Gutzeit and Badenhorst win in Brits
author: Andries van der Walt
Gutzeit and Badenhorst win in Brits
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A picture by Motorpics.co.za
Brendan Badenhorst
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The fifth round of the national championship for off road motorcycles and quads, which took place in the Brits area for the first time last weekend, was a resounding success with more than 300 competitors in the two racing disciplines enjoying two days of competition in what many described as the best-organised off road race of the year.
The big winners of the inaugural Grass Factory & Eco Organics 400, apart from the off road racing fraternity in general, were Jade Gutzeit (Full Throttle Racing Yamaha) and Brendan Badenhorst (Brother KTM), who took the overall honours in the motorcycle and quad categories respectively.
Gutzeit was in imperious form, winning Friday’s 42-km time-trial and both two- and four-lap rounds of the 400-km race. His total time in the saddle was 7 hr 27 min 16,7 sec and it brought him his third win of the season.
Second was Juan “Bollie” van Rooyen (The Roost/Out of Africa Kawasaki), fifth in the time trial, who finished 3 min 44 sec behind Gutzeit and just 52 seconds ahead of third-placed Riaan van Niekerk (Brother KTM), who won the 250 cc class. Fourth and fifth places went to Gray Dick (Bavarian Motorcycles BMW) and Wade Blaauw (Connix Yamaha), who were separated by 1 min 29 sec.
Badenhorst took the quad victory 8 min 07 sec ahead of Dirkie Baard (Honda Windhoek Race Team) and a further 47 seconds in front of Andre du Plessis (EMD Racing Suzuki), who recovered well after crashing in the time trial. Fourth and fifth were Philipie Baard (Honda Windhoek Race Team) and Jacques “Boesman” Struwig (Boesman Racing Hybrid).
Time-trial winner and a favourite to take the race honours, Brian Baragwanath (EMD Racing Yamaha) retired with mechanical problems while leading.
Errol Dalton (Connix Yamaha) won the senior motorcycle class from Wayne Farmer (World of Accessories Gas Gas) and Guy Henley (The Roost/Out of Africa Kawasaki). Winner of the quad senior class was CJ Smith (EMD Racing Suzuki) from Vic Seabra (Honda) and Colin Joubert (JAG Quad Racing Suzuki).
Only six riders in the motorcycle master class (for competitors over 46) completed the race, with Jan Berning (KTM) taking the honors from Henk Leenstra (Alfie Cox KTM Racing) and Greg Blackwell (Kargo Racing KTM). There were also only six survivors in the quad master class, with Geoff Osche (CDV Racing Can-Am) prevailing ahead of Kobus Visser (Eco 4x4 Powersport Can-Am) and Milton Thesen (Team Tractor World Polaris).
Tyron Miller (Miller Moore Sandton Honda) won the silver class on two wheels from Timothy Young (Xtreme Yamaha) and Thomas Saether (Yamaha). Henrique Marques (Yamaha) took the silver class honours on four wheels ahead of Wilmer Els (Yamaha) and Jaco Snyman (Honda Windhoek Race Team).
Also a big winner over the weekend was the community of Brits, where the Wagpos High school became the focal point of the event, providing overnight accommodation and hosting the central service area and pits for the more than 300 bikes and quads on three rugby fields – a first in national championship off road racing. In addition to the school and local businesses benefitting from the large influx of competitors, officials and other visitors, the organisers distributing T-shirts, colouring-in books and crayons to local school and farm children.
First-time sponsor Grass Factory & Eco Organics, owned by Brits brothers and regular off road bike racers Francois and Len du Toit, replanted grass on the playing fields of the Wagpos High School. The instant lawn and landscaping business also donated a variety of vegetable seedlings to schools in the area to establish community vegetable gardens and built new ablution facilities at Patrick’s Shop, a popular stop off point for off road riders who visit the area in their hundreds over weekends.
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The sixth and final round of the championship, the Koue Bokkeveld 400, takes place in the Ceres Area of the Western Cape on October 1 and 2.
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