The Koue Bokkeveld 400, final round of the 2010 SA National Off-road Motorcycle and Quad championship over October 1/2 in the Western Cape, will be the decider for quite a few championship titles and set the scene for exciting racing.

In the motorcycle category, Jade Gutzeit (Yamaha) is home safe with the No.1 plate for 2011 and is confirmed as  Open (OR1) Class champion but wants to end the season with a third win.

Louwrens Mahoney (Yamaha) is hanging in there, second to Gutzeit on the both overall standings and the OR1 Class so will be just as keen to win. He'd like to “upgrade” his current number (3). Riaan van Niekerk (KTM) who will have to hand over the No.1 plate is third with Bollie van Rooyen (Kawasaki) fourth and they will fight it out for the remainder of the podium positions.

The 250cc (OR2) Class title is within Van Niekerk’s reach although second-placed Mark Garland (KTM) and Alex Vowles (Yamaha), separated by only three points, have an outside chance of grabbing it if something goes wrong.

KZN arch-rivals Bradley van Aswegen (Yamaha) and Scott Scheepers (KTM) will fight it out for the 200cc (OR3) Class title. Van Aswegen, with one win to his name, is leading Scheepers who has also won this class once this season, by eight points. Third-placed Jonathan van Wyk (Honda) will have to defend his third place against Ruan Roberts (KTM) – each hs won once this season.

Charan Moore (Yamaha) has clinched the 125cc (OR4) title but might aim for his fourth class victory. Henk Leenstra (KTM) has also confirmed the Master Class title but behind him a single point separates second-placed Ray Lloyd (Yamaha) from Jan Berning (KTM).

The furious fight in the Senior Class will continue where Errol Dalton (Yamaha) is leading defending champ Wayne Farmer (Gas Gas) by a mere five points. Dalton is a race victory ahead of Farmer and a lot is at stake. Guy Henley (Kawasaki) will also have to defend his third place from Brian Bader (Kawasaki) who is one point behind.

Not one of the quad classes has been decided so the overall battle could turn nasty. Dirkie Baard (Windhoek Honda) took the overall and Pro 450 (Q1) Class lead at Brits but is not far enough ahead of the pack to be safe. There were two races this season where only six or seven quads finished - a similar situation might give the final standings a totally different look.

Brian Baragwanath (Yamaha) is second and will be chasing Baard who won this event and the quad category overall in 2009. Baard, who will compete in the USA in 2011, will aim to secure the No.1 plate again. Behind them only five points separate the next three riders – Brendan Badenhorst (KTM) is also leading the Open (Q2) Class and is a single point ahead of Philipie Baard Honda) who is only four points ahead of Jacques Struwig (Boesman Racing Hybrid).

BADENSHORST FOUR POINTS AHEAD

Other possible podium finishers might upset the applecart – Baragwanath’s team mate André du Plessis (Suzuki) has visited the podium this season while Leander Pienaar (Can-Am) won earlier this year. If Lady Luck decides to smile on Danie Coetzer (KTM) it might cause trouble for the title chasers; Dale Stock (Kawasaki) can also not be left out of the picture.

Badenhorst is four points ahead of Struwig in the Q2 Class so the scales could tip either way while the Baard brothers and Baragwanath will be in each other’s hair for the Q1 title.

Cape Town rider Colin Joubert (Suzuki) will have his local knowledge in the Senior Class where he is sharing the lead with CJ Smith (Suzuki) with third-placed Vic Seabra (Honda) within reach if the battle at the front gets too hot.

INTERESTING BATTLE

Jurie Meyer (Yamaha) might be leading the Master Class but a mere eight points are not enough to keep the three riders with the same amount of points behind him at bay. Cape rider Clive Crouse (Yamaha) will ensure he sticks to the right order of loops; Kobus Visser (Renegade) will want an elusive victory while Geoff Osche (Outlander) will aim for a third class win - and all three will keep Meyer in their sights.

This will be an interesting battle.

The Silver Challenge in both categories is also not finalised. On four wheels, Henrique Marques (Yamaha) has the same points as Wilmer Els while Timothy Young (Yamaha Support) is not far enough ahead of Tyronne Miller (Honda) in the motorcycle category to relax. Any one of these front runners could take the title.

START/FINISH

The Koue Bokkeveld 400 will start with a time trial on Friday, October 1, that will determine the start order for the race which will start at 8am at 32° South Pakstoor north of Ceres just off the R303 when motorcycle and quad competitors will tackle separate loops.

The race will finish there too and the venue will serve as the central service point.