Race Report and Photos by Deon vdl Photography.
Earlier this month, the SA Short Circuit family made their way to Vereeniging to enjoy a family-friendly day of motorcycle racing. Once again, it was the junior riders who showed the older racers how to do it.
PW50.
Heat 1.
#39 Ajay Venter just managed to take pole position, with young lady #218 Tyler Purificati not far off his qualifying time.
The kids were lined up and ready to go, the flag dropped and little feet fired the 50cc engines into life. In the end, it was Venter who took 1st place, followed by Purificati. #14 Zian Andalaft and #238 Liam Smith came around the last corner side by side; Smith crossed in 3rd with Andalaft in a close 4th.
Heat 2.
Venter entered Turn 1 with Purificati right behind him. Venter finished 1st, with Purificati not far behind in 2nd place. Smith took 3rd.
Heat 3.
The start of Heat 3 saw a red flag after Purificati and Smith collided in Turn 1. Both riders rejoined the pack on the grid and continued to race. Purificati again gave Venter a tough time.
Venter claimed his third win of the day, with Purificati 2nd and Zandalaft in 3rd place.
Overall Results.
1st #39 Ajay Venter
2nd #218 Tyler Purificati
3rd #238 Liam Smith
SM Junior 65cc & 85cc.
(combined report)
Heat 1.
A 65cc ridden by #26 Ethan de Freitas took pole position.
As the race started, the 85cc of #134 Joe Louw overpowered the other riders as he took an early lead. De Freitas pushed hard to try and catch the bigger bike. #550 Marnitz Otten and #27 Kiros Taliotes were at it again, as they have been every single race this year. Louw crossed the line first, but a jump start earned him a 10-second penalty and dropped him to 4th. De Freitas took the win, with Otten in 2nd, followed shortly by Taliotes.
Heat 2.
The riders were off, with Louw leading the way and De Freitas giving chase. Behind them, Otten and Taliotes battled once more. Even though De Freitas pushed hard, Louw claimed the win with De Freitas in 2nd. Otten narrowly beat Taliotes to take 3rd.
Heat 3… Taliotes out for blood.
Louw’s 85cc was pushed to its limits, but the 65’s were right on him. Taliotes made the first move, taking the lead from Louw. Not long after, De Freitas passed Louw, but Louw retaliated, reclaiming his position. The flag came out and Taliotes crossed the line for the win, Louw in 2nd place, with De Freitas in 3rd.
Overall Results.
SM Junior 85cc.
1st #134 Joe Louw
SM Junior 65cc.
1st #26 Ethan de Freitas
2nd #27 Kiros Taliotes
3rd #550 Marnitz Otten
150cc Junior Cup & 150cc Senior Cup.
(combined report)
Heat 1.
After qualifying, #13 Ryan Van Nieuwkerk stood on pole position. He was joined on the front row by #22 Blake Robert and #21 Nicole Purificati.
Van Nieuwkerk shot off the line and led into Turn 1, creating enough breathing room to comfortably take 1st place. #110 Bohlale Mafokate took 2nd and Purificati finished 3rd.
Heat 2.
The race had a clean start, but a few laps in, #45 Amo Phiri collided with #711 Tristan Swart, sending Swart flying over the tyres, bike and all. This ended Swart’s heat. Phiri lost time but rejoined the race. Van Nieuwkerk crossed the line 1st, Mafokate took 2nd, with Purificati in 3rd.
Heat 3.
There was no catching Van Nieuwkerk as he pulled away from the pack; his pace was unmatched. On the penultimate lap, he broke the lap record with a time of 54.784 seconds. He maintained momentum to claim his third win, Mafokate finished 2nd, followed by Purificati in 3rd.
Overall Results.
150cc Junior Cup.
1st #110 Bohlale Mafokate
2nd #74 Tristan Andalaft
3rd #45 Amo Phiri
150cc Senior Cup.
1st #13 Ryan van Nieuwkerk
2nd #21 Nicole Purificati
3rd #17 Jarrod Geypen
Clubmans 2.
Heat 1.
On pole, #13 Mykola Welihockyj, joined by #81 Mark Vermeulen and #32 Raube Ferreira.
Ferreira took the early lead with the pack close behind. A few laps in, Welihockyj took the inside line and seized the lead. He stayed composed to take the win with Ferreira in 2nd, and #83 Joe Louw in 3rd.
Heat 2.
Welihockyj had another cracker of a race, taking 1st place. Vermeulen secured 2nd with Louw in 3rd.
Heat 3.
Ferreira gave Welihockyj a hard time, battling all the way to the finish. Once again, Welihockyj proved too quick and secured 1st overall. Ferreira took 2nd, with Vermeulen in 3rd.
Overall Results.
1st #13 Mykola Welihockyj
2nd #32 Raube Ferreira
3rd #81 Mark Vermeulen
SM Junior 50cc.
Heat 1.
#27 Kiros Taliotes stood proudly on pole, ready for action but at turn 4, he tucked the front and took a tumble. #17, Liam Bronkhorst pulled away from the other riders. #550 Marnitz Otten and #4 James Nijmeijer were elbow-to-elbow fighting for second place. Bronkhorst placed 1st, with Otten just edging 2nd place, followed closely by Nijmeijer in 3rd.
Heat 2.
Bronkhorst and Taliotes battled for the win, while Nijmeijer and Otten clashed once more. The youngsters displayed racing skills that made the senior riders take notice. Taliotes took 1st place, with Bronkhorst alongside in 2nd. Nijmeijer crossed the line 3rd, but a 10-second jump start penalty dropped him to 4th, giving Otten 3rd.
Heat 3.
The first two heats were entertaining, but the final one was even better. Bronkhorst and Taliotes put on a show at the front while Nijmeijer and Otten swapped places, thrilling the fans. Taliotes took the win, Bronkhorst in a close 2nd, with Nijmeijer finishing 3rd.
Overall Results.
1st #17 Liam Bronkhorst
2nd #27 Kiros Taliotes
3rd #550 Marnitz Otten
Clubmans 1 & Girls Development Cup.
(combined report)
Heat 1.
#134 Joe Louw was on pole, with #135 Jessica Oosthuizen the fastest girl.
Louw, on his 85cc, launched off the line and disappeared. Oosthuizen sat comfortably in 2nd place. #35 Macayla Smit and #43 Naledi Ntwari had their own battle. Louw took the win, followed by Oosthuizen in 2nd and Smit in 3rd.
Heat 2.
Louw opened the throttle and never looked back, crossing the line in 1st. Oosthuizen claimed 2nd, with Ntwari taking 3rd.
Heat 3.
Louw dominated once again, securing another win. Oosthuizen kept her pace and finished 2nd. After a good battle with Ntwari, Smit managed to claim 3rd.
Overall Results.
Clubmans 1.
1st #134 Joe Louw
2nd #43 Daniel Rees
Girls Development Cup.
1st #135 Jessica Oosthuizen
2nd #35 Macayla Smit
3rd #43 Naledi Ntwari
Nesbitt bins it.
SM1, SM1S, SM2 & SM Masters.
(combined report)
Heat 1.
The front row featured #13 Ryan van Nieuwkerk on pole, #1 Aston Nesbitt, and #18 Hunter Dreyer.
Van Nieuwkerk launched from the line and bolted for the finish. On lap 3, he broke his own lap record with a time of 49.456 seconds. Nesbitt nearly high-sided but laid the bike down and quickly remounted. Dreyer and #52 Troy Tonking fought hard for 2nd place. Van Nieuwkerk won the race, with Dreyer narrowly taking 2nd ahead of Tonking in 3rd.
Heat 2.
Once again, Van Nieuwkerk took the holeshot. The riders pushed hard, putting on a great show for the fans. Nesbitt and Dreyer battled for 2nd. Van Nieuwkerk took 1st, Nesbitt just edging Dreyer for 2nd.
Heat 3.
The race was intense, with Nesbitt chasing Van Nieuwkerk. Coming around the final corner early in the race Nesbitt crashed again, but got back up and continued. Van Nieuwkerk secured a perfect day with another win. Dreyer and Tonking had a final dash to the flag, with Dreyer taking 2nd and Tonking in 3rd.
Overall Results.
SM1.
1st #52 Troy Tonking
2nd #1 Aston Nesbitt
3rd #20 Mykola Welihockyj
SM1S.
1st #13 Ryan van Nieuwkerk
2nd #18 Hunter Dreyer
3rd #69 Tyler Morgan
SM2.
1st #9 Kaine Longley
2nd #88 Frank Engelbrecht
3rd #213 Steffan Grandmaison
SM Masters.
1st #134 Michael Louw
With only two races left this year, don’t miss Round 7 at FormulaK on 4th October!
