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Cummings still leading Namaqua Rally

VREDENDAL, Western Cape - Witbank rally raid specialist Brett Cummings (KTM) kept a firm lead in the 2014 Namaqua African Rally on Thursday (May 1) going into Friday, the final day of a race that started in Cape Town on April 25.

The official finish will be at Cape Town's V&A Waterfront on Saturday (May 3) from 3pm to 5pm.

Competitors came from all over South Africa as well as the Netherlands and Botswana to race.

FASTEST TIME

Cummings posted the fastest time over the 263km Thursday stage that started in Lutzville, 22km north-west of Vredendal, and took about 60 starters to Nuwerus, a small town 16km south-east of Bitterfontien before they headed back to Vredendal.

Cummings finished a few minutes ahead of defending National Off-Road champion Kenny Gilbert (Yamaha) who was having a great race until the mousse in his rear tyre collapsed and his tyre shredded.

Cummings led Gilbert by just over five minutes and this battle will continue on the last day of the race May 3 2014.

Gilbert said: “I had such a great ride apart from my rear mousse collapsing 50km before the finish. The route was amazing and I hope to have a trouble-free day tomorrow (May 3)."

The loser of the day was Dewald Huisamen (KTM) who started the race fifth but quickly experienced numerous problems with his KTM’s rear tyre.

Brian Baragwanath (Yamaha) had a race – despite problems with his navigation system – and not only finished the day third but also moved into the lead in the quad category, leading by six minutes ahead of Jurie Meyer (Yamaha).

SOLID DAY FOR STORM

Meyer also had problems and made a navigation error early in the race and dropped back to the second in the quad category and fifth on the overall standings. Roger Kane-Berman admitted he was not used to the high speeds and had a safe race to keep fourth overall.

It was another solid day for Adrian Storm (KTM), now in seventh overall, while Botswana rider Neil Gailey (KTM) secured eighth overall despite problems with his navigation system.

Greg Raaff (KTM), a 2012 Dakar Rally finisher, completed a safe race and is ninth overall while Willem du Toit (KTM) moved into the top 10.
  
Brian Bontekoning (KTM) had a good day despite issues with his navigation system and was fourth for the day. He is now 13th overall. Hannes Saaijman (Yamaha) started at the back engine problems on Tuesday (April 29 2014) and did not finish. He finished the day ninth overall (third in the quads).

The duel between Toni Jardine (KTM) and Taye Perry (KTM)  intensified with Perry winning but Jardine is still leading the war, by three seconds. Jardine has dropped to 18th overall after her bike sprung an oil leak while Perry moved from 24th to 19th overall.

FOUR WHEELS

Chardri Monk ( Yamaha) overtook Liezel Barnard (Can-Am) even though both had mechanical problems.

The quad team is sharing riding duties. Milton Thesen (Yamaha) worked behind the handlebars today while his team mate, Roger Barnes (68) was part of the support team.

Fifty motorcycle and quad competitors completed the racing stages on May 2 2014.

The final stage of the Namaqua African Rally May 3 will see competitors visit the coast for a spectacular route that will be a total different challenge to them.

They will tackle the 85km racing section as soon as the flag drops at 9am and will receive the chequered flag after another 130km liaison section.

Due to the remoteness and inaccessibility of this last stage there are no spectator point. The public is however invited to join the riders, their pit crews and local supporters after the race for the ceremonial finish at the Vredendal Showgrounds in the afternoon.
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