"Big-5 Cup" goes to Botswana / Cup-Winner Ross Branch

"Big-5 Cup" goes to Botswana / Cup-Winner Ross Branch

Posted by Admin on Sunday, April 22, 2007 - 12:00 AM

<DIV class=news>Gobabis was the scene of the 4. Moto Cross Championships race and so far it was without exagerating, the highlight of the season. Wikus Engelbrecht, the driving force behind this spectacle in Gobabis, has done a great job organising this event together with his men. Everything was just perfect! The track was exceptional and the 30-metre jump just in front of the beer-tent was the attraction. A big praise and thanks goes to Tobie Barlow.

<DIV class=news>The young man from Botswana on his Kawasaki has nothing to fear: 5 races - 5 victories! However, the competition in the Open/125cc Class is getting tougher. Rainer Becker on a strong Yamaha, put some pressure on him during the last race 4 weeks ago. And another rider has regained his strength, Brannigan "Animal" Wise has recovered from long-term injuries and was able to finish 3rd in the Wesbank King of the Dirt. The sponsor Wesbank (an affiliate of First National Bank of Namibia) should be pleased, as this constellation guarantees exciting races on the 16th of June at the Gallina Moto Cross Park.
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Frank Klosta<DIV class=news><DIV class=news>On the 19th of May the 5th Moto Cross Championships race will be held at the Gallina Moto Cross Park, outside the capital of Windhoek, on the road towards Okahandja. This race is part of the 2007 Wesbank Challenge Series, sponsored by WESBANK, an affiliate of First National Bank of Namibia.<DIV class=news2 align=center>
Ross Branch<DIV class=news><DIV class=news>It was great to see some riders return to the sport, and even more delightful was the fact that a couple of former stars such as Ian Kotze, Jaques Du Plessis, Heino Windisch and Rainer Becker took part in the Open-Class again. With 86 entrants it was the biggest field of riders this season! The presented sport was excellent in all classes and Ross Branch was the worthy winner of the day, who took the "Big-5-Cup" home with him.<DIV class=news2 align=center>
Heino Windisch vs Ronnie Adams vs Ross Branch<DIV class=news>Ross Branch dominated the Open-125ccClass just as he pleased, but a local hero – 6x former champion Rainer Becker – made overall 2nd place. The reigning champion Ronnie Adams started out behind the afore-mentioned riders with a good 3rd place in the first heat, followed by a 5th place in the second heat and a 5th place in the "Big-5-King of the Dirt". Taking part in the Open-Class as well as the Quad-A-Class is just too much! He realised this and will resign from Quad racing as of 2008.<DIV class=news>Frank Klosta had to deal with clutch problems in the first heat, but made two 3rd places in the following heats. A super achievement! <DIV class=news2 align=center>
Rainer Becker<DIV class=news>Alexander Howard made two 4th places but in the "King of the Dirt" he had an engine failure. Arno Engels, the star from Swakopmund, crashed in the first heat, together with "Animal" Wise. In the second heat he had a pap-wiel but was able to get across the finish line, ranking 6th. In the "King of the Dirt" he was able to make a good 4th place.<DIV class=news>Surprising was once again the performance by little Mark Sternagel: After achieving a maximum number of points in the 85cc Class he made a sensational 8th place in the "Big-5-King of the Dirt"! Amazing!<DIV class=news>The most un-lucky person for years now – Brannigan "Animal" Wise – rode his first race in Gobabis after having had a bad crash in February; again he went over the bars! After the start of the "King of the Dirt" he crashed so misfortunately that he had to be brought to hospital with a suspected pelvic fracture. From all of us here: get well soon!<H3 class=news>Overall results Open/125ccm Class:<OL class=news>

Ross Branch, Botswana, Wreckers Campbell-Kawasaki, 60 points

Rainer Becker, Windhoek, Zenner-Novel-Yamaha, 51

Frank Klosta, Windhoek, Refrigeration-Services-Yamaha, 41

Ronnie Adams, Kapps Farm, Jägermeister-Suzuki, 37

Arno Engels, Windhoek, Investment Cars-Honda, 33

Sascha Becker, Windhoek, Uwe’s Autoelectric-Honda, 27

Alexander Howard, Windhoek, Seasonaire-Yamaha, 26

Heino Windisch, Walvis-Bay, Honda, 25

Jose Texeira, Angola, E.L.Sea Products-Suzuki, 18

Tony Viljoen, Windhoek, Joker’s Pizzaria-Honda, 14

Ian Kotze, Windhoek, Lodge-istix-Suzuki, 14

Eckhard Hall, Swakopmund, Coastal Racing-Honda, 12

Ruhan Gous, Windhoek, Coastal Racing-Honda, 12

Gerhard Simon, Omaruru, Honda, 8

Mark Sternagel, Windhoek, Sternbau-KTM, 8

<DIV class=news>The little ones also battled it out for national honour. In the 50cc Class Michael Barlow stayed victorious with a maximum number of points ahead of William Smith. Yoshua Becker improved from 4th rank to 3rd rank up to 2nd rank in the third heat and made an overall 3rd place.<DIV class=news>Eric Garbers won the 65cc Class but had to fasbyt to fight off Tristan Muller's attacks. Matthew Nederlof also made a strong appearance and made 3rd place ahead of Pauli Loots!<DIV class=news>Mark Sternagel stays unconqered in the 85cc Class! In the second heat, Jaco Loots who is quick at the start, could grab the holeshot, but already 4 laps further, Mark could assume the lead. Eric Garbers also rides in the 85cc class and landed on an very good 3rd place.<DIV class=news2 align=center>
Jean Venter<DIV class=news>Mark Ratheiser won the Clubmen's Class but had to accept defeat in the 3rd heat, when Billy Heigan was just quicker. Billy made an overall 2nd place ahead of Iwan Esterhuizen.<DIV class=news>The number of participants in the various Quad-Classes has apparently decreased a bit, but this might also be due to the fact that some riders didn't want to come all the way to Gobabis. In the Quads-B-Class up to 240cc the winner was once again Eugene Slippers, ahead of Ecki Spoerer and Marko Robke.<DIV class=news2 align=center>
Jan de Haan vs Dirk Baard<DIV class=news>The elite class, the Quads-A-Class over 240cc, was won by no other than Ronnie Adams, ahead of Dirk Baard and Jan de Haan. This was also exactly the same placing as in the "Quads King of the Dirt".<DIV class=news>In the Quads-Clubmen Class there was full participation. Michael Behnke stayed victorious over Wolfgang Rohl and Nokkie Maree. Good sport was offered here!<DIV class=news>In the Ladies-Quads there was a Bochert-Festival, with Bollie as the winner and sister Maike on 2nd place. The third rostrum spot was reserved for Cee-Anne-Greyling. Celene Adams settled for 4th place, suffering from strong pain in her arms from the healed fractures.<DIV class=news>The Mini-Quads were also present. Here the kids race across the children's track! Joana Steenkamp won ahead of Jaques Maree and Sune Garbers. <DIV class=news>A top event has reached it's conclusion. A thank you goes to the sponsor Wikus Engelbrecht from the "Big-5-Hotel" and to the families Garbers, Sternagel and Loots for their voluntarely help in administrative tasks.

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