Wade Young was the best rider after three soul-draining days of racing at the 50th edition of the Motul Roof of Africa in Maseru, Lesoth in Africa, and the Sherco factory star emerged with the win.
The South African beat fellow hard enduro racers Travis Teasedale and Graham Jarvis to claim a career milestone third career Roof of Africa victory. Jarvis, who has won the event five times, was also shooting for his third Roof of Africa win in a row after having won the race back to back in 2015 and 2016.
“To get back on the top of the Hard Enduro podium and do it at home in the 50th edition of the Roof of Africa is very special,” Young said after fending off Travis Teasedale for the overall win. “It’s been a tough three days of hard racing. Travis kept me honest all week. I managed to break him on one of the climbs and kept it together until the end.”
Last Day at the MOTUL Roof of Africa 2017 from ZA Bikers on Vimeo.
Riders had to contend with the the challenge of the rocky, isolated mountain routes and radically changing weather conditions that included blisteringly hot sunshine one day, and unseasonably heavy snowfall the next.
After the traditional “Round the Houses” race and 40-kilometer time trial kicked off the three-day event, Young set the tone on the first full day of racing, day two, by winning and opening a 0ne-minute cushion on fellow South African Teasedale and Jarvis of Great Britain. Jarvis, who started the third day about 10 minutes off of Young, had hoped that the terrain would be more technical, but trails speeds were high, which favored Young and Teasedale. While Jarvis finished third, he still had a reason to smile as the Roof of Africa marked the final stop of the Red Bull Hard Enduro Series in which Jarvis handily claimed amother title.
“The 50th Roof of Africa’s been a great event,” Jarvis said. “It wasn’t to be for me and a fifth win, but I’m still pleased with a podium result. Things weren’t quite as tough I’d hoped they’d be, but it’s still been great to end the year with a strong result. I’m happy enough with the way the first day went–I knew the riding would be fast, it always is on day one. Things were pretty fast throughout day two, and similar again on the third and last day. I didn’t do too much wrong really on either day, it’s just Wade and Travis were faster. Ten minutes behind with one day to go wasn’t ideal, but like I said I found it hard to go fast where the grass was long and there was no clear track to follow. It’s been a long, tough season, but it’s been a good one. It’s always nice to be on the podium, and with consistent wins this year, ending 2017 as the overall champion is the icing on the cake.”
Sandra Gomez also entered the record books by bringing her Husqvarna home in 30th place to become the highest ever female finisher in the history of the race.
2017 Roof of Africa
Maseru, Lesotho, Africa
Results, November 15-18, 2017
Overall
1. Wade Young (Sherco) 10:41:28
2. Travis Teasdale (KTM) 10:52:34
3. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 11:04:06
4. Blake Gutzeit (Yamaha) 11:06:36
5. Alfredo Gomez (KTM) 11:13:15
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