For professional motorcycle racer AJ (Allann-Jon) Venter life is lived in the fast lane on the track.
The 32-year-old Venter started riding and racing motorcycles at the age of four and has never looked back.
“Motorsport has been in our family for a long time.
“My father, grandfather and uncle all raced motorcycles before I did,” Venter said.
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As a Dunlop brand ambassador, Venter races on Dunlop both locally and abroad.
He competed in his first overseas race in 2006.
Prior to lockdown, he was leading the SA 2020 Monocle Superbike Series championship by 23 points.
“At our last local SA event, out of the six classes competing on the day, four of those classes were won by competitors using Dunlop tyres,”he said.
“I have been involved with Dunlop for almost three years now.
“I run a motorcycle workshop, as well as a one-on-one riding academy where we are proud distributors of their race tyres.
“My relationship with Dunlop arose from me not only having the privilege to distribute their products, but also being able to use their tyres in some of the world’s most dangerous road races, mainly the Isle of Man TT and the Macau Grand Prix in Hong Kong.
“At these events we sometimes reach speeds just short of 300km/h on a public road. First and foremost you need to know the only thing making sure you stay on the road are the tyres beneath you.
“I also work as a test/development rider in SA, where I test any new compound of Dunlop tyre that arrives in SA, making it a lot easier for us to have first-hand experience with regards to all the technical information for our customers.”
The Edenvale resident and his father run a motorcycle workshop called Lekka Racing, located in Meadowdale, and they specialise in all sorts of motorcycle servicing, tuning and race preparation, as well as being an official distributor of Dunlop racing tyres.
When asked what drives him in life, Venter said, “To overcome life’s challenges.
“I believe anything is possible if you are willing to get up and try, as well as put your mind to it.”
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On the track, Venter mainly rides track-built superbikes and at the moment he is racing a Suzuki GSXR1000 in the local championship fitted with Dunlop D213 race tyres.
“Racing motorcycles is all I know.
“From childhood I have lived and breathed motorcycles and racing all my life.
“Being on the track and having the opportunity to represent big brands such as Dunlop is not only my job, but my passion.
“It is a special feeling on its own,” Venter said.
Venter said he is not married yet and has an 18-month-old son, but those near and dear to him are passionate about his racing and support him.
When he is not on the track he enjoys training, keeping fit and spending time with his family.
When asked for his advice to aspirant racers, he said, “Never be scared to chase a dream.
“If you want something badly enough, you will go out of your way to make it happen.”
With regard to the Covid-19 pandemic, Venter said, “It is frightening what Covid-19 is really capable of.
“I have spoken to a number of my contacts and teams abroad and we are all in some form of lockdown.
“We all agree that the safest thing is to stay at home and out of trouble.
“Please guys, be careful.”
