At 35 degree celcius and under a heavy dustcloud the 8th Motocross Championship meeting of the season was held at Gobabbis. Dust was the main reason for some hefty crashes that occurred in most categories during the day. Some youngsters were up in tears on the way to the medical-aid tent. Dust was the reason for the official of the NMSF (Namibia Motor Sport Federation) to stop the final race of the day, the Bif-5 King of the Dirt after only two laps. This situation could not be tolerated anymore! What a pity!
Otherwise the raceday in cattle-country showed some excellent races. It was great to see Frank Klosta back in the saddle after he broke his collarbone 4 weeks ago in Swakopmund and it was great to see Tommi Gous back racing, after he finished his period of training in Germany.
In the Open/125cc Class Ross Branch from Botswana, as usual, came, saw and conquered. He won this category on maximum points and in between found some time to show the spectators some aerobatics some 10 metres above ground! Behind Branch it was Gous who managed some fine starts, while Frank Klosta had to steamroll through the field first. Once behind Gous, Frank put up some unbearable pressure and in both heats Frank could pass Gous, thus becoming best Namibian rider in Gobabis. After the great success of Arno Engels four weeks agon in Swakopmund, all eyes were fixed on the youngster to see if he can repeat that feat…unfortunately not! Arno was handycapt most of the time by this dust and didn’t want to take any chances, but rather settled for some valuable points. Henry o’Kennedy surprised once more friends and foes alike by coming home in 5th overall, even beating coastal-ace Rudi Brand! For the “Black Motocross Pearl” Carr Lebatha from Botswana is was his third attempt to shine in Namibia, the previous trys endet prematurely in hospital. This time around Carr was able to show his mettle, 8th spot in this high quality field of riders is noticable.
After the early stop of the Big-5 King of the Dirt race only the two heats counted towards the Championship.
Final results Open/125 Class:
1.Ross Branch, Botswana, Wreckers Campbell Kawasaki, 40 points
2.Frank Klosta, Windhoek, Refrigeration Services-Yamaha, 34
3.Tommi Gous, Windhoek, Zenner Novel-Yamaha, 30
4.Arno Engels, Windhoek, Investment Cars-Honda, 26
5.Henry o’Kennedy, Windhoek, Tomar Construction-Honda, 19
6.Rudi Brand, Swakopmund, Coastal Racing-Honda, 18
7.Eckhard Hall, Swakopmund, Coastal Racing Honda, 16
8.Carr Lebatha, Botswana, Wreckers Campbell Kawasaki, 15
9.Tony Viljoen, Windhoek, Joker’s Pizzeria-Honda, 13
10.Sascha Becker, Windhoek, Uwe’ Autoelectric-Suzuki, 13
The very little ones race in the 50cc Class where Matthew Nederlof won with a maximum number of points ahead of William Smith who again was able to beat Michael Barlow.
Eric Garbers’ points cushion in the 65cc Class is save enough to win the championship, but Eric found a true challenger in Tristan Muller from Okahandja, who fair and square beat him in all three heats. Pauli Loots could win third spot on the rostrum ahead of the only girly in this categoryLee-Anne Smith.
Very exciting once more the races in the 85cc Class. Mark Sternagel proved again that he is “Namibia’s Hope” in mx-racing. Mark is literally flying on his superfast KTM around the track. “Fighter” Jaco Loots lived up to his reputation and fought all the way, to no avail, again he had to settle for 2nd spot. That left third place for Erica Grabers whos racing in both categories 65 and 85cc.
While Jessica Ratheiser from Okahandja is collecting valuable Championship points in the Ladies-Championship in Germany, her little brother Marc is establishing himself as the man to beat in the Clubmen’s Class. Again he won this category on maximum ahead of Heiko Hennes (welcome back to mx-racing, Heiko!) and Billy Heigan.
The 4-Wheelers do not count towards the National-Championship, nevertheless they are very popular with the fans because of intense action. Such action showed young Ecki Spoerer in the Quads-B-Class up to 240cc. Ecki won the opening heat, followed by a 5th spot in heat two and when he was showing his talent in the third heat, in the west-bent his right front wheel hit a deep rut and his 4-Wheeler overturned. He was in tears for this mishap! That meant another victory for Eugene Slippers ahead of Alfred Kohne and Efcee Marais.
When Ronni Adams resigned after the first heat of the Quads-A-Class, because of a terrible flue, and  when the “Oubaas” Fanie Steenkamp resigned after the first heat because of a broken wrist, for Dirkie Baard it was an easy day to win the Kings-Class on maximum points ahead of his brother Phillippie and Jean Venter.
Michael Behnke from Walvis-Bay not only won the two heats in the Quads-Clubmen’s Class, but again he showed his talent with a third spot in the Big-5-King of the Quads. That is a noticable achievement! Wolfgang Rohl came home in second ahead of Nokkie Maree. There are so many talents in this category that at least 4 riders have to move up to the Quads-A-Class in 2008.

Jean Venter vs Philippie Baard