Alfie Cox, racing for the Natro Freight Nashua KTM Team reveled in the high-speed dusty conditions of the Tusk Mmabatho 500, which was held in the North West province on Friday and Saturday last week (9 and 10 August 2002). –
– The 38-year-old Dakar veteran again showed why he is the Master of Off Road Motorcycling and the man everyone chases. Racing on a 380cc KTM Cox was the first motorcycle off the line in a race exclusively for motorcycles and quads, after having been quickest in the time-trial on Friday. –
– “I missed the Hluhluwe race due to an old knee injury which kept bothering me and in the end saw me in the operating theatre and my entire training program down the shute. After the intial recovery I started training hard and it seems as if the break paid off because I rode over the past two weekends building up to the Mmabatho race,” remarked Cox when confronted with his performance this season. –
– “I had an excellent race today, I was in the lead and enjoying every moment until the route markers disappeared towards the end of the first loop. I wrong slotted and Brian Capper of the Red Bull KTM SA Racing Team immediately grabbed the opportunity to push his 520cc KTM ahead of me. Then I ate dust and suffered with visibility while Clayton Enslin on a 250cc of the KTM SA Racing chased me all the way,” commented Cox on the first loop of the race. –
– “After the halfway refuel I went out behind Brian and about 70km from the finish we came to a spot on the route which was different to the first loop, Brian immediately took the new track. Brush and bushes covered the previous tracks and the markers pointed to at the new track. I immediately made a decision to continue on the earlier route, because no organizers were present to confirm the change and no emergency tape was used to indicate a detour. Only experience helped me to win this race, otherwise it would have belonged to Brian. Clayton chased hard and finished in a strong second,” said a jubilant Cox about his KTM rivals. –
– He continued by saying: “I am happy with my fitness and concentration levels and look forward to the rest of the season. Although the break frustrated me endlessly, I believe it paid off and I now start focusing on my international season and the build-up to Dakar 2003.” –
– Cox will compete in a 5000km race in Australian desert from 24 August to 1 September on a 660cc KTM as part of his training for the Dakar race.
