Race report and Photos by Deon vdl Photography.
The SASCS Round 8 took place at Vereeniging Kart Circuit. When the lights went out, the racing was packed full of action as the riders gave their best show of the year.
SM Junior 65cc.
Heat 1.
After the qualifying session, the front row had a difference of only 0.154sec with #711 Tristan Swart on pole. He was joined by #22 Blake Robert and #26 Ethan de Freitas.
The roar of the engines came alive as the lights went on… the lights went out and the race was on! Tristan Swart had a good start and quickly took the lead keeping a pace that was just too quick. Behind him, a four way battle was taking place with #11x Luca Bergover, #40 Lorenzo de Ponte, Ethan de Freitas and Blake Robert all fighting for a top three spot. Swart took the win, Bergover grabbed 2nd place with Robert in a close 3rd.
In Heat 2, Swart carried his speed and performance as he came flying off the line and left the fighting for the riders behind him. The same four riders were on the attack for their shot at a podium finish.
Swart crossed the line in 1st place as a row of four riders came bolting down the final straight… again Bergover managed to take 2nd with De Ponte right behind him in 3rd.
Heat 3.
Things weren’t as easy for Swart in the last heat as De Ponte gave all he had and kept pushing hard to take the lead. Swart kept his head in the game and just clinched the win, taking home his perfect day. De Ponte took 2nd place with Robert claimed the 3rd spot.
Overall Race Results.
1st #711 Tristan Swart
2nd #11x Luca Bergover
3rd #40 Lorenzo de Ponte
Championship Results.
PW50.
Heat 1.
With the Championship still on the line, the kids in the PW50 class were laser focused…
The flag dropped and they went into full race mode. #4 James Nijmeijer entered turn 1 in the lead with #238 Liam Smith and #17 Liam Bronkhorst, right behind him. Nijmeijer rode flat out to take 1st place. Bronkhorst took 2nd and Smith placed in 3rd.
Heat 2.
This heat had Nijmeijer on a whole new level from the moment he took the holeshot and started to open a gap. Smith and Bronkhorst kept the spectators on their feet with their swapping of positions. In the end, it was Nijmeijer who took a comfortable win. Smith finished 2nd with Bronkhorst taking 3rd place.
In Heat 3 there was no stopping Nijmeijer as he took the lead again. Smith came so close to overtaking, but it was in vain as the gap started to increase. The chequered flag came out and Nijmeijer celebrated his third win of the day. Smith came through in 2nd and Bronkhorst took 3rd place.
Overall Race Result.
1st #4 James Nijmeijer
2nd #238 Liam Smith
3rd #17 Liam Bronkhorst
Championship Results.
150 Cup & 150 Seniors.
150 Cup.
Heat 1.
After putting up the best time in his class #41 Jason van Breda started the race from the front row of the grid. He rode his heart out as his competitors tried to catch him, but he made sure that didn’t happen and crossed the line in 1st place. #99 Adam Naidoo collected 2nd with #110 Bohlale Mafokate in 3rd.
In Heat 2, Van Breda had a great start and took an early lead in his class. He pushed hard to pull a gap and nobody was going to catch up as he took the win.
Mafokate had to fight hard to claim 2nd with Naidoo in 3rd place.
Heat 3.
With two wins already, there was no one that could stand in Van Breda’s way. Naidoo came closest, even taking the fastest lap time for the race in lap 7. Van Breda crossed the line and secured 1st overall. Naidoo had a good run and took 2nd place with #77 Mueez Jassat taking the 3rd spot.
150 Seniors.
Heat 1.
#22 Cayden Robert made his way to the number one spot on the grid.
He was poised and ready and as the lights went out he found his front wheel up in the airas he took the lead. He stayed in front all the way to the end. #21 Arno Erasmus with some good racing of his own took 2nd place with #26 Oratilwe Phiri in 3rd.
In Heat 2, Robert went full throttle and within a few laps he had built up quite a lead, and he broke the lap record with a time of 55.094 sec!
He continued to move forward and took the flag in 1st place. Phiri came through in 2nd with Erasmus claiming the 3rd spot.
In Heat 3, Robert was in top form as he once again made his way over the line for the win.
Phiri and Erasmus were fighting for second when Phiri crashed out. Erasmus finished in 2nd place with #17 Jarrod Geypen collecting 3rd.
Overall Race Results.
150 Cup.
1st #41 Jason van Breda
2nd #99 Adam Naidoo
3rd #110 Bohlale Mafokate
150 Seniors.
1st #22 Cayden Robert
2nd #21 Arno Erasmus
3rd #17 Jarrod Geypen
Championship Results.
150 Seniors.
Clubmans & Girls Development Cup.
Clubmans combined results:
Heat 1.
After the qualifiers it seemed that the 450cc motard of #88 Frank Engelbrecht was going to be a thorn in everyone’s side. Engelbrecht flew off the start line to claim the holeshot but unfortunately the time keepers ruled it as a jump start and he was penalised. This still didn’t stop Engelbrecht from claiming the win, #17 Jarrod Geypen crossed in 2nd with#12 Simphiwe Mahlobo in 3rd place.
Heat 2.
A clean start from Engelbrecht had him take up the front again.
His 450 was just too fast for anybody to stand in his way and he took 1st place. Mahlobo had a tough time and struggled to stay with the top three, Geypen claimed 2nd and #168 Steffan Grandmaison took 3rd.
Heat 3.
After two heats of dominance it was all about Engelbrecht who ran away with the lead, taking the flag for the win. Geypen rode a good race to grab 2nd. Grandmaison got his second 3rd place for the day.
Girls Development Cup.
Heat 1.
#135 Jessica Oosthuizen was on fire as she took control over the girls and boys! She came through with the win. #35 Macayla Smit followed in 2nd place with #43 Naledi Ntwari finishing in 3rd.
In Heat 2, Oosthuizen came out swinging as lap after lap she started to pull away to take 1st place. Smit collected 2nd with Ntwari in 3rd.
Heat 3 was awesome! Oosthuizen made sure to make it 3 out of 3 wins, Smit in 2nd place and Ntwari took the 3rd spot.
Overall Race Results.
Clubmans C1.
1st #88 Frank Engelbrecht
2nd #29 Eric Cook
3rd #43 Daniel Rees
Clubmans C2.
Girls Development Cup.
1st #135 Jessica Oosthuizen
2nd #35 Macayla Smit
3rd #43 Naledi Ntwari
Championship Results.
Clubmans.
Girls Development Cup.
SM Junior 50cc.
Heat 1.
Starting his day not only in pole position but also as the new 2024 Champion, #1 Ethan de Freitas was still going to prove why he is number 1. From the get-go he was on the gas, crossing the line in 1st place.
Some awesome racing from #27 Kiros Taliotes and #550 Marnitz Otten had everyone cheering. Taliotes clinched 2nd with Otten in a very close 3rd spot.
In Heat 2, De Freitas felt confident going into the second heat and decided to go all out once again. It worked well and he took the win. Taliotes crossed the line in 2nd with Otten took 3rd place.
Heat 3.
De Freitas kept a clean race line as he finished his perfect day. Otten had a better run in the last heat and took 2nd place Taliotes followed in 3rd place.
Overall Race Results.
1st #26 Ethan de Freitas
2nd #27 Kiros Taliotes
3rd #550 Marnitz Otten
Championship Results.
SM1, SM1S, SM2 & SM Masters. (Combined Results.)
Heat 1.
With all the classes combined there were 20 riders out to qualify and the fastest of them was #1 Aston Nesbitt. Filling the front row was #13 Ryan van Nieuwkerk and #18 Hunter Dreyer.
As always, the race started with a massive roar as they stormed the first bend with Nesbitt in the lead. Van Nieuwkerk was right there until he crashed out just a few corners later only getting back into the race in 19th position. Van Nieuwkerk finished in 9th. After missing a bunch of races this year, Dreyer was in top form as he tried to hunt Nesbitt down.
There was plenty going on throughout the field, just too much to write about. The chequered flag came out and Nesbitt crossed in 1st place. Dreyer followed in 2nd with #52 Troy Tonking taking 3rd.
It was a pretty damn cool outing from these lads!
Heat 2.
Coming off the line, Tonking lost control of his bike and crashed before the first bend.
Trying to avoid the accident #2 Luan Weterman and #41 Wian Erasmus touched handlebars and Weterman went down…, this resulted in a red flag and the race was restarted with Luan back on the grid to restart his race. Heat 2 take 2, this time they had a clean start and the race was on.
Nesbitt again in the lead with Van Nieuwkerk on the attack. Nesbitt kept a good defensive line and claimed another win, Van Nieuwkerk finished 2nd and Dreyer placed 3rd.
In Heat 3 Nesbitt took the holeshot and never looked back. Things were looking good for the reigning champ, but Van Nieuwkerk had some tricks up his sleeve, he stayed behind Nesbitt till the last lap… when Van Nieuwkerk clinched the win with Nesbitt in a close 2nd place. Dreyer took 3rd.
What incredible racing from all the SM Classes. As per the norm the fans got treated by a show of wheelies and burnouts to end the GREAT raceday.
Overall Race Results.
SM1.
1st #1 Aston Nesbitt
2nd #13 Ryan van Nieuwkerk
3rd #22 Luca Campodonico
SM1S.
1st #18 Hunter Dreyer
2nd #33 Mitch Mortimer
3rd #1x Ruben Weterman
SM2.
1st #69 Tyler Morgan
2nd #29 Michael Glaus
3rd #88 Frank Engelbrecht
SM Masters.
1st #41 Wian Erasmus
2nd #183 Werner Linder
3rd #25 Leon Weterman
Championship Results.
SM1.
SM1S.
SM2.
SM Masters.
SM Grand Masters.
What a way to end the race year, thanks to all the riders that made this day a huge success. Thanks to all the organizers for a great year with the SASCS family.
As we say goodbye to 2024 we look forward to the 2025 race season. Stay safe.
