Words: Independent Media & PR
Team Rhide SA has secured its first two national titles and has done so with a clean sweep at all five rounds of the 2014 SA National Off-road Quad Championship! Brian Baragwanath (26) won the recent GOC National Off-road (24 August) in the Free State and has added this victory to his list of 2014 victories which included winning all four of the previous rounds of the National Off-road Quad Championship.
Photo credit: DirtRacing
Like at each of the previous four national events, Baragwanath again claimed the maximum amount of points towards the overall standings as well as towards the Q1 Class Championship with his Yamaha Raptor 700. These points resulted in him effectively securing the overall crown as well as the Q1 Championship for 2014. These titles are safe even if he does not score any points at the Rysmierbult 200, the final round of the championship that takes place on 27 September in the Ventersdorp area.
With two titles already in the bag, team-mate Hannes Saaijman is aiming for the Q2 Class title for riders older than 28 years of age. Three class victories have placed Saaijman at the top of the Q2 standings despite the fact that he could not score any points at the BELL 400 held outside Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal. Saaijman has worked his way up during the GOC National Off-road and was chasing Baragwanath during the first of the three loops, but he lost time and fell back after he hit a rock resulting in the nerf-bar on his Raptor 700 as well as the foot peg breaking off which in turn also damaged the exhaust which is being tested for the Dakar rally.
After being hit with all the bad luck, Saaijman is satisfied with his class victory which has now moved him up to the third place on the overall standings. Team Rhide SA can now aim to finish the 2014 national off-road season filling two places on the overall podium!
There were also good results for Ted Barbier who finished third in the Senior Class. He was 11th overall at the GOC National Off-road. Barbier, who moved from the Master Class (for riders older than 46 years) to the Senior Class Championship at the beginning of the season to race the full distance at the Standard Events (360km) in preparation for the 2015 Dakar Rally, has settled himself in the third place in this class championship. His entry for the Dakar Rally was unfortunately not accepted due to his lack of experience, but he will try again next year!
After claiming four podium results at the GOC National Off-road, the three members of Team Rhide SA are now filling five podium positions in the national series and will again aim for maximum points at the Rysmierbult 200 to round off the season.
Team Rhide SA for 2015 Dakar Rally: Team Rhide SA has been extremely busy since the acceptance of Baragwanath’s and Saaijman’s entries for the 2015 Dakar Rally. They have accepted the former SA national champion from Namibia, Philipie Baard, as a technician in the team. Baard comes with loads of racing and mechanical experience and will be a huge asset to the team.
The public also had the opportunity to meet the team at the recent AMiD Expo at the Johannesburg Exhibition Centre. They could also get a closer look at the Yamaha Raptor 700 Team Rhide SA has used to participate in the recent Namaqua African Rally in the Western Cape. All three members completed this five-day event with Baragwanath finishing third overall and winning the quad category.
Team Rhide SA has recently launched various fund raising projects as they are still in need of funds to participate in the 2015 Dakar Rally. By purchasing raffle tickets, the public can be part of their ‘Dakar Experience’ and stand a chance to win big prizes. The first prize is a brand new Yamaha Ténéré XT660Z Adventure Bike to the value of R98 000 while the second prize is a weekend for four people at the Simply Wild Lodges (this prize also include a blesbuck hunt). The third prize is a trailer for three motorcycles or two quads sponsored by Diamond Trailers. The value of this prize is R17 900. All the information regarding the purchasing of tickets as well as specially designed t-shirts, are available on their website (teamrhidesa.com). The draw will take place at the GOC Year End Function on 8 November in Pretoria.
Next Up: Team Rhide SA will tackle the Rysmierbult 200, the sixth and final round of the national off-road championship, on 27 September in the Ventersdorp area. They invite competitors, supporters and spectators to visit their stand at the race where tickets will be for sale.
Follow Team Rhide SA on Facebook (Team Rhide SA) and Twitter (@TeamrhideSA) for regular updates. Contact Team Rhide SA via www.teamrhidesa.com for sponsorship opportunities.
