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YAMAHA DOMINATES THE ROOF!!
Yamaha teams and riders did the marque proud this past weekend during the 42nd running of the gruelling Roof of Africa in Lesotho.
Touted by winner Chris Birch and second placed Rory Mead, both from New Zealand, as the toughest event they have ever competed in, The Maluti Mountains laid down a gauntlet of rocks and passes for competitors that delivered an attrition rate that saw a mere twenty three finishers from a starting list of two hundred and twenty one riders.
In thirty five degree heat the riders tackled some five hundred odd kilometres over three days on what has been branded as the toughest and most physically demanding route ever laid out by the event organisers.
Yamaha entered the Roof this year with high expectations, knowing that both the riders and the bikes were a combination of the best equipment on offer with some of the country’s, and indeed the world’s, top riding talent – and were rewarded for those expectations by some exemplary performances by both man and machine.
New Zealander Rory Mead rode his Shimwells Yamaha Ramco Racing Yamaha YZ 250 into a stunning second position on his maiden trip to Africa. Having no idea what was in store for him and struggling with his navigation skills, the twenty two year old showed massive maturity and riding skill to take the 250cc class win and finish second overall to his countryman Birch on board a KTM 300cc.
Equally impressive is that Yamaha riders took all of the top six positions in the 250cc class!! - a true testament to the competitiveness and reliability of the Yamaha YZ 250 (2T). The summary of the 250cc class results is as follows:
1st Rory Mead Shimwells Yamaha Ramco Racing Yamaha YZ250 2nd overall
2nd Kenny Gilbert Red Yamaha YZ 250 5th overall
3rd Shannon Frost FDBR Yamaha YZ 250 6th overall
4th William Gillitt Red Yamaha YZ 250 7th overall
5th Nic Pienaar Red Yamaha YZ 250 10th overall
6th Clynt Lund Red Yamaha YZ 250 11th overall
In the 200cc class young Marc Torlage on board his Red Yamaha YZ 250 F proved his race pace and consistency that he has shown all year by taking the class win and finishing in an incredible ninth overall. And Brad Van Aswegen on board his screaming DCM Chrome Yamaha YZ 125 brought his steed home in an amazing 18th position overall to take the 125cc class win – and be the only finisher on a 125cc machine.
KTM and Yamaha went to war over the manufacturers trophy this year and a more evenly contested fight could not have been found!! Both manufacturers landed up on the finish line tied on thirteen points each, with the nod going to KTM by virtue of Chris Birch’s overall win.
The Yamaha Roof Support Program that was extended to all fifty two Yamaha entrants into the event worked fantastically, with dedicated mechanics working into the early hours of each morning ensuring that the race machines were in the best possible condition for the day ahead.
So, as the orange sun sets over the blue Maluti Mountains, all at Team Yamaha, both riders and support personnel, who pulled together to deliver one of the best results at the Roof of Africa for the Yamaha brand, cross the Caledon River back into South Africa incredibly proud of the achievements of our product, our team and our riders – WELL DONE BOYS!!!
Press Release - Yamaha South Africa
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