Global success for Big Five Vangani.

Motocross seasons are getting into full swing all over the world, and the Big Five Vangani Racing boys lined their KTM's up in both northern and southern hemispheres at the weekend.

The day delivered mixed fortunes for the team but, as the sun dropped over the horizon, one could sense that the team mascot was grinning from ear to ear as team members stood on podiums in Belgium and South Africa.

Ben Townley, Tanel Leok and Tyla Rattray formed part of a very strong starting line-up at an international event in Lommel, Belgium and, with the first GP in the sand of Valkenswaard fast approaching, joined many riders snatching the opportunity of getting some sand practice.

The casual observer at Lommel could be forgiven for thinking that they were witnessing a GP, with a start list in the 125cc class that included Tallon Vohland, Marc de Reuver, Antti Pyrhonen, Antti Kallonen, Kevin Strijbos, Tom Church, Julien Bill, and many others. A better perspective of the importance of the event can perhaps be gained from a quick glance at the entry list of the Open Class - as names like Joel Smets, Stefan Everts, Marnicq Bervoets, Frederic Bolley, Paul Cooper, Pit Beirer, et al surely rang a bell...

Whether it can be ascribed to the food that they eat, or the fact that they live together, is not certain, but the three Vangani musketeers once again set qualifying times within a whisker of each other, with Townley, Rattray and Leok claiming the ninth, tenth and eleventh gates respectively.

As the gate dropped for the first heat, Townley kept his record for good starts intact, with a clean holeshot. He soon attracted the attention of Tallon Vohland, and the pair swapped passes during the first few laps.

A crash then relegated the New Zealander to third position, and he was to crash again twice during the race, costing him more places. He finally got the bit between his teeth around half distance, however, and started making good some of the positions that he had lost. Towards the end of the race, he closed a huge gap that Strijbos had on him and, with a few laps to go, he passed the Belgian ace to secure fourth position behind de Reuver, Vohland, and Remy van Rees.

In the meantime, Leok and Rattray were having a harder time of it. Both had got caught in a huge first lap pile-up and, by the time they managed to extract themselves from the melee, the leaders had disappeared across the horizon. Leok got away first, and finally managed to drag a twelfth place finish. Rattray, meanwhile, struggled to regain his rhythm, and crashed a few more times on the way to a wholly disappointing 23rd place finish in a field of 51.

In the second heat, Townley again attached himself to the leading group, with his team-mates circulating just outside of the top ten.

Townley slotted into second position behind Strijbos, and was then gifted the race lead when the Belgian crashed out. The 'Taupo Tornado' extended himself to try and work a gap on Vohland and de Reuver, who were having a furious battle for second.

In the end, however, the experience of the wily GP contenders was just too much for Townley, and he had to let both de Reuver and Vohland by. This gave him a front row seat to witness the best race of the day, however, with battle honours finally going to Vohland. de Reuver claimed second overall, with Townley in a well-deserved third position. Rattray and Leok both improved on their first heat results, coming home in seventh and eighth places respectively.

When the points for the day were tallied up, Townley had secured his first overall podium finish for the year, with Leok claiming eighth position and Tyla Rattray twelfth.

Whilst this drama was unfolding on the stage in Europe, the youngest member of the Big Five Vangani Racing KTM equipe was quietly weaving his own magic a the first round of the South African motocross championships.

With Shaun Kruger still sidelined as a result of his recent foot injury, Richard van der Westhuizen had the onerous task of flying the team's flag high all on his own. He did so in fine style, though, winning both heats of the 125cc High School class comfortably.

In the first heat, he had to overcome a mediocre start, and work his way up from fifth position. Once he got into the lead, though, there was no stopping him, and he set off into the distance. In the second heat, the fifteen-year-old 'GP-rider-in-training' grabbed the holeshot, and never saw another bike in front of him until the chequered flag dropped.

The team can look back on a satisfying weekend. Two of the team riders have posted excellent results, and all riders have had good race practice in preparation for the GP's, which are just around the corner. The European-based riders will line up for the first round of the Dutch Championships in Gemert next weekend, and since this is the team's 'home' championship, the race faces are getting more serious by the day.