiming 3 for 3. Ferreira came through in 2nd place with Vermeulen taking 3rd.
Overall Results.
1st #17 Jarrod Geypen
2nd #32 Raube Ferreira
3rd #81 Mark Vermeulen
SM Junior 50cc.
Heat 1.
The SM50cc class is always good to watch as it produces some really close racing. At the front it was #27 Kiros Taliotes and #550 Marnitz Otten fighting for the win with #4 James Nijmeijer and #17 Liam Bronkhorst, two close friends giving no quarter on the race track. Otten and Taliotes came around the last corner neck in neck with Otten just managing to clinch the win. Taliotes took 2nd, Nijmeijer was closing in on the line when Bronkhorst snuck up and stole 3rd place.
Great racing!
Heat 2.
Keeping things exciting and too close for comfort Otten and Taliotes kept everyone on the edge of their seat. Otten again crossed in 1st place with Taliotes right beside him in 2nd, Brokhorst finished in 3rd.
Heat 3.
The race started off just like the others, then Otten started losing all momentum before finally pulling off on the side of the track with a seized motor.
Otten is in the fight for the Championship and we all hope they can get the engine sorted before the next race. Taliotes capitalised and rode his way unchallenged for the win. Nijmeijer got his payback as he stole 2nd place with Bronkhost in a close 3rd.
Overall Results.
1st #27 Kiros Taliotes
2nd #550 Marnitz Otten
3rd #17 Liam Bronkhorst
SM1, SM1S & SM2.
(Combined Report.)
Heat 1.
After an intense qualifier #13 Ryan van Nieuwkerk set the fastest time and took up his position on pole. The flag dropped and the race was on.
Van Nieuwkerk got the early lead as they entered turn one. There was some real elbow to elbow racing and insane passes throughout the pack and this continued right until the end.
Van Nieuwkerk came through for the win followed by #52 Troy Tonking in 2nd and #30 Ruben Weterman in 3rd place.
Heat 2.
In the very early stage of heat two, Van Nieuwkerk took a tumble out of the lead. He jumped back on the bike and pushed on. Tonking was now firmly in the lead. As the laps fell away, Van Nieuwkerk was quickly gaining ground. Tonking crossed in 1st place and a great run by #69 Tyler Morgan saw him take 2nd. Van Nieuwkerk still claimed 3rd.
Heat 3.
The last race of the day turned out to be very entertaining as the riders gave all they got to collect as many championship points as possible. Up at the front, Van Nieuwkerk had a strong pace. There was a four rider fight for fourth place between Morgan, #18 Hunter Dreyer, #31 Luan Weterman and #98 Arno Erasmus that kept the spectators’ eyes glued on the track.
Van Nieuwkerk grabbed his second win of the day, Tonking took 2nd and Ruben Weterman got the 3rd spot. Dreyer won the battle for 4th place.
Overall Results.
SM1.
1st #52 Troy Tonking
2nd #98 Arno Erasmus
3rd #821 Damion Purificati
SM1S.
1st #13 Ryan van Nieuwkerk
2nd #30 Ruben Weterman
3rd #69 Tyler Morgan
SM2.
1st #41 Wian Erasmus
2nd #43 Quinton van Wyk
3rd #707 Treavin Linder
It was a good raceday and the best was made of a badly maintained Polokwane Track. We are heading off to iDube in Pietermaritzburg on the 18th of July.
See you all there.
