MX action will heat up Gallina

Moto Cross
Tielman Van Lill
Leg five of the Namibian National Moto Cross (MX) championship series will be hotly contested in ten classes this coming Saturday at the Gallina MX Park near Brakwater on the northern outskirts of Windhoek.

The defending 2022 Open Class champion, Don-Ray Botha, will not race due to work commitments. Botha currently leads with 81 points, ten points ahead of Sigi Pack (in first place as King of the Dirt), followed by Uwe Sternagel (66) in third position.

Botha also leads the Open Class with 218 points, followed by Uwe Sternagel (192) and Dale Davies (172).

Sternagel made a welcome return to MX earlier this year to heat up the already spicy competition.

Former local icon Mark Sternagel nowadays only races whenever he feels like it. Mark is always a treat to watch when he pushes his bike and himself to the limit. A flying Mark has been part and parcel of MX in Namibia.

In the Veterans’ Class, Sigi Pack, Olaf Pack and Ronald Geiger will try to outsmart one another for much needed championship points. However, the likes of Heiko Stranghöner and Rudi Brand will not let them get away too easily.

The Clubman’s Class racers, Lourens du Plessis, Mirko Kessler, JF van Eeden and Tony Viljoen are a treat on the track. Viljoen is a purebred veteran that do not retreat from a challenge by the younger riders.

In the women’s class (WMX), Ronja Friederich will try to extend her current lead on Zoe Waldschmidt and Maike Bochert. The three women are in the first, second and third spots respectively on the championship points log.

The young riders in the 50cc classes are as serious about their sport and bikes as any of the seasoned racers in the top classes. Watching the little ones starting as young as four years old is a plus for any MX event.

Mason Meyer, Oliver Matthews, Markus Pack, Carter Bouwer, Paul Mans, Maximillian Skutsch and Sebastian Skutsch will add value to your entry fee.

Every class will get started with three heats. King off the Dirt will be the last race of the day and will be counted as heat 3 for the 125cc junior and senior, WMX, Clubman, Veterans and Open Classes.

Riders from all respective classes must be 14 years or older to be eligible to enter the King off the Dirt race.

THE PROVISIONAL ENTRIES

50cc class: Miko Boths, Mason Meyer, Carter Bouwer, Maximillian Skutsch, Sebastian Skutsch, Markus Pack, Duhan Steenkamp, Oliver Mathews.

65cc class: Connor Bouwer, Duhan van Wyk, Felix Wittreich, Juan de Vos, Leander Metzger.

Women’s class (WMX): Ronja Friederich, Maike Bochert.

125cc class: Jarno Metzger, Rigo Wolf, Gero Friederich, Sunny Wittreich.

Clubman’s class: JF van Eeden, Lourens du Plessis.

Open class: Dale Davis.

THE PROGRAMME

1 (11:00, 12:45, 15:21) Open Class (17 years and older) & Veterans (33 years and older) 8 laps.

2 (11:17, 13:02, 15:21) 125cc junior (13 years/max 17) & 125cc senior (18 years and older) 7 laps.

3 (11:34, 13:19, 14:54) 50cc juniors (4 years/max 6) & 50cc seniors (7 years/max 9) 7 laps.

4 (11:51, 13:36, 14:37) WMX (13 years and older) & Clubman (13 years and older) 5 laps.

5 (12:08, 13:53, 14:20) 65cc (6 years/max 12) & 85cc (10 years/max 15) 5 laps.

5 (15:21) KOD 10 laps.

– tielman@republikein.com.na