Amanzimtoti MX rider is ready to rev

Two-wheel maestro Luke Grundy, 13, is getting itchy fingers and cannot wait to pull on his leathers and go for a lap around the track. The teen is not impressed about the lockdown. “In motocross we wear helmets, goggles, gloves and full protection kit. I don’t see why we can’t ride. There is plenty of self-distancing in my sport and the other riders are far away from you on the track. There is no way any of us can catch the virus.”

His last national race was at Rover MX Club in Port Elizabeth on 15 February, where he finished fifth. Then he did the Womza Inland Championship in Johannesburg at Smoking Pistons, where he claimed a third overall and followed that up with a first overall at the first KZN regional at Thunder Valley MX track in Pietermaritzburg on 1 March. The Cape Town national was due on 28 March, but then lockdown shut the gates.

“I’ve only been able to practice a little bit during lockdown, not as much as I wanted too. I’m lucky to have friends who live on farms and have made their own tracks. So I’ve have been riding there, but only about three or four times during lockdown.”

Last year the young speedster represented SA for the fourth time at the FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations at Donnybrook Raceway in Zimbabwe from 30 August to 1 September. In the first heat he finished third and followed that up with two fourth places to claim a fourth overall and add valuable points to help Team SA win the meet against Zimbabwe, Botswana, Kenya, Zambia, Uganda and Morocco.

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In July he represented his country at the FIM Junior Motocross World Championships in Trentino, Italy on 13 and 14 July.

After having such a top season last year, it is understandable the Amanzimtoti Primary School grade 7 learner is feeling hard done by. “I had huge goals for 2020 and was hoping it was going to be my year. My goals were to win the national 85 pro mini class and get selected again to race at junior worlds in Greece, but I guess that won’t happen this year.

So I just need to carry on training when it’s possible on our local tracks and start preparing for an awesome 2021 season. I hope we will have a season this year, even if it’s just regional, because I just want to race.”

Luke said it’s been hard keeping up with his schoolwork, but he has started homeschooling with a private teacher. “I prefer to do school on a one-on-one basis, because you learn more and it’s only for a hour a day.

READ ALSO: Amanzimtoti gymnast coach strives for excellence during lockdown

“I got a new bicycle, so I have been riding that a lot during lockdown and doing a lot of jumping on my trampoline. I helped my dad and grandpa take trees out the garden, which was no joke and very hard work. My grandpa and I have also been cutting the grass and prepping the Galleria track, so that when we are allowed to ride, I can bust some air close to home.

“I have been missing all my motocross friends, socialising and having fun at the track. I also miss not been able to go anywhere. I hope I will be able to get on the track again very soon, because I just want to ride now.”

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