A long three months after the opening round at Thaba Trails, Enduro racers will gather to contest Round 2 of the 2023 Gauteng Enduro Series, presented by Suzuki at Grootfontein MTB Park in Pretoria on Sunday. With seven stages and a number of top riders racing, it promises to be a cracker!
Grootfontein’s Enduro stages are short, but they’re interesting, with a rocky ridge near in the top third and a series of twisty turns through the Black Wattle forest before finishing in the open field across the access road. The surface ranges from sharp rock to sketchy, stoney gravel, to firm hardpack and the corners are a mix of flat and bermed with a couple of off-camber turns too. Most of the stages favour riders who can carry speed through corners as the obstacles (jumps and drop-offs) are minimal.
Top contenders that have confirmed their entry for Sunday include Bryce Munro, who was third overall and first Sub-Veteran at Round 1, Danny Fowler, who was fourth overall and first Veteran at the opening round; and Wade Prinsloo, who was fifth overall at Thaba Trails in February. Frank Meyer, winner of the 2022 round at Grootfontein, has confirmed he will also be at Grootfontein on Sunday.
Julia Kotze (main image), winner of the 2022 Gauteng Enduro Series title as well as 2023 Round 1 in February, has confirmed she too will be racing on Sunday.
Although the regular rainy season has passed, the long-range forecast predicts rain for Sunday. If it’s light, it’s likely to improve conditions, which have been dry and loose in recent weeks. If it’s not light, it should make for interesting racing.
The seven stages will be as follows:
Enduro / E-Bike / Sports Class : 7 Stages
Can start on any Stage except Stage 4
- Stage 1 – Grootfontein Enduro line 1
- Stage 2 – Grootfontein Enduro line 9
- Stage 3 – Grootfontein Enduro line 3
- Stage 4 – Grootfontein Enduro line 4
- Stage 5 – Grootfontein Enduro line 5
- Stage 6 – Grootfontein Enduro line 8
- Stage 7 – Grootfontein XCO course descent
As always, certain categories will race over fewer stages as follows:
LITE: Sprogs & Nippers / E-Bike / Sports Class : 4 Stages
Must all start on Stage 4
- Stage 1 – Grootfontein Enduro line 1
- Stage 3 – Grootfontein Enduro line 3
- Stage 4 – Grootfontein Enduro line 4
- Stage 7 – Grootfontein XCO course descent
Round 1 at Thaba Trails in February doubled as the opening round of the CSA South African Enduro Series. Here’s a reminder of how that went.
On Sunday at Grootfontein, all the usual CSA categories will be contested. Entry is online only and closes at midnight on Friday 5 May. Racing starts at 09h00 on Sunday 7 May with registration from 0h730. Entry is via the Cycling South Africa portal here or via the CSA app.
Suzuki is the presenting sponsor the 2023 Gauteng Enduro Series. Other brands that have invested in the sponsoring the Gauteng Enduro Series are EcoLogic (bike wash products), 100% (eyewear products), 32GI (performance supplements), Med Guys (medical support), Lynnwood Cyclery (technical support) and SHRED (media partner). Timing will once again be done by Send It, which records down to 1000th of a second.
For more information, join the Gauteng Cycling Gravity Group on Telegram, here; or contact Paola Damilano on 0832523752 or paola.damilano@me.com
