200 riders tackle Roof of Africa

The 40th Roof of Africa off-road race, the Baboons Lesotho Sun Roof of Africa, kicked off in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho today and will end after almost 500 kilometres at Matsieng on Saturday, 1 December.

While most riders would happily settle for a finish, this race could rewrite the record books. Two records that will, however, stand for a few more years, are those of the veteran off-road racer, Alfie Cox, who has won this event nine times on a motorcycle and the other is the fact that the Austrian manufacturer, KTM, has been victorious 19 times in the past.

This year only motorcycles will take part with two competitors in particular standing a good chance of taking the winners' laurels again. Darryl Curtis (Mekatrade KTM) who won in 1996 and 2004, and Louwrens Mahoney (2005 and 2006 winner) could both claim hat-tricks this year. Their team-mates, Barry Kriel, who has won twice in SA this year and is wearing the 2007 national enduro crown, Kyle Poppleton and Kenneth Gilbert are all in with a chance to win or finish in the top ten.

Only five international riders have beaten the South Africans in Lesotho in the past - the American, Malcolm Smith (1975); Elio Andreaoletti from Italy (1978 and 1981); the Australian, Murray Watt (1985) and German rider, Jurgen Mayer in 1987 with local Lesotho biker, Patrick Andrews, winning on home soil in 1992.

This year 14 non-South Africans have entered for the full race distance. They include Lesotho racers Seamus McCarthy who finished 15th last year, and Richard Thorn (KTM); Angelo Bardone from Dubai (KTM); 10 German competitors and an Austrian. A number of the European riders including the Germans, Stefan Zwerenz (Zwerenz KTM) and Karsten Riemenschneider (Husaberg) have competed, like Curtis, in the gruelling Red Bull Romaniacs Hardenduro.

Various Roof of Africa veterans will tackle the 40th event and although they might not be aiming for a victory, they might upset the applecart. Errol Dalton (Husqvarna) finished fourth last year with a Beta; Alex Vowles (KTM) was ninth in 2006; Russell Campbell (Sadiba Kawasaki) is no stranger and will compete in the Senior Class while Graham MacLachlan has competed in 18 Lesotho events. Tom Classen (KTM) will use this race as a final practice for the 2008 Dakar Rally. He finished 18th overall in the Dakar earlier this year after 2002 Roof of Africa winner, Elmer Symons, died in a crash on the event.

The Roof of Africa got under way today with an exhilarating Round-the-Houses race where the two-wheelers got to strut their stuff in the streets of Maseru. They will then tackle a time trial that will determine the starting order for the first day of the main race on Friday. On Saturday the remaining competitors will take on the last of the almost 500 kilometre route and the winner will spray the champagne at the finish at Matsieng.