Everest Wealth Ridgeway Yamaha Racing with Tork Craft and Dunlop heads to the Carousel resort near Hammanskraal in the Northwest for the South African Cross Country motorcycle championship finals. But it’s not leaving anything to gamble at the 11-12 November race. With three of its Juniors leading their title chases and most of the Seniors on the podium or thereabouts, the focus is purely on racing this weekend.
“We’ve enjoyed a brilliant first season in blue on our first season with Yamaha and arrive at the National Finals with three of our riders leading their championships and several others still very much in the chase,” Everest Wealth Ridgeway Yamaha Racing team boss Harry Grobler explains. “Our Juniors are leading all three titles and we are ahead in that Manufacturer’s chase too. Several of seniors in the Seniors are in with a shout too, so this is going to be one hell of a weekend!”
Twice on the National Open class podium so far this season and fourth in that championship chase, Maddy Malan will be after overall honours. He has Everest Wealth Ridgeway Yamaha YZ 450 FX teammates, the consistent Hayden Louw on his case in fifth with Slade Smith sixth in OR1.
Shimwells man Marco Cocci sits second with a decent chance of the Seniors title with Everest Wealth Ridgeway racer Gerhard Vorster third. Race winner Warrick van Schalkwyk is looking to bounce back in the Masters. And Tyron Beverley will be keen to do the team proud after a trying 2025 250cc OR3 campaign.
Everest Wealth Ridgeway Racing Yamaha’s strength in this year’s Nationals chase however sits in the junior ranks. Murray Smith has won three times and ended second once in the four 125cc High School rounds to lead the way to the Carousel. 85cc Seniors lad Ruald Potgieter also leads the chase with three out of the four wins, and Ryan Wichman remains unbeaten in the 65cc Juniors.
Yamaha meantime leads the National Junior Manufacturer’s Championship and sits second in the National Senior Manufacturer’s chase. “It is patently clear why the Carousel is a huge weekend for Everest Wealth Ridgeway Yamaha racing with Tork Craft and Dunlop,” Harry Grobler concludes. “So best of luck to all our riders and the entire support crew for best results all-round!”
