After two years, the 12-time national champion has returned to adrenaline-pumping motorcross looking to bag more titles.
Richard van der Westhuizen (30) was born in bred in Randburg and Linden. He retired in 2013, a year he previously referred to as the best season of his career, but jumped back on the bike a year later and returned to motorcross two years later.
“I had put so much effort into my riding, and it became a bit draining. I told myself that if I won MX1 and MX2 in the same year again, I would call it quits, so I did. But about a year later I got a bit bored and started with Enduro, [another form of motorcycle racing],” he said at an interview in Northcliff.
Van der Westhuizen has been on the bike since he was five years old, and won his first national title when he was 14 years old. Since then he has toured across Europe where he competed in more championships. Back in South Africa, he again took his spot as champion when he won the Premier class 450 Open Class Championship. Van der Westhuizen then won both MX1 and MX2 National Championships in 2008, 2009 and 2013.
This year with ABE Midas Husqvarna Racing, Van der Westhuizen is once again competing in the Motorsport South Africa (MSA) National Championship. He is competing in the National Enduro Championship for the second year, where he already secured a podium in March.
“It’s crazy busy,” he said.
Although Van der Westhuizen said it has been difficult adjusting, he has high hopes for the future.
“When you are riding all the time it comes natural, but after taking two years off, it takes a while to get back into it. You lose your coordination and sharpness when you no longer ride.”
Ultimately, another national championship title is what Van der Westhuizen is after.
“I don’t think I can leave the sport completely, I love it too much,” he said.
On 6 August, Van der Westhuizen competed in the fifth round of the MSA National Championship at Thunder Valley in Pietermaritzburg managing fifth place on day one, but could not compete on the second day due to illness.
Outside of racing, Van der Westhuizen exercises and keeps fit at the gym and keeps his motocross decal manufacturing business, Racestar Graffix, afloat with his brother and fellow racer, Davey van der Westhuizen and friend Grant Frerichs.
The next Monster Energy TRP Distributors SA MX Nationals will take place on 17 September at Holeshot Harrys in Harrismith in the Free State.
