Summarize

Kawasaki heads to Legends in Pretoria fully intent on turning its recent regional gold into Trademore Feeds SA National Cross Country Championship glory at its home Pepson Plastics opening round, Saturday 26 February. There will be a particularly green tinge to this year’s Nationals as Kawasaki’s star-studded many-bike twin Pepson Plastics Motul Racing with Scottish Cables, and Franchise Company Tork Craft team attack.

“This is a big one for us,” Pepson Plastics Kawasaki Motul team principal Iain Pepper confirmed. “Not only is it the opening Trademore Cross Country National for our expanded for ‘22 team, but the Pepson Plastics round is also our home race. “So, we have some honour to defend! “We had a winning start at the first Gauteng race of the season, but the Nationals are always a step up and we have super strong competition in all the classes. “We are more than ready though — go give them hell guys!” 

Franchise Co. Tork Craft’s 2021 National open class OR1 champion Mike Pentecost will lead the Kawasaki effort. Mike won that first Gauteng regional and he’s ready to hit that Pepson Plastics Pretoria ground running. “I really cannot wait for the first National at Legends!” Mike admitted. “I'm sure the pace will be wild up front, but I'm feeling fast and fit and I will certainly adjust to whatever the my rivals throw at me! "My Franchise Co. team has my Kawasaki KX 450 X tuned perfectly for the terrain, so bring it on!”  

Pentcost leads a four-Kawasaki effort in OR1. He will be joined in Pretoria by Pepson Plastics Motul duo D’Artagnan Lobjoit and Craig Alcock, and Franchise Co. teammate Tyron Beverly. Penetcost's objective is simple — to go one better and take the overall 2022 SA National Championship. Lobjoit is out to win too. Kawasaki also plans to field a four-bike KX 250 X challenge on the OR3 class, pending all its riders being fit.

“I hurt my arm and they told me its a 10 week recovery and the national is only 5 weeks after my op!” Pepson Plastics man Taki Bogiages explained. “It’s a tough ask for sure, but my arm feels good, I’m positive and the team has done everything possible to be ready and able to line up next weekend. “Now it’s up to my doctor, whom I will see the day before the race to evaluate. Hopefully I can compete, even if purely in an effort to finish and score a few points to get my championship going.

Taki will once again be joined by Kyle Mackenzie in Pepson Plastics' quarter-litre chase on a pair of KX 250 Xs. The other Franchise Co. Kawasaki OR3 machine has been entrusted to regional High School champion John Botha, who moves up to make his quarter-litre National debut on Saturday. Dijan van der Merwe meanwhile takes on the 350s aboard a big bore KX 280 X in OR2. 

Two more Pepson Plastics Motul Kawasaki legends will lead Kawasaki's Senior class attack. Multiple SA champion Kenny Gilbert is back on a KX 450X and many time SA motocross champion, Wyatt Avis will be out on a KX 250 X. "We had a great start at the first regional and my brilliant team will have my Kawasaki KX 450 X 100% for the first national and our home race,” Kenny Gilbert explained. “So I'm really looking forward to a great weekend for our special Pepson Plastics Kawasaki — it’s great to be to be apart of it!”

“I’m really looking forward to the first national,” Wyatt Avis added. “I had so much fun with the team in my outing last year, that I feel like I must redeem myself! “In all seriousness I'm looking forward to this challenge and I can't thank Iain Pepper and the Pepson Plastics Motul Kawasaki team enough for this opportunity to race.” Gilbert, riding a KX 450 X, and Avis on KX 250 X, will be joined by Franchise Co. Tork Craft Masters regular Mielies Le Roux riding another 250.

Kawasaki also has a crack primary school age effort in both the 85cc Juniors, with Jaden Els and Johandre Vermaak in Franchise Co backed machines, and Pepson’s Clayton Human. Pepson Plastics lads Jake Pretorius and Dylan Human race in the 65cc class.

“We have a most talented army of riders racing a fleet of brilliant 2022 model Kawasaki KX Xs in both this year’s Trademore Feeds SA National Cross Country Championship,”  

 Franchise Company Tork Craft Kawasaki Racing boss, Harry Grobler concluded. “We thank our sponsors and partners for their invaluable contributions ans wish all our Kawasaki riders and the entire team all the very best for the season ahead. “Let’s race!”