Former winners Shado Alston, Denver Biggs and Reg Gurnell lead the list of entries for this year’s RFS Auto Bike Econrun on Friday and Saturday.
One of the most important events on the annual South African motorsport calendar, the econorun highlights the fuel efficiency of motorcycles available on the South African market and has drawn entries from industry heavyweights like BMW, Honda, Triumph, Yamaha, KTM and Ducati. This is the 36 edition of the RFS Auto Bike Econorun which since its inception has been organized by the Pretoria Motor Club.
Alston, on a Honda NC750, won last year’s event when he returned figures of 2,6994 liters/100 kilometres. He will be looking for his third win following back to back victories in 2102 and 2013.
Cape Town rider Gareth Floweday and the experienced Grant Scott, second and third last year, are also among the entries with last year’s leading lady rider Glynese de Villiers. De Villiers, on a Ducati, will be looking for her third win in a row in the ladies category.
In a major change from previous events this year’s econorun will start at 7.30am on Friday from the Engen Carnival City, in Brakpan, and will end at the Black Mountain Hotel in Thaba ‘Nchu in the south Free State. Day one will be made up 677 kilometres and day two will see competitors complete 288 kilometres with a total distance of 973 kilometres.
In previous years the event has been run from Pretoria to Hazyview in Mpumalanga. The first day on this year’s route will include three refuels at Frankfort Sasol, Golden Gate Total and Ladybrand Toyota Shell with riders spending more than nine hours in the saddle.
“Day one will be slog,” said permanent clerk of course Francois Jordaan. “It is going to be a test of endurance as well as riding skill, but we have a quality field and we should see some impressive consumption figures.
“Day two is a much easier and scenic roundabout route that starts and ends at the Black Mountain Hotel, but at the end of the day we will have credible fuel consumption figures that have been achieved under strictly controlled conditions.”
Other notable entries include a string of motorsport personalities and Clive Strugnell who has competed in every RFS Auto Bike Econorun to date. Strugnell will this year be mounted on a Honda Afrika Twin.
“It is a tremendous event that requires technical skill and riding ability,” said Strugnell. “It is hugely competitive but there is a social side and camaraderie that only bikers can appreciate.”
Motorsport personalities who are taking part include Phillip Herselman, Nardus and Louis Alberts, Gerard Schutte, Henri Zermatten and Hennie ter Stege. Schutte and Zermatten will be competing in a pillion category and Estelle Schutte and Lianne Zermatten.