Riaan Neveling Racing
Aprilia SXV Racer

Mr. Price National Motard Championships Round 2 – Witbank
Cape Town and Round number 1 of the National Motard Championships had been a big eye opener for spectators and racers alike. The new new format Premier S1 450 class had been a raging success and showed how tight things were going to be in 2009 with Riaan Neveling, Brian Capper and Michael Kok each taking a victory. Other names had come to the front to add some fresh perspective in the form of Jason Munro who had jumped up from the S3 250 class to stake his claim amongst the big boys.

Aprilia Super-Star Neveling was fired up after having good outing that saw him leave Cape Town in second place overall just behind Capper. Kok had faired the worst of the top three competitors with no points in one of the heats that dropped him out of the top three in points.

Round two then moved to Witbank and the Highvelt Mall which had such a great debut at the end of last season with huge crowds and a spectacular layout that had everyone talking. The track for Round two 2009 would enjoy the same success.

A slightly longer tarmac section combined with a technical dirt section would show the most rounded and technically diverse riders at the front.

Qualifying in the Premier S1 450 class had Kok in front which was no surprise as he was very strong on the similar track at the end of last year. Capper was bumped to third by Munro who had again done amazing things in practice and qualifying to take second on the grid. Neveling had done a good qualifier in his eyes but with times so close at the top he found himself in sixth, one place lower than his qualifier in Cape Town.

Qualifying gave the riders gate picks on the Moto-x style dirt start gate, a feature that only appears on the National Motard circuit for this one and only round.

Racing
Heat one was tight off the start with everyone getting used to the dirt start. Neveling looked good early on as he went into the lead battle with Capper and the two pulled away from the field. Their Championship competitor Kok had got stuck down the field after a bad start but caught up quickly through the race. In the end Kok caught up and passed first Neveling then Capper. Nevling seemed pleased with his third and was just easing himself into the days racing.

The second race again saw a great start from Neveling was he jumped off the dirt start in second but pushed to hard at the top of the tarmac before going onto the next dirt section. He lost the front end of the Aprilia and went down as the entire field passed him by.

Neveling remounted and started ticking off riders one by one with amazing passing moved around the outside of riders with his knee on the ground to guide him. He made a pass on Honda rider Wade Roger-Lund to move to seventh by half way by over-cooked the very next dirt corner to go down but only lost one place. He eventually battle back to come home sixth to save valuable points and show that he can come back from problems.

The third race had the pits buzzing before hand. Cape Town had seen three different winners from three starts. Witbank had seen Kok take two convincing wins and looking to three-peat to be the first to clean sweep and event. Capper was injured and trying to just finish in the top three. Neveling was looking for another victory and was fired up after setting his fastest lap in his race two come from behind display.

It seemed though that it would be Kok's day as he took another victory to make it three wins on the day and move into the lead in the Champoinship. Capper was again second with Neveling third after a smoother race. Obviously nervous after the mistakes in race two he just wanted to collect points and stay out of trouble.

Mr. Price National Motard Championships Round 2 – Highvelt Mall - Witbank

Overall Results:

1.Michael Kok – KTM
2.Brian Capper - KTM
3.Riaan Neveling – Aprilia SXV

After two Rounds of the Mr. Price National Motard Championships Riaan Neveling sits in a strong Third place in the series. Consistent finished with flashes of brilliance will see him run high up there all season. Round three moves to Vereeniging on the 24th of May.

Riaan's home training ground has seen him cut his times down while developing the Aprilia so it will be a great platform in which to build his Championship and start marching up to the front. Fast Sweeping corners are the feature at Vereeniging and mid corner speed is paramount. A track custom made for Neveling and the Aprilia.