After a delayed start to the 2025 Cross Country season due to heavy rains, the Brother Leader Tread KTM team finally lined up for their season opener in Bronkhorstspruit this past weekend. Despite the worry of yet another postponement, the team made the most of the muddy conditions and delivered an impressive performance on a rewarding track set by Louwrens Mahoney.

Scott Heygate (#387), who is on a mission for championship glory this season in the Open Class, put in a solid ride. Starting third after the time trial, he fought hard throughout the race, making up significant time to finish second on the day and earn valuable championship points. 
Reflecting on his race, Heygate said, “I had a great day out there. I found a good flow but I still have a few things to work on. The track was amazing, and it changed a lot after lap three with all the rain we’ve had, which made things really interesting and fun.”

In the Seniors Class, Kerim Fitz-Gerald (#108) delivered a masterful performance to secure a first-place finish, despite facing early setbacks. Starting the main race from seventh after a less-than-ideal time trial, Fitz-Gerald encountered brake issues just a few kilometers into the race, making for a challenging ride. “I wasn’t too happy with my time trial result, and about couple of km's  in, my back brakes failed. It was tough riding, and I had a couple of close calls. The team managed to fix my brake problem, and I kept pushing and managed to bring home the win,” he commented.

Matthew Wilson (#88)  also put in a determined ride in the OR3 class, overcoming an early crash within the first 10km that set him back. Despite the setback, he pushed hard for the remainder of the race, finishing just a minute behind competitor, Luke after four hard hours of racing and claiming second. “Even with the crash, I gave it my all and raced my heart out. To finish that close after such a long and tough race feels great,” Wilson shared.

With a strong start to the season despite the unpredictable conditions, the Brother Leader Tread KTM team has laid a solid foundation for the championship battle ahead. As the season unfolds, they remain focused and ready to take on whatever challenges come their way.

KTM secured the manufacturer award in both the Junior and Senior categories. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our riders, teams, and everyone behind the scenes. Leading the manufacturers' championship after round one sets a strong foundation, and we’re motivated to carry this momentum forward into the next rounds.

The long-awaited start to the 2025 National Cross Country Championship saw the Husqvarna Racing team making a bold statement as they charged into the season with back-to-back victories. After the initial round was postponed due to extreme weather conditions, the team was eager to hit the track - and they did so in a dominant fashion.

Davin Cocker and Luke Walker both clinched first place in their respective classes, setting the tone for what promises to be another thrilling season.

Cocker, coming off a championship-winning season in 2024, wasted no time in showcasing his intent to defend his title in the Open Class. Leading the way from the start after a strong time trial, he controlled the race from the front, despite the lingering muddy conditions. "The race was still very muddy, but I enjoyed it a lot. It was interesting to see how the track formed throughout the day, and I am happy with a strong race for the day" Cocker shared.

Walker, also entering the season as a defending champion, delivered a solid and composed ride to secure the top spot in the OR3 class. "It was a good start to the season, and I’m excited for what’s to come," he commented after the race.

With both riders carrying championship momentum into 2025, the Husqvarna Racing team has made it clear that they are here to stay at the top. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Cocker and Walker as they look to maintain their winning ways and keep the competition chasing.

Stay tuned as the team gears up for the next round, ready to take on whatever the season throws their way.

Words: Bill Hunter.

So we’ve now covered over 600km since the Avenis was born. Obviously it’s still ‘running in’ so we need a few more kilometers before the first 1000km service. Up until now the best top speed I’ve seen is 112km/h, which I’m sure will increase as time goes on, we will see… 

I did mention in the previous report about the magic 50km-per-litre when ridden with a ‘limp wrist’, shall we say. However when ridden hard, which one tends to do on a 125 scooter, I managed to get to 218km on one tank full of fuel (it holds 5.2 litres), still extremely impressive. One word of advice, if you own one of these, is that the final block on the fuel gauge never goes away, so don’t wait for it to do so or you’ll end up at the side of the road with a frown like a ploughed field. Interestingly when the fuel gets ultra low it gets hard to start, turning over more times than it usually does, due to the fuel pump ‘scavenging’ for fuel, seeing as it’s fuel-injected, just thought I’d pass that on.

Anyway, I can’t remember having so much legroom on any small scooter, which allows for any six-foot tall rider to easily slip into the foot well. This space has not one but two hooks to catch a shopping bag, which you can see as we’ve used some chunky cushions to show the wealth of space. Under the seat is another large space that is ideal to carry a large stuffed cat or a multitude of groceries and a small donkey, or a medium sized one if you remove all the tins.

Now that’s already a lot of storage/carrying capacity, but if you also put on a backpack you’ll be able to carry enough provisions to feed an Ethiopian village for five years, perhaps? You see where I’m coming from though because the Avenis 125 is one very superior shopping device on all counts, and then some.

It’s also a very cool way to take your pet out for a ride; we used a toy one for legal purposes, enjoying many complimentary waves and smiles in the process, or maybe I misread the hand gestures? Either way it’s an extremely good looking and fun way to get around town, or to go anywhere for that matter. An ideal companion for so many reasons to have in your garage, no matter what bike, or bikes, you already have. 

Images: Gym Judge.

Go to www.suzukimotorcycle.co.za for dealer locations – then go and buy one, today!

24/03/25