Benonians kick butt in the Kalahari

The Benonians gave it gas in Botswana.

Jaycee Nienaber makes dust in the Kalahari.

Jaycee Nienaber from Benoni, riding for Holeshot Husqvarna, competed in the Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1 000 Desert Race from June 22 to 24.

The event served as the third and fourth rounds of the South African Cross-Country Motorcycle Championship and took place over a distance of 1 000km from the Jwaneng Sport Complex in Botswana.

Nienaber managed a sixth starting position during the time trial on the Friday.

Over the two days of racing, he managed to improve and achieved a third place overall, and third in the OR1 Championship Class.

He joined the big guns, Ross Branch (first) and Kenny Gilbert (second), on the podium.

Gilbert and Branch will be competing in the Dakar race at the end of the year.

Nienaber said that he pushed really hard, his pace and rhythm were good and he is extremely happy with the results.

He added that he could not have done this without support from his sponsors and his hardworking pit crew.

His teammate, Hein van Niekerk, also from Benoni, achieved a 16th overall and a fourth place in the OR2 class.

Both will be preparing for the Gauteng Xcross Country Club event in July in Lehau and then the fifth round of the SA Cross-Country Motorcycle Championship that will take place at Piggs Peak, Swaziland, on July 21.