Africa-Press – Lesotho. Motorbike riders from all around the world have arrived in Lesotho in their numbers for this year’s annual Motul Roof of Africa which gets underway today and climaxes this weekend in Ha Raboletsi.
The off-road race is dubbed the ‘Mother of Hard Enduro’ due to its difficult terrain and each year it attracts riders from across the globe with many purely coming to test themselves.
Indeed, many riders have confessed it is not all about winning the Roof of Africa but that they take pride in finishing the punishing race. Documentation of riders began on Wednesday and today the rubber hits the road with the ‘Round the Houses’ stage which will be hosted at Maseru Mall this year.
Speaking on behalf of the Lesotho Off-Road Association (LORA), Meene Putsoa also confirmed that stunt motorcycles will be back this year to entertain the crowd.
The ‘Round the Houses’ stage is held to determine the racers’ opening time and the order in which the riders will leave on Friday — the first day of the main race.
Amongst the contestants will be South Africa’s Wade Young who is back in the mix to defend the title he won last year. Speaking on Wednesday, Putsoa said: “We are expecting stunt motorcycles to arrive in the country starting from today.
They will start at Maseru Mall with stunts tomorrow then a time trial will follow and immediately after stunts the riders will leave to Raboletsi. ”
Putsoa continued: “This year the starting point for the main off-road racing is at Ha Raboletsi.
Contestants will then pass through Ha Potiane, Sekiring, Thaba Putsoa and then back to Ha Raboletsi (on the final day). ”
Usually the ‘Round the Houses’ stage is held at Maseru Club but this year Putsoa said Maseru Mall offered to host the crowd pulling event.
“We feel it was great to move as the racing at Maseru Club was causing a lot of traffic in town and closing down roads for the whole day,” Putsoa said.
