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Incredible Debut for Team ABSA Can-Am and the new DS 450. Since the razzmatazz launch and announcement of both the sponsorship of the Can-Am team by the Vehicle and Asset Finance Division of Absa, and the unveiling of the long awaited Can-Am DS 450, all have been holding there breath for the first showing in the National Quad Championships for 2008. Well that showing came along rather sooner than later, and, as very few performance “bits” have been available for this new machine, the race boffins that are involved with the factory team set about preparing for the races with virtually stock machines. First on the calendar was the Junior National to be run over the tough course set out in Mafeking. Well, what a start it was, with Frank De Greef of F&D Racing entrusted to run the juniors being Giacomo Antiga and Alicia De Greef, Giacomo started on the second row and, by end of lap one, held an impressive lead. The same went for Alicia and the “new’ machine led both the open and ladies classes for the first lap. News soon reached the pits that Alicia had had a bad crash and was out with a suspected broken collar bone – later confirmed to be very badly bruised – otherwise all was fine. Giacomo held onto the lead until a badly bent tie rod end forced a lengthy pit stop for the repair. Leaving the pit some six minutes behind the new leader and in fifth place, he sure had his work cut out to get back into the top places. At the finish, the very proud Team Absa Can-Am welcomed the DS 450 home in third place, some two minutes behind eventual winner Eden Thompson and a first podium to the new DS 450! Spirits were high as this news reached the senior team who were doing a shake down at Lekoa Lodge, getting as ready as they could in the time available for the grueling Quad Roof of Africa – surely, other than the overall title, the crown everyone wants to wear! The team, consisting of Hendrik Potgieter, Carl Wichman, Christo v/d Merwe and, in the ladies class, Amanda Eardley, all run out of the Speed Quad operation of Kobus Visser, and Leander Pienaar and Clayton du Plessis, run by the legendary Cornel de Villiers, now of CDV Outdoor Centre, Pretoria, arrived in the mountains of Lesotho with more than just a few jitters. Late night completion of a few set up details, had Team ABSA Can-Am up early for the 7am start at Roma, with Carl Wichman on the pole. Described as the most difficult course most had ridden at the Roof, the race soon showed the class and pace of Leander Pienaar, who along with Brian Baragwanath, set an incredible pace at the front of the field, giving them a lead of some 22 minutes over the rest of the field for the start of day two. Encouraging for Team ABSA Can-Am was the top ten showing of all the DS 450’, baring Carl who had hit a large rock and bent his rear sprocket badly and been delayed by almost an hour. Early morning of day two – final day and some 280 Kms of racing left saw Leander on pole with a 3,39 minute lead from second placed Brian, they in turn were some 25 minutes ahead of the rest! With a faster and less punishing course in places, day two they say, is now history, with Leander Pienaar taking the Team ABSA Can-Am DS 450, not only to its first finish, but an unbelievable debut win – WOW! sort off comes to mind! This incredible feat was soon followed by four more DS 450’s finishing in the top ten, thus giving Team ABSA Can-Am the overall victory and the Manufacturers Trophy. Second highest placed team rider was Hendrik Potgieter, next was Carl Wichman – who sure must get a mention for starting 17th and crossing the line in forth on the day, next came Clayton – his first ride back in enduro after a two year absence. Finishing 10th overall in the 450 class was Francois Jacobs, a privateer from Nelspruit on a stock standard Can-Am DS 450 – not even an X – what a ride for this young man! Amanda Eardley, the flying blonde on the big and powerful Ca-Am Renegade 800 X, finishing some two hours ahead of her nearest rival on both days – maybe the Open Class guys will need to watch there backs in the future? All in all, it can only be said that, for those who doubted the new machine from Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP), the critics should now be silenced once and for all – what an effort from all in the team and congrats once again to Leander, who becomes only the forth double winner of the Roof and joins the elite class of Johan Steenkamp, Jacques Struwig and Cornel de Villiers, each with two wins previously. Knowing the opposition will be hard at work, Team ABSA Can-Am will certainly put in the hours to beready for the next Junior and Senior Nationals in KZN and the Eastern Cape respectfully.
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