No less than 4 podiums came home for this young but energetic team. From the word go they set out to achieve success.

Competition were strong even among teammates with ‘Dirkie Baard, Phillippie and Michael Behnke’ part of Honda Windhoek’s team and competing in the fiercely competitive pro 450 class we expected and hoped from a unmatched victory for these athletes.

Dirkie on a TRX 450 ER was the first Honda off the starting gate with Phillippie and Michael following all on Honda TRX 450 ER’S.

Disaster struck when at the first mechanical point, a nut came off the swing arm of Michael’s bike and he lost a valuable fifteen minutes. At this time the two Baard brothers were in a fight of their own for the first day’s podium with Dirkie managing to steal away victory at the last minute.

Michael managed to claw his way back from 25th place to a respectable 4th place knowing that the second day will be extremely challenging.

Phillip van der Merwe competed in senior class on a TRX 700. Misfortune also struck the first day with a big fall and having to deal with some bruised ego and skin, he lost valuable time by not getting his rhythm back.

Henner Rusch and Heiko Hennes took on the best that Southern Africa had to offer with their stock CRF 450 X’s. From the word go competition were fierce between us and the well known Shimwells Yamaha team. Having to deal with factory spec bikes we pulled out all stops and we manage to keep up and end the first day with Henner in second and Heiko in a good 5th place.

The second day started with only forty three competitors left standing and willing to take on the grueling Botswana desert. The first 200 km stage was made up of sand and seriously high speed sections in excess of 100 km/h and then it was back to the first day’s technical stages.

It was Dirkie off first having to keep up the pase with his younger brother breathing in his neck with Michael having to push very hard to gain position.

A coil wire stopped Dirkie in his tracks for a few minutes and Phillippie managed to take first position and winning the overall event with Dirkie second. With Michael to battle from behind through dust and rocks he attack every competitor solidly coming in at fourth place, only two minutes behind the Yamaha of pro rider, Vincent Loubser. A real showing of perseverance.

Phillip van der Merwe managed a steady pace through out the second day crawling back from day one’s disaster; battling with fatigue he managed a respectable third position behind fellow Namibian, Mark Johnson in the senior’s class.

Henner and Heiko having trouble to find rhythm in the firsts stages, still manage to keep up with Swiwells Yamaha. Henner were able to up his pace finishing 4th for the second day giving him 3rd overall with Heiko in a very good 5th position.

This was a real showing of talent and Honda Reliability at this premier off-road event in Africa and a first for this Honda Windhoek team by bringing home four podiums.

A big thanks to Honda Windhoek, Pupkewitz GWM, Baard Transport, M2 racing, Fox Namibia, Honda South Africa and Snyman Transport for believing in us as a team.

Come see us in action the 1st of August in Aranos .This is an AMU event and we will battle it out with the best of Namibia, SA, Botswana and Zambia.

Keep it RED!