Franchise Co Sleepover Tork Craft Honda Racing enjoyed a spectacular start to its 2023 Cross Country Motorcycle season at the opening round of the GXCC Gauteng Championship at Lekoa Lodge on Saturday.
Not only did double champion Mike Pentecost celebrate his first race on a Red Rocket Honda with a dominant overall win, but the team delivered no less than six podium finishes in the Villiers, Free State race. Pentecost’s victory was also Honda’s first overall Cross Country Motorcycle victory in South Africa in the modern era.
Mike Pentecost quite literally obliterated the opposition, with an eight-minute overall victory aboard his open class 450cc OR1 Pro Franchise Co Sleepover Tork Craft Honda CRF 450 RX. Teammate Hayden Louw added to the big class jubilation with sixth in OR1 Pro on his similar machine.
Franchise Co Sleepover Tork Craft Honda also had a splendid outing in the Junior classes. where Murray Smith led Jaden Els home to a fine Honda Racing 1-2 in 85cc Senior. 85cc Junior teammate Liam Scheepers meanwhile kept the baby class podium red with a fine third in 85 cc Juniors.
It was a good day for Franchise Co Sleepover Tork Craft Honda Racing on the other side of the age divide too. Wynand Delport ended second in the Senior class, while the ever-spectacular Warrick van Schalkwyk came home fourth in Masters.
The team also had a positive outing in OR3 Pro. Tyron Beverley steamed home seventh overall and third in the 250cc class aboard his Franchise Co Sleepover Tork Craft Honda CRF 250 RX. Teammate Haydn Cole backed Beverly up with a solid sixth in OR3 Pro riding a similar machine.
“That was a splendid way to start the new racing season,” Franchise Co Sleepover Tork Craft Honda team boss Harry Grobler concluded. “Mike was unstoppable today and quite appropriately brought us Honda’s first overall Cross Country Motorcycle race win in South Africa, in as long as most of us can remember!
“The rest of the team shone too, not least our stars of tomorrow, Murray, Jaden, and Liam, as well as Wynand and Tyron. “We have now won the big class in Nationals, and overall in the GXCC. “Join the dots and you will see what we are after next. “Our first opportunity of that comes at the opening National at Rhino Park in Pretoria on 4 March. “Let’s do this!”
