7th May 2023 saw the third and final round of the KZN Gravity Provincial Downhill MTB Series hosted by GibaLand in Pinetown, South Africa. The event doubled to host the Gauteng series finale.
With cool temperatures on race day, riders began to gather bright and early to compete on the steep, rutted track that was known for its dry and loose corners that left no room for error!
Riders shuttled up to the start gate for practice runs, and the energy and excitement in the air was palpable! One by one, the riders launched themselves down the trail, each one trying to perfect their lines and shave precious seconds off their time before attacking the two race runs.
As the day went on, crowds gathered towards the bottom of the trail, cheering on the riders as they came hurtling down the final stretch towards one of the tracks main features – Monster Jump. The air was filled with the sound of bells, horns, and cheering as the competitors put on a show for the spectators.
When the dust had finally settled and the last rider had made it safely down the hill, it was a Gauteng rider Rory Kirk who managed to put together a flawless run and emerge victorious with a healthy 6-second lead in the Overall Men’s race.
1st RORY KIRK 2:01.69
2nd ALEX MARTIN DE BRUIN 2:07.12
3rd CAIDE GOVEIA 2:09.68
4th BRANDON WAUGH 2:09.85
5th LIAM READ 2:10.06
In the Womens Race, KZN rider Sabine Thies was able to maintain an impressive 4-second lead despite a crash in her second run.
1st SABINE THIES 2:28.39
2nd AMBER COLE 2:32.92
3rd MELODY FRENCH 2:40.80
4th TYLA-MAY SMALE 2:47.86
5th JADE DAVIES 2:53.77
As any mountain biking event should, it ended with a sense of camaraderie and satisfaction in the air. Race stories echoed through the crowded restaurant – everyone had pushed themselves to their limits, and even those who didn’t make it to the podium could be proud of their efforts. A huge thank you to the riders, spectators and sponsors for pulling off an incredible event!
FULL RACE RESULTS: https://kzngravity.co.za/race-results/downhill-results/2023/2023-kzn-dh-3/
