Nienaber leads after two events

Nienaber has moved up from the OR2 class to the competitive OR1 class on his Husqvarna FX450 for the 2018 racing season.

The GXCC events are the biggest cross-country events in South Africa.

Over 400 competitors compete in different classes on the day of the events.

The last event on March 10 was held near Fochville where the route was tough, fast and dusty.

Nienaber achieved a second place in the first round of the championship held in February in Bronkhorstspruit, so there was a lot of pressure on him to stay in the top spots on the leader board.

It was a battle between the top three riders right from the start.

The Benonian moved up to second position in the third lap, with two laps of 55km still to go.

In the last lap he managed to cross the finish line in first position, winning the OR1 class and the overall first for the day.

He is now in first position on the championship scoreboard.

His teammate Hein van Niekerk, also from Benoni, competed in the OR2 championship and moved up from fifth position to achieve a third place in the OR2 class and a sixth position overall, producing podium places for the Holeshot Husqvarna team.

The next GXCC Northern Regional race will be held on April 14 near Bapsfontein.

After that Nienaber will be preparing for the National Cross-Country Championship that will be held on May 5 in Ceres in the Western Cape.