Dundee in KwaZulu-Natal will be the play-ground for round two of the SA Cross Country Moto Series when the Battlefields 400 will test national motorcycle and quad riders on Friday, 12th May. Last year, this was quite a challenging event and riders who have upped their fitness levels and who can keep their battle gear together for 320 kilometres, will walk away with the points.
The defending OR1 (Open Class) motorcycle champion, Ross Branch (Brother Leader Tread KTM) has thrown down the gauntlet by winning the opening round and took the lead in the overall championship. The season also started well for Tim Young (Sherco Liqui Moly Racing), who is second in class and overall, and motocross ace Tristan Purdon (Bidvest Blu Cru Yamaha Racing) who is third. However, former champions Kenny Gilbert (Husqvarna), Branch’s team-mate, and Louw Schmidt will be the outsiders as they could not score any points and will come back with a vengeance to change this situation.
In the OR2 (250cc) championship a couple of former champions can throw a spanner in the works. Jaycee Nienaber (Super Moose KTM) and Louwrens Mahoney (Brother Leader Tread KTM) are fourth and sixth respectively while Brett Swanepoel (Pepson Plastics Husqvarna) took an early lead. Swanepoel is third on the overall standings and is being followed in OR2 by Marius Venter (KTM) and Ruan Smith (KTM Centurion Liqui Moly Racing). Interesting results can also be expected as Cameron Becker (KTM Centurion Liqui Moly Racing), who is fifth, would like to get back onto the podium where he was quite comfortable last year.
An injury during the King of the Hill Enduro in Romania resulted in an operation for OR3 (200cc) leader, Kyle Flanagan (Bidvest Blu Cru Yamaha Racing), but he will be ready for the battle at Dundee. He will be chased by runner-up Wilhelm Schönfeldt (BCR Arrow Yamaha Racing) who is hungry for the title after missing out on the chase last year when he was prevented from competing in the last event due to a broken leg. Third-place Jarryd Coetzee (Brother Leader Tread KTM) also has his aim on the title after finishing as the runner-up in 2015. Various seasoned riders in this class will make for nail-biting racing.
A fourth consecutive Senior Class Championship might be on the cards for Juan ‘Bollie’ van Rooyen (Brother Leader Tread KTM) who opened his 2017 scorecard with a victory, but not if current runner-up, Bruce Viljoen (Doorzone Bikers Warehouse Husqvarna) or third-placed Wynand Kleynhans (Sherco Liqui Moly Racing) can help it. Knowledge of the terrain could also be to the advantage of local KZN rider, Bruce May (Bidvest Blu Cru Yamaha Racing) who would like to better his current sixth place.
The action in the Master Class championship is also set to hot up as the current champion, Wayne Farmer (Doorzone Bikers Warehouse Husqvarna) will come out guns blazing to chase the former champion and class leader, Pieter Holl (KTM). Third-placed Faan van Deventer (KZN) would like to fly the KZN flag high and fourth-placed Justin Broughton (Sherco Liqui Moly Racing) will aim to move onto the podium.
It was a narrow victory for Faan’s son, Stefan (Bidvest Blu Cru Yamaha Racing), the defending High School champion, at the opening round and some tough competition can be expected in this class. Juan-Pierre de Villiers (KTM) and Maarten van Jaarsveld (Husqvarna) are second and third respectively and the only other High School riders with points, but outsiders can cause the current podium to change.
Consistency plays an important role in the quad category standings where former Senior Class champion, Russell Ferreira (Yamaha) currently leads overall as well as the Open Quad Class championship. He will feel the pressure from other regular finishers like Johan Oosthuizen (VANS Racing Division Yamaha) and Pierre van Heerden (Honda) who are filling the second and third place on the podium.
Former High School Class champion, Keenan Hammon (Yamaha) will now also compete in the Open Class and can better his fifth place on the overall standings as can the defending Open Class champion, Hannes Saaijman (Q-KON EMD Basefit Racing Yamaha) who suffered mechanical issues at the opening round and would like to set the record straight with a good result.
Other riders who would like to score their first points, are the Annandale brothers, Hannes (Can-Am) and Franco (Suzuki) who are seasoned competitors as well as Werner Mostert who will again compete with his Can-Am SxS and Stef Bester (VANS Racing Division Yamaha). Melanie Swanepoel (Yamaha) is the only lady who has entered the event.
Motorcycle and quad competitors will compete in the SACCS Moto on Friday, 12 May while KZN riders in the invitational race will also race. The race will consist of a 20km time-trial from 07:00 to 08:00 to determine the starting order for Racing Section 2 that will start at 10:00. The race will consist of a 100 kilometre loop that riders will have to complete three times.
All the action will take place from the Battlefield Country Lodge and Sports Resort outside Dundee where the race headquarters, the Start/Finish and the designated service park (DSP) will be situated. There are various spectator points along the route and public entrance is free.