ROOF of AFRCIA 2019: Day 1 / 1. Fahrtag – Round the houses, EnduroX + Time Trail – Results + Video-Highlights und Hintergrundinfos!

400 Teilnehmer, also ebenso viele Motorräder sorgten bei der Hetzjagd auf Teer beim ersten legendären Aufeinandertreffen „Round the houses“ für Gänsehaut. Diese hielt nur insgesamt zwei Stunden an, denn dann war die Aufgabenstellung „Round the houses“ auch schon bewältig. Das man bei diesem Race mehr verlieren als gewinnen kann, hatte man Scott Bouverie, Kyle Flanagan, Brad Cox und der neuseeländischen Enduro-Legende Chris Burch anscheinend nicht mitgeteilt. Denn die lieferten sich ein Bar-to-Bar-Rennen, zu deutsch Lenker an Lenker und gaben sich über drei Runden lang in Maseru ordentlich die Kante.

Genau in dieser Reihenfolge fuhren die wilden Herrschaften auch durchs Ziel – nur wenige Sekunden vor den Spitzenfahreren der Gold-Kategorie. In der Silber-Kategorie holte sich Roof-Veteran Alex Vowles den Sieg. In der ersten Gruppe der Bronze-Fahrer gab Francois du Toit den Ton an, während in der zweiten Gruppe der gleichen Kategorie Graham McLachlan allen davon fuhr. Kein Wunder, denn er nimmt mittlerweile zum 21. Mal an der Roof of Africa teil.

Statements of the competitors / Fahrerstimmen

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Nach „Round the houses“ teilte sich das Fahrerfeld auf, denn die Gold-Kategorie Fahrer mussten zum Maseru-Einkaufszentrum, um dort den EnduroX-Parcour zu bewältigen. Während die Silber- und Bronze-Fahrer erstmals den Start- und Zielort ThabaBosiu in Augenschein nehmen durften, denn dort ging es für sie zum Time-Trial (Einzelzeitfahren).

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Da Regen für die nächsten Tage prognostiziert wurde, war die Fahrzeit für einen guten Startplatz lebensnotwendig. In der Silber-Klasse holte sich Dwain Barnard mit 48:56 den Sieg, gefolgt von Armand Fourie und Cayden Purchase. Bei den Bronze-Fahrern war Austin Stuart der Mann der Stunde, dicht gefolgt von Nardus Rabe.

Die Gold-Klasse durfte sich vor den Augen der Einheimischen beweisen und genau das machte Lokalmatador Wade Young, der sich mit einer beeindruckenden Vorstellung den Sieg vor Graham Jarvis und Kyle Flanagan holte.

Somit stehen die Startplätze für das tatsächliche Race fest und wir können gespannt sein, wer am ersten Tag auf über 170 Kilometer Strecke in den Maluti Mountains die Pace vorgibt.

The 2019 Motul Roof of Africa: Victorious Veterans and Solid Gold at EnduroX

Today’s cloudy, overcast weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of the hundreds of spectators who lined the streets of Maseru to watch Round The Houses of the 2019 Motul Roof of Africa.

The RTH stage has always been a firm fan favourite, and this year was no different – although as the entire course was on tar, it was even faster than in previous years. The capital city of Lesotho reverberated to the sound of over 400 Enduro bikes at full tilt as the 2019 Motul Roof of Africa got underway.

The organisers of the event, Live Lesotho, ensured that the opening event began with a flourish, the return to the original Round The Houses format was a real crowd pleaser with an excellent atmosphere throughout the city. With no stadium section, it became much more of street event – with speeds to match!

So much so, in fact, that the curtain-raiser for the 2019 Motul Roof of Africa was done and dusted in less than two hours. Only the next two days of Extreme Enduro racing will tell if the wisdom of Roof veterans is correct: they say that you can’t win the Roof at Round The Houses, but you can certainly lose it here – before you even get into the mountains proper.

It seems that no-one had shared this advice with Scott Bouverie (Brother Leadertread KTM), Kyle Flanagan (Bidvest bLUcRU Yamaha), Brad Cox (Brother Leadertread KTM) and New Zealand legend Chris Birch (Brother Leadertread KTM) who treated the crowds tosome bar-banging action over three laps around Maseru, finishing in that order and just seconds apart at the head of the Gold Category Riders.

Meanwhile the Silver Category winner was MotulRoof veteran Alex Vowles, who has competed in over 20 Roofs to date. Due to the number of entrants, the Bronze Category was split into two groups. Bronze Category Group 2 winner was Graham McLachlan (Live Lesotho Team), riding in his 21st Roof. Francois Du Toit (Raceworx KTM) pulled off the win in Bronze Category Group 1.

“I am blown away by the atmosphere at the event and the support we’ve received from all quarters,” enthused Live Lesotho’s Manager Charan Moore. “We love it when a plan comes together,” he added.

After RTH, the field split, with the Gold Category Riders heading to Maseru Mall for the EnduroX, while the Silver and Bronze Category competitors got their first real look at the start/finish venue, ThabaBosiu, as they lined up for the individual Time Trial component.

With rain predicted over the next two days of Enduro racing, a good Time Trial result was a priority for all riders, as it would determine their starting order (early starters tend to slip and slide less before the mud has been churned up).

For today at least, the rain held off and the relatively dry conditions spelled fast, flowing action as riders pushed the envelope just a little, and took advantage of the opportunity to make last-minute adjustments.

The winners of each Category Time Trial will be the first starters when the MotulRoof Day 1 begins on Friday morning. Dwain Barnard (D&D Group) triumphed in the Silver Category in a time of 48:56,  followed by Armand Fourie (Raceworx KTM Sanrose) and Cayden Purchase (Motul Alfie Cox KTM).

There was a new name on the podium in the Bronze Category as Austin Stuart (Nicks Electrical KTM) came home in 52:36, closely followed by Dylan Bauer (Yamaha) and then Nardus Rabe (Roost KTM). Early indications are that the Bronze Category will be closely fought.

There was a familiar look to the top of the table after the Gold Category riders had completed the challenging EnduroX stage. The chance to see so many elite riders competing on their doorstep meant that the residents of Maseru were out in force, with vendors doing a brisk trade.

This element of the Roof consisted of a series of heats, followed by semi-finals which whittled the field down to the last ten riders. Defending champion Wade Young (Sherco Racing) took top spot, followed by wily veteran (and fellow four-time Roof champion) Graham Jarvis (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna), with SA South Coast rider Kyle Flanagan (Bidvest bLUcRU Yamaha) in third.

The stage has been set for a battle royal in the Maluti Mountains at the 2019 Motul Roof of Africa.

Quelle / Source: Roof of Africa