The Montagu area in the Western Cape is getting ready to welcome junior national off-road motorcycle and quad competitors between the ages of seven and 17 when they compete

in the Montagu Junior National, the fifth round of the 2011 national championship on 6 August. It is the first time a round of the Junior National Off-road Championship visits this area.

The Western Cape Junior Off-road Club (WCJORC), the only club in South Africa that organises off-road events exclusively for junior motorcycle and quad riders from as young as four years old who is in charge of the Montagu Junior National, has been organising the Western Cape leg of the national championship for the past few years, but it will be the first time national competitors will visit the Gateway to the Karoo.

With the traditional Junior Roof in Lesotho that did not take place this year, young competitors that will travel from all the corners of South Africa can expect to race on some rocky routes at the Montagu Junior National. Although the race will not take riders on the same routes as the Liquorland Montagu Enduro national event earlier this season, three times Roof of Africa winner and winner of this event, Chris Birch, was overheard saying that if the people in the area could farm with rocks, they will be rich!

According to the organisers the shorter 22km route for the junior classes will cater for the kids between the ages of seven and 11 competing in the 65cc motorcycle class who can expect a balance of 20% technical and 80% hard-pack sections with loose rocks and wider sections for safe overtaking. The junior bike and quad classes will also include the 85cc Junior Motorcycle class for competitors between the ages of eight and 12 years on 85cc two-stroke or 125cc four-stroke bikes as well as the Junior Modified (riders must be between 12 and 15 years old) and Junior Open Quad (for competitors at least 10 years old and no older than 15 years) classes. Competitors in these classes compete for about two hours.

Riders in the senior classes can prepare themselves for a tough three hour race on a 32km loop that will test their skills and abilities on sections that will include rocky and mountainous terrain. They can expect a 70% technical route that will take them into the mountains; on steep downhills and through river crossings.

The routes will, however, also be enjoyable and riders in the extremely competitive senior motorcycles classes (the Senior 85cc Class; the 125cc and 250cc classes) as well as the Senior Open Quad Class (eligible to riders between the ages of 14 and 17 years on quads fitted with engines no bigger than 450cc), will have to work to earn points towards their title challenges.

As the WCJOR Club has been specialising in arranging off-road races for youngsters, they have the knowledge and experience to ensure that the route will be well marked to provide junior as well as senior competitors with a safe route.

Riders in both junior and senior motorbike classes will compete during Saturday morning (6 August) from 08h30 while competitors in all the quad classes will race from 13h00. This race will also form a round of the

Western Cape regional championship. Spectators are welcome to enjoy the racing action on the farm Eendrag (GPS location S33.37,811 E019.52,288), about 40km outside Montagu on the R318 to Touwsriver.

For more information contact WCJORC's Carol Wiltshire at 072 233 7474 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (e-mail).

The WCJORC would like to thank their sponsors – Kia Motors; Buildevco; Synergy Interiors; Sullivan's Auto Sales; Helderberg Yamaha; Droomers Yamaha; Monster and Spar – and predict that riders, supporters and enthusiasts who miss this event, will miss out on lots of fun and maybe even snow!