Back-to-back wins for Van der Westhuizen in MSA national MX
In by far his best performance of the year, 14-year-old Dirco van der Westhuizen scored back-to-back wins in the High School class of the third round of the Motorsport South Africa-sanctioned national motocross championship at Syringa Park in Gauteng on Saturday.
Riding his Bridgestone and SupaQuick supported Full Throttle Yamaha 125 with the authority and precision of a champion, the Pietermaritzburg teenager reveled in the tight and firm conditions offered by the historic Syringa track to take maximum points on the day and close the gap to championship leader Bradley Cox (KTM) to eight points. Cox has 142 points after the first six races and Van der Westhuizen has 134
It was the first time he had beaten the older and more experienced Cox and he did so in style, leaving his chief rival and fellow KwaZulu-Natalian 8,8 seconds in his wake in second place after the first 11-lap race and 21,8 seconds behind in third place in race two.
Jason Visser of Gauteng (KTM), third in the championship with 86 points, was third in race one, over a minute in arrears, and second in race two, 3,9 seconds behind Van der Westhuizen.
A highly-motivated Van der Westhuizen was coming off a successful previous weekend where he scored a win and a second in a regional club event at Syringa in preparation for the national meeting.
“It all came together nicely today,” commented a delighted Van der Westhuizen. “I’ve been working hard on my riding and the club race was an important opportunity for me to familiarise myself with the Syringa track. The layout and ground conditions suit me and my Yamaha and I took full advantage. Beating Bradley today was a milestone for me. He’s the bench mark in the High School class and today’s results give me great confidence for the remainder of the season.”
The grade eight pupil at Voortrekker High School paid tribute to the support and encouragement of his father, Dirk, who was unable to be at Syringa after falling ill on the drive up from Pietermaritzburg.
“My dad has given me every opportunity to pursue my career in motocross and his and my mother’s support has been very important to me. Today’s two wins were for them.”
