There’ll be much buzzing about on dirt bikes next weekend as Stanford hosts the first round in the exciting Junior National Off-road Championships at Boscheuwel Farm, just outside the village on the R326.

Now in its fourth year, this event caters for riders between the ages of eight and seventeen riding motorcycles or quads. Competitors, together with their families, travel from all the corners of South Africa to participate. The 2009 champions Julian Greef Hoffman, Joshua Louw and Calvin Wiltshire  will again be competing.

The action starts on Saturday 6 February at 9h00. The junior motorcycle and quad classes will race for two hours and refuel at the pits on the Boscheuwel Farm. The senior classes will start their race at 12h00 and will be racing for about three hours. The loop for the two-wheelers will be partly sandy with tight technical sections as well as some hard pack sections while the route for quad racers will include rocky sections as well as technical parts in a forest and two river crossings.

Spectators are most welcome to be part of the action and although they can support their local heroes, motor-sport enthusiasts will be able to get close to the racing and view race bikes and quads prepared by some of South Africa’s well-known names including the former Dakar quad winner, Cornel de Villiers.

With the involvement of a series sponsor this year, the organisers - Western Cape Junior Off-road Club (WCJOC) - are hoping that junior off-road racing will be taken to a new level.

Take a drive out to the venue and give these talented youngsters your support! Stanford welcomes you and wishes you a wonderful weekend of competition and camaraderie.