2008-05-28Staff Report 2 "By Staff Reporter WINDHOEK The successful hosting of this year's Motocross series 2nd leg at the at the newly built Astra Motocross Race Track, situated approximately 100 kilometres east of Windhoek, has certainly not gone unnoticed. The Windhoek Motocross Club has resolved to relocate the 5th leg from its customary location, the Gallina Race Track to the Astra Race Track this coming Saturday, as a token of appreciation towards the Goldbeck family for their tireless efforts and organizational acumen. Motocross enthusiasts can expect a showdown never witnessed before in the Open/125cc Class, the all-deciding encounter between the protagonists Rainer Becker and Tommy Gous, with the latter needing to win in order to stay within close proximity of the championship title. However, Gous will go into Saturday's battle with a great amount of rage, resulting from the knowledge that he is more than capable of beating Becker, despite having been denied the chance when the situation presented itself because of technical hiccups. Bad luck seemed to be following Gous all the way after a faulty clutch from his Zenner-Yamaha prevented him from claiming a well-deserved victory during the 4th leg in Swakopmund, earlier this month. Gous is determined to eradicate any further technical malfunctions. And while Becker had little problems on his Pupkewitz-sponsored Honda, the veteran rider is getting a bit long in the tooth at the ripe age of 40 and will have to put in extra training to shake off some tough challenge from Gous - 19 years his junior. After his successful debut on his Kawasaki in Swakopmund - all eyes will be on reigning Champion Ronnie Adams after the veteran rider showed flashes of his old self on his new bike. However, Adams needs to go an extra mile to put in a top performamance with serious doubts hovering over his physical condition. Rudi Brand made an impression at the last race in Swakopmund, and must be watched closely as he eyes a top-5 finish, with Tony Viljoen also amongst the title contenders. Viljoen possess an unorthodox riding style but he has been collecting points on a regular basis and cannot be ruled out for top honours, while Jaco Huysamen can also be spoken of in the same breath. The afore-mentioned aces in the Open Class are going to be joined by riders in the 125cc Class in the same race but the riders will be assessed separately. Elsewhere, the battle between Frank Klosta and Animal Wise is likely to spill over the Astra Track following Wise's faultless display at the coast and a repetition of the nail-biting competition between the pair is certainly in store. Other riders such as Henry O'Kennedy, Ruhan Gous and Eckhard Hall could spoil the applecart if not properly taken care of while Suzuki-rider Jaco Loots, who impressed fans and fellow competitors with his gutsy performance at the last ASTRA meeting, returns to his favourite hunting ground. As has become customary practice, the highlight of the day promises to be the gruelling 20-minute plus one lap race, the ASTRA ""King of the Dirt"" - certainly an adrenalin-pumping exercise! The little ones in the 50cc Class will not take a back seat either and pre-race favourite Michael Barlow will have to battle it out in the absence of William Smith who has retired from racing - thus paving the way for Jay-Em Tredoux and Yoshua Becker to stop Barlow right in his tracks. Matthew Nederlof on his brand-new KTM announced his arrival in the 65cc Class with some excellent showing in Swakopmund and will be out to topple Tristan Muller from the pedestal - leaving Joshua Teixeira and Lee-Anne Smith to pick up the pieces for the remaining 3rd spot on the rostrum. Mark Sternagel has very little peers in the 85cc Class while Eric Garbers and Tristan Muller (racing in two different classes) will have to battle it out for second place with Pauli Loots battling a lone battle for the wooden spoon. Action swings to the popular 4-wheelers with the main attraction the protagonists in the combined Quads A-and B-Class, later during the day. The Goldbeck family will be on hand with the excellent supply of farm-food and drinks in the huge beer tent, and after the prize-giving ceremony, the notorious J??????'??" 2008-05-28Staff Report 2
