Justin does it again

Justin Thompson (14) took first place in his category at this year’s World of Motorsport ZA (Womza) National Championship. The final round was held at Syringa Park, Muldersdrift, on 6 and 7 September. Thompson attends Trinityhouse High School in Randpark Ridge and this is his second national championship title. His first was in 2012. He raced in the Motocross Pro Mini category, featuring racers between the ages of 10 and 15 years.

“It felt really great winning the championship,” Thompson said. “It makes me very happy and worth all the effort I put into my riding and training. I won the championship because I train very hard and I absolutely love racing MX [motocross].” He added that he “learned a lot” when he recently participated in the 33rd Annual Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships in the United States of America (see previous article), and this helped him beat his opponents.

“Since America he has had heart, determination and has stepped up his game,” said Sebastian Clay, regional communications manager for Monster Energy South Africa, the title sponsor for the championship. “He is a young kid with a bright future, and his head is in a space where a lot of champions were.”

After the first four rounds in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, KwaZulu-Natal and East London, Thompson was in first place in the group. In the final round at Syringa Park, which is Thompson’s home track, he won two of the three heats. Although he fell in the last heat and finished third in the race, he still won the round.

Details: Syringa Park jannie@syringamx.co.za or 082 975 1005; Trinityhouse Randpark Ridge mail@trinityhouse.co.za or 011 794 4799.