The hills of Windhoek came alive with the thunderous sound of engines this past weekend as Leg 4 of the Namibia National Motocross Championship took centre stage at Gallina Motocross Park.
Blessed with clear skies and perfect riding conditions, the event delivered edge-of-your-seat excitement, clean competition, and most importantly, a safe day for all, with no serious injuries reported.
The action kicked off with the 50cc class, where young Mason Meyer stormed to a flawless victory. Duhan Hefer followed closely in second, while Nicky Strauss claimed third. The paddock felt the absence of Delmar du Plessis, who is currently recovering from a broken arm.
In the fiercely contested 65cc division, Oliver Mathews emerged victorious after a gripping race. Carter and Markus battled wheel-to-wheel, with Carter narrowly securing second ahead of Markus in third. Another familiar name, Paul Mans, missed out due to a dislocated elbow, though hopes are high for his return at the next round.
One of the day’s standout performances came from rising star Leander Metzger. Competing in both the 85cc and 125cc classes, he dominated the 85cc race with a first-place finish and claimed a respectable third in the 125cc event.
He shared the 85cc podium with De Wet du Plessis in second and Vincent Griebel, who is transitioning impressively from Enduro to Motocross, in third.
The 125cc class proved to be a crowd-puller, featuring an electrifying duel between Luca Brand and Juan de Vos. Brand held his nerve to edge out De Vos for the win, while Metzger added another podium to his name in third. In the senior division of the 125cc class, Markus Müller secured the top spot with a commanding performance.
The Women’s MX category saw Zoe Waldschmidt taking top honours, followed by the ever-improving Melanize Oberholzer in second and Maike Oberholzer in third. Melanize continues to impress, steadily building her reputation in sport.
In the Clubmans Class, Sanene Wittreich rode to victory with a confident display, ahead of Morne Jacobs in second place. The Open Class delivered raw horsepower and expert handling, with the ever-dominant Mark Sternagel once again showing why he’s considered a master of track. He was trailed by Bjoern Bierbrauer and Tommy Gous in second and third, respectively.
Veteran racing brought drama of its own, as brothers Sigi and Olaf Pack went head-to-head. Sigi took first in their sibling rivalry, with Olaf settling for second and Tony Viljoen rounding off the top three. The day culminated in the adrenaline-pumping King of the Dirt finale: a 15-rider shootout. Mark Sternagel capped off his phenomenal day with yet another victory, asserting his dominance, while Bjoern and Tommy held onto second and third respectively once again.
In a statement, the organisers thanked all the riders, families, supporters, and sponsors who helped make the event a memorable one. “With motocross in Namibia continuing to grow from strength to strength, fans can now look ahead to the next chapter of the championship in Gobabis on 26 July, where more high-octane action is guaranteed,” read the statement.
-lmupetami@nepc.com.na