Inter-Series Namibia opener a hit.

The biggest and best motocross event on the African continent proved to be a great day for the sponsors Shell and Cymot, as spectators flocked to the Gallina Moto Cross Park to watch off-road racing of the highest quality.

All eyes were fixed on the Open Class, which provided a hatful of world-class action. No rider could win more than one heat, as the organisers had chosen an excellent field of international competitors.

Updated: 31 Mar 2022

The day opened with Dutchman Erwin Robins, considered to be the hot favourite in Namibia, living up to expectation and winning the first heat. Robins' success relegated Daniel Siegl and South African Gareth Swanepoel to second and third respectively, while Aigar Leok finished fourth ahead of German Dennis Schr?ter. In the second heat, Swanepoel was leading when he collided with Shawn Bruwer, taking the South African out of contention for the rest of the day. Siegl went on to win the heat, ahead of Robins, with Schr?ter happy in third spot ahead of Dane Jacob Almar.

The absolute highlight, however, was the EL Sea Products 'King of the Dirt' race, where young Estonian Leok took the honours in style, performing a symphony in KTM orange as he headed Almar and Siegl at the flag. Again, Schroeter was also up front, this time in fourth position, ahead of the reigning Namibian Open champion Boyd Karsmakers.

Leok, who turned 17 last month, won the gruelling heat in style. The track was worn and carved up by now, which accommodated the Estonian well on his small 200cc KTM. Siegl from Germany supplied excellent racing by crashing at the first bend and then starting a hot pursuit, ploughing through the field of 39 riders and finishing in third. The Europeans ruled the event on this occasion, with the best African, Warren Thorne from Zimbabwe, finishing in sixth place ahead of the Namibians Reiner Becker and Ingo Waldschmidt.

Another of the day's highlights came in the heats in the Clubman's Class, where Angola's 'Black Pearl', Carlos Neto, was instrumental in proving that motocross is not exclusively a 'white man's thing' by getting his countrymen on their feet, whistling, shouting and waving the Angolan flag at his every passing. The showing will have a solid influence on the future of Namibian motocross.

The 125cc class ran for the first time as an international race at the event, with riders from seven nations supplying motocross of a very high standard. The category developed into a four-way fight between young Ross Branch from Botswana, who won both heats and finished in seventh position in the 'King of the Dirt' race, Swiss youngster Daniel Huser, Namibian Arno Engels and German Steffen Albrecht. Fans were still talking about the 'dog-fights' between Huser and Engels hours later....

The Masters Class was also run as an international, with Beau White from South Africa having to swallow defeat by German Klaus Meyer. Meyer then refrained from taking part in the 'King of the Dirt' heat, however, handing the overall victory back to White. Eckhard Waldschmidt (Namibia) had to fend off attacks by Zimbabwean Dale Holliday and Australian John Abbott to finish in a respectable fourth overall. His countryman Andreas Brendel was also successful in relegating South African Sean Holder and Zambian Clive Watkins.

In the 85cc Class, local hero Uwe Sternagel fulfilled all expectations by winning with maximum points. In his wake, countryman Tommie Gous had a tough battle with German Philipp Hahn but still finished in second.

Similarly exciting was the 65cc class, with the eternal fight between the Namibians Bj?rn Bierbrauer and Kai Pritzen continuing. This time around, it was Bierbrauer who won with a 75 points maximum. The heats of the Kindergarten Class - the 50cc Juniors - were just as exciting, and once again witnessed a duel between Namibians Eric Garbers and Tristan M?ller. Meanwhile, the performance of Namibian Erhard Pajewski in the 80cc Juniors Class was enough for him to see off the challenge of rated South African champion Caleb Tennant with maximum points.

Finally, the Zenner Quads classes put on a good show of racing. The 'big' class was won by Warren Isaacs (Namibia), ahead of Angolan Cavin Collinyton and Namibian Michael Nederlof, while the 'lighties' were won by Jaco van Zyl, ahead of Jean van Zyl and Andre van der Merwe.

The programme was rounded off by the entertaining PLAY Freestyle Competition, an insane display of midair aerobatics by some of the best FMXers around.

The second leg of the Inter Nations takes place this coming Saturday [2 November] at the Tafel Lager/Pepsi Dash for Cash.

Results - Inter-Nations Namibia (27 October)

Gr?ber Sattlerei-Open Class

1. Daniel Siegl GER Zenner Meters Yamaha 67 points
2. Aigar Leok EST MILO KTM 62
3. Erwin Robins NL FNB-Dutch Yamaha 61
4. Jacob Almar DK Bar One Yamaha 58
5. Dennis Schr?ter GER Zenner Meters KTM 57
6. Warren Thorne ZIM Stannic KTM 49
7. Reiner Becker NAM Last-minute Honda 45
8 Ingo Waldschmidt NAM Hartkor Fakker Yamaha 35
9. Boyd Karsmakers NL Power Parts/Baumann & Meyer 34
10. Wolfgang Rohe NAM Yamaha 34

Pentagon 125cc Class

1. Ross Branch BOT OBECO KTM 66 points
2. Daniel Huser SUI Radiowave 96.7 Suzuki 56
3. Steffen Albrecht GER NPI Yamaha 51
4. Arno Engels NAM Last-minute Yamaha 49
5. Dale Holliday ZIM Stannic Yamaha 36

Namibia Contruction 85cc Class

1. Uwe Sternagel NAM Honda 75 points
2. Tommie Gous NAM Hartkor Fakker Yamaha 64
3. Philipp Hahn GER NPI Kawasaki 62
4. Maria Franke GER NPI Kawasaki 55
5. Alexander Howard NAM Yamaha 51

Namibia Construction 65cc Class

1. Bj?rn Bierbrauer NAM KTM 75 points
2. Kai Pritzen NAM Hartkor Fakker Kawasaki 66
3. Barry van Blerk ZAM LIC Kawasaki 59
4. Dominique Thury GER NPI Kawasaki 57
5. Heiko Itzko NAM Kawasaki 55

Windhoek Hire Sales & Services Masters Class

1. Beau White RSA JB Cooling Yamaha 51 points
2. Klaus Meyer GER Zenner Meters Honda 50
3. Dale Holliday ZIM Stannic Yamaha 44
4. Eckhard Waldschmidt NAM Shell Honda 42
5. John Abbott AUS Yamaha 37