Mike Pentecost CIT Franchise Company Tork Craft/WORX Team takes a debut Kawasaki OR1 title with a hat trick of wins.
The 2021 South African Cross Country Motorcycle Championship may have been Kawasaki’s comeback year, but few would have imagined that the green machines would dominate as they did as the season progressed. It started quietly and without much expectation earlier in the year, but come championship time, not only is Kawasaki hero Mike Pentecost the 2021 OR1 champion, but he also dominated the class to take all three of the final open wins in a row.
Pentecost was also the only double overall Cross-Country winner of the year as he led the way on his Franchise Co CIT Tork Craft/WORX Kawasaki KX450X in the Virgina Trials finale at Eston KZN. D’Artagnan Lobjoit added to the delight when he made it an OR1 title 1-3 on his Pepson Plastics Motul Kawasaki KX450X, while motocross refugee Wyatt Avis impressed on his Cross-Country debut, coming home fourth in Seniors in the tough KZN finale on his KX250X.
“After numerous problems, throughout the race it was touch and go then I pulled number 1 in the time trail start position draw. I had a killer time trial and won, so I was even more stressed knowing I had to open a 56 km loop with long grass and truly little else to follow,” said Mike Pentecost CiT Franchise Co CIT Tork Craft/WORX Kawasaki.
“I knew when Brad Cox caught me on the first lap that I had to push, so I just went for it. “But I bogged down on lap 2 and by the time I had the bike out the mud, I had my championship rival Brett all over me. I fought back again and opened the lead, but then I had a massive crash on the third lap and my bike was all twisted up. “Knowing it was a 10-minute DSP stop, I limped back to the pits and the guys did an excellent job straightening the bike.
“When I got going again, Brett was right back behind me “So I pushed like hell to get away! “Then my exhaust broke, and I had no power, “I was so worried Brett would catch and pass me after all that, so I pushed like hell, worrying all the way that I would burn a valve. “Yet my KX450X made it through, and I was still by a minute and a half ahead. “I had won the race and the OR1 title.
“It has been an incredible and stressful year I came back to racing with no funds and was using old parts to keep my own bike going. “By the glory of God however, I was picked up by the CiT Franchise Co CIT Tork Craft/WORX team to ride the new Kawasaki KX450X midway through the season. “And now I am champion! “I actually have no words, besides to thank my team and sponsors for an incredible opportunity. “What a fantastic day and debut national season!” D’Artagnan Lobjoit admitted. “Third in OR1 in a Kawasaki 1-3 is beyond our wildest dreams, but my Pepson Plastics Kawasaki Motul team made it happen and my KX450X ran like a rocket right through the season and across the country! “We’re not done yet — there are still two GXCC Gauteng races to go so it’s eyes on that prize. “Special thanks to Iain and my incredible team — this was a national year to remember, “said Pentecost
The trying conditions at Eston saw Pepson Plastics Kawasaki Motul OR1 man Craig Alcock end a lap down and claimed two of the team's title protagonists. Neither OR3 Kyle Mackenzie nor Franchise Co CIT Tork Craft/WORX Senior man Deon du Toit made the distance.
"This is just the beginning!" Franchise Co CIT team owner and manager Harry Grobler concluded. "2021 is a great foundation for Kawasaki Racing's future. We will be working hard together as two teams with one goal next year. "All our Franchise Co CIT and Pepson Plastics Motul riders will only be Kawasaki mounted in in every class we take on and we are already counting down to the new 2022 national season."
“This partnership with the Franchise Co C.I.T Off Road Team is ideal and perfect for our brands,” said Ryan Hunt, Springbok and multiple SA MX Champion, and Director of Vermont Sales. “The team has a great mix of riders, covering all the classes, with experienced team managers. Worx and Tork Craft are leading brands, and they align with the dedicated team. We have the GXCC Racing series to complete and then look forward to next season,” said Hunt.
