International bikers to invade Lesotho

MASERU — At least 140 international off-road riders are on Saturday expected to compete in the Lesotho Enduro in Roma, 35km south of the city.
The annual race — organised by the Lesotho Off-road Race Association (Lora) — is part of the South African National Motorcycle Enduro Championship series. The Lesotho Enduro will cover three 60km regularity loops with a special stage in each loop.
Competitors in the national category will have to complete three loops, while riders in the Silver Challenge, Senior and 400 Plus Classes will have two loops to finish. Novice Class riders will have one loop to complete.
If riders fail to complete the loops within given time, they are penalised.
Unlike other races such as Roof of Africa where the fastest wins, the Lesotho Enduro is won by the rider with the least penalties.
At the time of going to print no local rider had entered the race, according to Lora marketing and liaison officer Keketso Malebo.
He said 140 riders, almost all of them South Africans, had registered for the weekend event by Tuesday.
“This competition is open to South Africans, Swazis, Tswanas, Namibians, and Basotho but only South Africans and one Swazi have registered,” Malebo said.
KTM riders Altus de Wet, SA Enduro champion in 2008 and 2009), and his experienced team mate Darryl Curtis will be competing in the Open Class with Riaan van Niekerk, SA Off-road champion in 2008 and 2009.
They will face the challenge of Ruan Roberts and Lance Scheepers.
The other top riders expected at the Roma race include Brian Capper and Louwrens, the three-time Roof of Africa winner, as well as Jade Gutzeit.
Prominent local rider Tsepo McCathy said he was no longer interested in taking part in such races when he could not make any money out of it.
“I must confess that we are not making any money by riding bikes,” he said.
“So I’ve decided to concentrate on my career because I am getting older and I must do something for my future.”