Gallery: SAJSBA National Round 1


AFRICA1

On the 7th February 2015 over 30 of South Africa’s finest riders descended on the small town of Oranjeville in the Free State, to battle it out for Round 1 of the SAJSBA Nationals. With a fantastic line-up of 10 classes and three grueling motos, the racing was expected to be thrilling.

The day started off with all the riders practicing on the challenging race track designed by 2013 Pro Runabout Open World Champion Jared Moore. The racing began with the Novice Ski Limited Class which featured some promising novice riders. Moto 1 had a surprising start with a newcomer, Estiaan Steenkamp, taking the holeshot on his #48 Yamaha SuperJet. Steenkamp has been racing in the South African off-road Motorcross Nationals for the past 13 years and has since decided to try watercraft racing.

DSC_0168

Marcel De Ponte slotted in to second position on his #777 Kawasaki SX-R with our youngest Novice rider Dwane Hayes, who is 16 years old, hot on his heels on his #259 Kawasaki SX-R. On Lap 2, Hayes managed to move up in to second position, and on Lap 4 he took first position away from Steenkamp. Hayes held on to first all the way to the checkered flag, with Steenkamp and De Ponte taking second and third respectively.

In Moto 2 of the Novice Ski Limited class, Dwane Hayes took the holeshot but couldn’t hold off Estiaan Steenkamp as he took the lead on Lap 2. Hayes did not give up and managed to take the lead back on Lap 4 causing the Moto 2 results to mimic Moto 1. It was late in the afternoon when Moto 3 of the Novice Ski Limited class was ready to line up, a storm was rolling in and the wind had picked up causing rough water conditions.

DSC_9952

Steenkamp took the holeshot and led the race from start to finish, Hayes crossed the finish line in a close second, and rounding out the Top 3 was Jake Fenenga. The Novice Ski Limited podium finishers were Marcel De Ponte in third, Estiaan Steenkamp in second and Dwane Hayes took the win.

Next up was the Veterans Runabout class with some exhilarating racing. The podium was as follows: first Peter Britz on his #153 Sea-Doo Centre Sea-Doo RXP-X, second was Christo Malan on his #5 Sea-Doo RXP-X and in third place was Johann Bukes on his #72 Sea-Doo RXT-X.

DSC_8493

The Novice Runabout Stock class has put some promising riders in the spotlight including Darius Bukes who is the younger brother of 2013 Women’s Runabout World Champion, Shante Bukes. After three challenging motos, the podium was rounded out by Yamaha rider Welcome Radebe in third, Darius Bukes took second place and Dylan Moolman in first position.

This is the first year that SAJSBA has re-introduced the Pro-Am Sport Lites and Pro-Am Sport Open classes and they were extremely successful with 9 riders on the line. Tyron Sterne managed to take first position in the Pro-Am Sport Lites class, with Wade Peterson in second and Nick Behr in third. Sean Valsecchi took first overall in the Pro-Am Sport Open class, and Peter Britz took second.

DSC_0110

The Pro Runabout Stock and Open classes were the most eventful of the day, with Yamaha-sponsored riders Jared Moore and Shante Bukes racing their 2015 Yamaha FZRs for the first time. In Moto 1, Jared Moore got the holeshot on his #8 Yamaha FZR; close on his heels was Shante Bukes on her #72 Yamaha FZR. Moore managed to maintain a decent lead on Bukes and took the win in Moto 1, Bukes in second and Kobus Malan took third on his #5 Sea-Doo RXP-X.

Moto 2 had the same result as Moto 1 with Moore getting the holeshot and taking the checkered flag. Shante Bukes was involved in a collision in Moto 2 with Kobus Malan, but she managed to finish the moto albeit with an injured knee and ankle. She was unable to compete in Moto 3 of the Pro Runabout Stock and Open classes.

DSC_9094

In Moto 3, Moore got the holeshot once again and led from start to finish, Kobus Malan took second and Peter Britz rounded up the Top 3. Moore took the overall win for the day in the Pro Runabout Stock class, with Kobus Malan in second and Peter Britz taking the third position.

The Pro Runabout Open Moto 1 saw Elardus Larney take the holeshot on his #7 Sea-Doo RXP-X, with Shante Bukes in a close second on her #72 Yamaha FZR, and Cecil Larney in third on his #13 Sea-Doo RXP-X. Moto 2 saw Elardus Larney take the holeshot and win again, with Cecil Larney in second and Jared Moore in third.

DSC_0107

Moore managed to get an impressive start in Moto 3 and lead the race from start to finish, Elardus Larney came in close behind and Cecil Larney rounded out the Top 3 in third position. Final results in the Pro Runabout Open class were Cecil Larney in third, Jared Moore in second, and Elardus Larney in first.

The Pro Ski Lites class was introduced to the SAJSBA Nationals three years ago. Basically, it is a stock class with some minor modifications allowed to improve the handling; these include ride plate, scoop grate, sponsons, aftermarket pole and handlebars. Certain engine compartment modifications which are permitted are an aftermarket head, aftermarket exhaust and aftermarket flame arrestors. This class has proven to be popular with nine riders on the line at the first National of 2015.

DSC_8763

Moto 1 of the Pro Ski Lites class got off to an interesting start with former runabout World Champion Nick Thompson taking the holeshot on his #0 Kawasaki SXR. Thompson lead the race until the second last lap when Sean Valsecchi managed to get past and take the checkered flag on his Kawasaki SX-R. Tyron Motzouris came in second on his #2 Yamaha SuperJet, and John De Ponte in third on his #201 Yamaha SuperJet.

Moto 2 of the Pro Ski Lites class went a little differently with Tyron Motzouris taking the holeshot and leading the race all the way to the checkered flag. Nick Thompson was involved in a collision with fellow rider Sean Valsecchi but he managed to hang on to finish Moto 2 in forth place but could not go on to race in Moto 3. Devin Beatie took second position and John De Ponte in a close third.

DSC_8616

Once again, Tyron Motzouris took the holeshot in Moto 3 and went on to win; Devin Beatie took second again and John De Ponte took third. Tyron Motzouris took first overall in the Pro Ski Lites class, Devin Beatie took second and John De Ponte took third.

The Pro Ski Open was also full of exciting competition. In Moto 1, Sean Valsecchi took the lead from Nick Thompson on the second last lap to take the win, John De Ponte took second from Nick Thompson on the last lap, and Nick took the checkered flag in third position. John De Ponte managed to win both Moto 2 and 3 to claim first overall in the Pro Ski Open class, Sean Valsecchi got 2nd overall and Nick Thompson got third.

DSC_0111

A fairly recent addition to the SAJSBA Nationals is the Booster Cup. The Booster Cup is a series in South Africa which has been running for 3 years. A very generous sponsor, LPS, purchased six brand new Kawasaki STX-15F’s to be offered as a “hire and ride” concept. This series is for riders who are interested in racing but would like to try their hand at it before committing to purchasing a watercraft of their own.

It has been very successful with SAJSBA, offering five classes for the Booster Cup which include Juniors, Novice, Veterans, Ladies and the ever popular Pro class. The Pro Class allows experienced riders to level the playing field by racing watercraft which have identical top speeds and handling capabilities. Thus the best riders shine in this class. The Booster Cup is offered at all inland SAJSBA Nationals, and prizes are given at the end of each season.

The next SAJSBA National will be held on 28th February, 2015 in Vrede, Freestate. This event will be a combined effort between SAJSBA and the Jet Fighters series. The Jet Fighters series is also an extra series on offer by SAJSBA and is run and organized by one of our most experience riders, Sean Valsecchi. The concept of the Jet Fighters series is short quick moto’s of all ski and sport classes, no runabouts.

The SAJSBA National Round 1 was a fantastically well-organized event filled with thrilling racing, entertaining company and foresight of a promising season.

For full-sized versions of all of the original images from Channe Moore, visit CM Photography & Design HERE.

DSC_8763 DSC_8956 DSC_9094 DSC_8616 DSC_0445 DSC_0450 DSC_0452 DSC_0456 DSC_0442 DSC_0441 DSC_0438 DSC_0435 DSC_0111 DSC_0210 DSC_0421 DSC_0432 DSC_0107 DSC_0110 DSC_8493 DSC_9952 DSC_8462 DSC_8926 DSC_9177 DSC_0168 DSC_0180 DSC_9758 DSC_0003 DSC_0005 DSC_0007 DSC_0014 DSC_0051 DSC_0054 DSC_0064 DSC_0084 DSC_0120 DSC_0173 DSC_0202 DSC_0220 DSC_0223 DSC_0236 DSC_0237 DSC_0239 DSC_0323 DSC_0329 DSC_0413 DSC_0417 DSC_8396 DSC_8398 DSC_8428 DSC_8433 DSC_8438 DSC_8442 DSC_8450 DSC_8455 DSC_8468 DSC_8502 DSC_8508 DSC_8513 DSC_8524 DSC_8544 DSC_8546 DSC_8567 DSC_8585 DSC_8593 DSC_8603 DSC_8610 DSC_8617 DSC_8659 DSC_8664 DSC_8666 DSC_8683 DSC_8685 DSC_8694 DSC_8698 DSC_8729 DSC_8760 DSC_8773 DSC_8784 DSC_8786 DSC_8793 DSC_8796 DSC_8802 DSC_8804 DSC_8806 DSC_8813 DSC_8820 DSC_8827 DSC_8837 DSC_8846 DSC_8869 DSC_8876 DSC_8884 DSC_8887 DSC_8890 DSC_8893 DSC_8901 DSC_8907 DSC_8908 DSC_8933 DSC_8937 DSC_8950 DSC_8959 DSC_8960 DSC_8973 DSC_8984 DSC_8990 DSC_8992 DSC_9006 DSC_9045 DSC_9049 DSC_9055 DSC_9056 DSC_9066 DSC_9083 DSC_9089 DSC_9140 DSC_9153 DSC_9157 DSC_9166 DSC_9168 DSC_9173 DSC_9179 DSC_9181 DSC_9200 DSC_9207 DSC_9225 DSC_9228 DSC_9254 DSC_9264 DSC_9265 DSC_9270 DSC_9280 DSC_9318 DSC_9343 DSC_9359 DSC_9374 DSC_9376 DSC_9380 DSC_9381 DSC_9405 DSC_9420 DSC_9433 DSC_9457 DSC_9459 DSC_9474 DSC_9533 DSC_9612 DSC_9703 DSC_9719 DSC_9742 DSC_9766 DSC_9792 DSC_9807 DSC_9811 DSC_9815 DSC_9836 DSC_9844 DSC_9849 DSC_9852 DSC_9902 DSC_9905 DSC_9970 DSC_9972 DSC_9975 DSC_9984
<
>
Tags featured

Share this post

Channe Moore

South African Channe Moore first became interested in photography when she was 17. After finishing high school, she decided to get her Bachelors Degree in Professional Photography. She loves photographing jet ski racing and feels extremely blessed to be apart of the international jet ski racing world, which is full of amazing people and fantastic experiences.

No comments

Add yours

No Thanks