The National Enduro Championship takes place in Harding, KwaZulu-Natal, this weekend. Home to South Africa’s most iconic Enduro trails, the area is set to host one of the most exciting events of the season.
In what can be described as a bitter-sweet start to the season for Brother Leader Tread KTM, the event marks the debut race of two new orange riders, but also the absence of a familiar favourite. In a massive scoop for the orange squad, Blake Gutzeit and Matthew Stevens have been added to the roster for 2021. Star rider Bradley Cox, however, has been forced to withdraw from the event after an injury he sustained at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.
“I had obviously hoped to defend my National E1 Championship title this season. I’m just lucky to be alive after my crash, so this is just a small bump in the road,” said Cox.
Stepping onto a KTM 300 XC-W TPI this season is Blake Gutzeit, who will spearhead the hunt for a national title in the highly competitive E2 Class.
Hailing from the small town of Oslo Beach on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal Natal, Gutzeit has rapidly become one of the most technically gifted riders in the world. The rider is a former Junior World Champion in SuperEnduro and a favourite in the World Championship Prestige Class. His glittering resume includes a National Enduro title, a fourth place at the Roof of Africa and finishing the Erzberg Rodeo.
Brother Leader Tread KTM have also managed to capture the signing of exciting Enduro prospect Matthew Stevens, who will be riding in the J1 class on the KTM 125 XC this season. Stevens is the youngest ever finisher of the Gold Class at the IMPI Enduro and is already a two time national Enduro Champion. Stevens has massive dreams and tells the story that at the age of nine he wrote his goals on the ceiling above his bed in permanent marker – one of those goals being to win the Roof of Africa in 2023.
Adding to the excitement this weekend is the fact that former Brother Leader Tread KTM rider, Scott Bouverie, has set the routes. As one of the most talented Enduro riders the country has seen, Bouverie will undoubtedly have carved out nothing less than world-class trails in Harding.
KTM South Africa’s Louwrens Mahoney commented: “We are really excited to kick off the first round of the National Enduro Championship with two new, young riders that are ready for the year! We are also sad that Brad has been sidelined with an injury, and trust that he will be back soon.”
