Who is Richard van der Westhuizen?
Who is Richard van der Westhuizen? A question that most people may not be able to answer. However, Richard will soon ride the Motocross of Nations for South Africa. The umpteenth noble unknown or someone who knows how to use the goose lever? We looked into it.
Richard van der Westhuizen got the motocross bug at the age of 5, although it wasn't until he was 14.de honor that Richard managed to win his very first South African title. From then on, motocross started to play an increasingly important role in his life, and he even started competing in a number of races in Europe. In 2002 he managed to win another title and also won the High School National 125cc championship, after which he finally decided to make the switch to Europe in 2003. Richard eventually ended up in Scotland, where his best result was a 5de place during a round for the British Championship. Unfortunately for him, he broke his wrist twice shortly afterwards, forcing him to return home. For a moment, his cross career, which had looked promising until then, seemed to be over.
Until Richard managed to return through the big gate in 2005 by winning the South African title in the 19 class at the age of only 450. He also managed to win the title in 2006, and in 2008 and 2009 he managed to win the title in both the MX1 and MX2 classes. From then on, Richard managed to win no fewer than 3 MX1 and 1 MX2 titles, after which he seemed to end his career in 2016 with no fewer than 12 South African titles to his name.
However, his retirement was short-lived, as Richard started a new challenge in 2015: Enduro. After mainly undergoing a year of adjustment to the enduro format, Richard still managed to get to a good 8th place overall in the E1 championship.
Since 2016, Richard has been competing for the Factory ABE Midas Husqvarna Team in both Enduro and Motocross, and this year he managed to win a place within team South Africa for the MXON again.
Honors list
JUNIOR MOTOCROSS
1997: – 2nd in 80cc Junior Class
1998:- 2nd in 80cc Junior Class
SENIOR MOTOCROSS
1999:
– 8th in 80cc Pro Minicross Class
– 2nd African Motocross Union (AMU) Championship in Zimbabwe and winning team
– Zimbabwe Summer Series Champion
2000:
– 80cc South African National Motocross Champion Pro Minicross Class
– Tie 1st AMU Championship Held in Morocco
– 3rd Overall Round 5 of ADAC Junior Europe Championship, Buelertann, Germany
2001:
– Awarded South African Motorsport Colours – Pro Minicross Class
– 5th High School 125cc Class (missed first 2 rounds, due to underage for the class)
– 8th AMU 125cc Championship
2002:
– 125cc South African National Motocross Champion High School Class
– 1st Reserve in Bulgarian World Motocross Grand Pix
– 13th overall in fourth round of Dutch Nationals in Lichtenvoorde (55 senior riders)
– 21st and 16th for 20th Overall in FIM World Junior Motocross Championship held in Moggers, Austria
2003:
– Awarded South African Motocross Colours: 125cc High School Class
– Awarded South African National Sporting Colours (Protea Colours)
– 21st and 5th for 7th Overall in fourth round of British National Championships
2004:
– Awarded South African National Sporting Colours (Protea Colours) for the second time
– 8th 125cc Seniors Class Championship
– 2nd in College Boy Class in Pro-Amateur Event, Broome Tioga, USA
– 8th in 125 Pro Class in Pro-Amateur Event, Broome Tioga, USA
– Missed qualifying in 6th Round of Pro United State Chevy Trucks National by 2 places
– DNF and 20th in South African World Motocross Grand Prix Held in Sun City
2005:
-South African National Motocross Champion Open Seniors Class
-Open Class Free State Regional Class Champion
-18th and 18th for 19th Overall MX1 class in South African World Motocross Grand Prix held in Sun City
-1st,1st,1st in Respective Rounds of Dubai Motocross Championship held in Various Parts of Dubai
-Taught many riding schools while in Dubai
2006:
-Open Seniors SA National Champion
-Awarded South African Motocross Colours: Open Seniors Class
-Awarded Free State Regional Championship Colours
-17th in second heat of Sun City World MX Championship round in South Africa
2007:
– Awarded South African Motocross Colours: Open Seniors Class
-Gauteng Northern Regions Champion
-2nd in South African National Championship In Open Seniors Class
2008:
-MX1 SA National MX champion
-MX2 SA National MX Champion
-2nd MX1 Northern Regions Regional Championship
-MX2 Northern Regions Regional Champion
-17 and 17th for 18th Nelspsruit round of World Motocross Championship
– Awarded South African Motocross Colours: MX1 Class
– Awarded South African Motocross Colours: MX2 Class
2009:
-MX1 SA National MX champion
-MX2 SA National MX Champion
-MX1 Northern Regions Regional Champion
-MX2 Northern Regions Regional Champion
– Awarded South African Motocross Colours: MX1 Class
– Awarded South African Motocross Colours: MX2 Class
2010:
-MX1 2nd SA National MX championship
-MX2 2nd SA National MX Championship
-MX1 Northern Regions Regional Champion
-MX2 2nd Northern Regions Regional Championship
-MX1 2nd AMU All African Championship
2011:
-MX1 SA National MX Champion
-MX2 2nd SA National MX Championship
-Gold finisher at the Roof of Africa Extreme Enduro
2012:
-MX1 SA National MX Champion
-MX2 4th IN National MX Championship
-MX1 Zimbabwe Summer Series Champion
-MX2 Zimbabwe Summer Series Champion
-Represented SA at the Motocross of Nations held in Lommel, Belgium in the MX1 Class
2013:
-MX1 SA National MX Champion
-MX1 SA National MX Champion
-MX1 and MX2 North South Challenge Winner
-MX1 and MX2 Monster Invitational Winner
2015:
-E1 8th Place National Enduro Class
-Best Finish 6th at Winterburg National Enduro
Text: Dieter Jans
Photo: Eric Palmer
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