Summarize

Everest Wealth Ridgeway Yamaha Racing with Tork Craft and Dunlop closed its National Cross Country motorcycle championship season with an exceptional outing at the Carousel resort finals near Hammanskraal in the Northwest on Saturday. The Yamaha team, which returned to Cross Country Racing after a sabbatical of several years, totally dominated to clinch championships in the three Junior classes it raced in 2025 with a Masters second and a splendid fight back to third overall over the weekend too.

“First of all congratulations on our three champions and stars of tomorrow, Murray, Ruald and Ryan, who also all won on the day,” team boss Harry Grobler confirmed. “Also to Masters winner Warrick and our Open man Maddy for an exceptional come from behind third overall, and of course the entire Everest Wealth Ridgeway Yamaha Racing team on a brilliant day at the National Cross Country Finals.”

Everest Wealth Ridgeway Racing Yamaha’s National Junior lineup shone without exception in 2025. Murray Smith made it four wins in five races aboard his Yamaha YZ125X on Saturday with second in the other race to romp to the National High School championship at the Carousel.

Ruald Potgieter likewise won in the Northwest on Saturday to make it four wins out of five starts to claim the 85 cc Seniors crown aboard his Everest Wealth Ridgeway Racing Yamaha YZ85. Perhaps the hero of the team in 2025 Ryan Wichman went one better to remain unbeaten as he romped to the South African 65 cc Junior title riding his Everest Wealth Ridgeway Racing Yamaha YZ65. 

It was a case of what could have been for Open class rider Maddy Malan in the Seniors race. Maddy led from the outset aboard his Everest Wealth Ridgeway Yamaha YZ450FX, when he fell and snapped his handlebars. He made it back to the pits where the team mastered the change of bars as fast as possible, but still Maddy plummeted into the chasing pack as a result of the delay. Malan however dug deep and charged back through the top ten to take a famous third overall.

Further back, Warrick van Schalkwyk returned to his fearsome best as he charged to a fine Masters second aboard his Everest Wealth Ridgeway Yamaha YZ450FX. Gerhard Vorster meantime rode his similar machine a close second in Seniors and Tyron Beverley came home an impressive fourth in the ever-competitive OR3 class on his Everest Wealth Ridgeway Yamaha YZ250FX. 

“What a wonderful comeback for Yamaha in the South African Cross Country Motorcycle championship!” Harry Grobler concluded. “Everest Wealth Ridgeway Yamaha Racing with Tork Craft and Dunlop Yamaha came, saw, and conquered the Nationals this year. We salute each and every member of the team for their great contribution and look ahead to moving onward and upward in 2026!”