story by: Peter Burroughes Communications 25 July 2010

Brits prepares for friendly bike and quad invasion

National championship off road motorcycle and quad racing is one of the best supported forms of motorsport in South Africa and a good indication of this is the fact that more than 400 entries are expected for the fifth round of the 2010 series, the Grass and Eco Organics 400 in the Brits area on August 20 and 21.
 
This event, promoted and organised by Motorsport 2000, boasts a brand new sponsor, something worth celebrating in motorsport, and a new venue for the dirt track warriors who get their kicks among the rocks and dust of far flung country paths and trails.
 
There are 21 motorcycle classes (covering 125, 200, 250 and Open machines) and 17 quad classes (450 and Open) in national, regional and club divisions.
 
Grass and Eco Organics is a northern Johannesburg instant lawn and landscaping business owned by Brits brothers and businessmen Francois and Len du Toit, veteran national championship off road motorcycle competitors, who have decided to take a break from competition to put something back into the sport they love and sponsor and help run the first national championship event in their hometown area.
 
The route, as befits a national championship event, is expected to be a testing one and definitely not for the faint-hearted, with a challenging mix of slow and fast sections, sand and rocks, uphill and downhill and water obstacles.  Route directors Francois and Len du Toit and Luciano Greyling are Brits born and bred and as experienced off road bike riders know the area like the back of their hands.
 
The start, finish and main designated service point is at the Wagpos High School in Brits.  The route will take competitors to the De Wildt area, a popular destination for weekend off road bikers, behind the reservoir in the open field, past the landmark Patrick’s Shop (also a designated service point), through to Three Fences and back to Wagpos School.
 
It consists of a 42-km time trial on Friday (called the short loop), which is compulsory for all national competitors (regional and club competitors only race on Saturday).  The results of this determine the start order for Saturday’s race, which consists of the short loop and a long loop of 135 km.
 
National motorcycle competitors complete both short and long loops twice with a 10-minute decontrol after each loop, while regional and club motorcycle competitors are required to complete just one short and long loop.
 
National quad competitors complete 100% of the route while regional and club quads complete 50% of the route.
 
For safety reasons, the bikes and quads start out on different loops, alternating on the long and short loops.
 
There is a stop at the designated service point at Wagpos School at the end of each loop and another service stop midway through the long loop at Patrick’s Shop.  Because the bikes and quads have a limited range there are refuel points every 60 km and a splash-and-dash 15 km from the end of the long loop.
 
As a result there are many opportunities for spectators to see the competitors up close and also at numerous vantage points within easy reach of Wagpos School throughout the route.
 
As part of their involvement Grass and Eco Organics has laid grass at Wagpos School, where three rugby fields are being turned into the DSP area, and also at Patrick’s Shop, a popular stop off point for off road riders who visit the area in their hundreds over weekends.  They will also be building a permanent ablution facility at Patrick’s Shop, which is likely to see a big increase in business over the weekend with the influx of competitors and spectators.
 
For some time MS2000 has been interacting with the local community in the area of the race weekend and this year will continue to distribute colouring in books and crayons to formerly disadvantaged school children as well as pamphlets and posters advising the locals of the event. 
 
For further information, including entry forms and details of accommodation facilities, please go to www.ms2000.co.za or www.mgoecommission.co.za or e-mail sue@connix.co.za.
 
Entries close on August 12.
 
Ends
 
Issued on behalf of MS2000 by Peter Burroughes Communications, telephone 082 899 0101, e-mail bowtie@iafrica.com.