The Paddock superstar was in sublime form as he dethroned British ace Graham Jarvis (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) to secure his third Roof of Africa title.
Fellow KwaZulu-Natal rider Travis Teasdale (Brother Leader Tread KTM) was some 11 minutes behind in second place, with Jarvis having to settle for third place.
“Travis and I bonded during this race, he kept me honest,” Young remarked at the finish.
Teasdale commented, “I’m happy to be on the podium. It was never over till the end. Wade is one of the best riders in the world”.
Asked about the final technical climb before the finish, called ’Soldiers’, Teasdale retorted, “You got to be a soldier to get up there!”
Jarvis, the Hard Enduro Series winner for 2017, was involved in a race-long battle with Oslo Beach star Blake Gutzeit (Bibvest Yamaha Racing).
Jarvis eventually gapped Gutzeit up Soldiers. Approaching the final climb, Jarvis felt that he “should be able to get time on Blake there.”
Asked about the speed of Young and Teasdale, he candidly retorted, “They are faster than me in the fast stuff, that’s all there is to it”.
Gutzeit, the reigning superenduro junior world champion, finished in a fantastic fourth place.
“It’s an honour to ride with a rider of that calibre,” he said of his duel with the legendary Jarvis.
“He is the best in the world and gapped me on the last hill, where it mattered,” added Gutzeit, who felt the course favoured the speed of the South Africans.
Racing into fifth was Alfredo Gomez (KTM Factory Racing), who clearly found his mojo and scorched the course.
Scott Bouverie (Brother Leader Tread KTM) also flew the South African flag high, the Harding rider claiming a hard-earned seventh place.
Scott Bouverie. (Wayne Reiche/Red Bull Content Pool)
South Coast standouts Kyle Flanagan (Bibvest Yamaha Racing) and University student Chayse Orsmond (Rhino Trucks Alfie Cox Racing) – who rescued a fellow rider whilst preparation for the race – were also among the top performers.
Paddock rider Flanagan finished just outside the top 10 in 11th, while Shelly Beach rider Orsmond placed 13th.
Sandra Gomez, meanwhile, finished 30th on her Pepson Plastics Husqvarna.
Sandra Gomez and Kirsten Landman. (Tyrone Bradley/Red Bull Content Pool)
SILVER CLASS
Not too much changed on the Silver overnight leader board. Heinrich Zellhuber (Alfie Cox MOTUL KTM Racing) maintained his lead over his team mate Bradley Cox (Alfie Cox MOTUL KTM Racing), to win convincingly. Wilhelm Schonfeldt (BCR Arrow Yamaha) came home in third, and Czech rider Zdenek Cyprian finished in a highly-credible fourth place.
A finisher worth noting is James Hillier (Husqvarna), the Isle of Man Star, who, riding with a Lesotho local, and helping each other along the way, finished his first Roof of Africa.
BRONZE CLASS
Brett Geary (KTM) was a man on a mission. He put the hammer down to clinch the win. Clearly a good year for Brett’s, as Brett Boyes (KTM) brought it home in second. Grant Burton-Durham (Mechspec Racing), also KTM mounted, rode into third.
RESULTS:
GOLD:
1. Wade Young (Sherco Liqui Moly Racing) – 10Hrs 41,28
2. Travis Teasdale (Brother Leader Tread KTM) – 10Hrs 52,34
3. Graham Jarvis (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) – 11Hrs 04,06
SILVER:
1. Heinrich Zellhuber (Alfie Cox MOTUL KTM) – 11Hrs 28,02
2. Bradley Cox (Alfie Cox MOTUL KTM) – 11Hrs 49,36
3. Wilhelm Schonfeldt (BCR Arrow Yamaha) – 12Hrs 01,00
BRONZE:
1. Brett Geary (KTM) – 9Hrs 20,22
2. Brett Boyes (KTM) – 9Hrs 24,52
3. Grant Burton Durham (Mechspec Racing) – 9Hrs 32,18