South African team coach Jonathan Chislett is optimist that the local riders who will compete at the event will fly South Africa's flag high, despite the loss to injury of superstar Sfiso Nhlapo. When all the action gets underway at Alexander Park in Pietermaritzburg on 8 and 9 April the bulk of the host nation’s hopes will rest on the shoulders of talented
Gavin Lubbe, whom Chislett expects will almost certainly be aiming to at least qualify for the final, with the likes of
Kane Herbert, Teagan O’Keeffe and youngster
Kyle Dodd carrying a portion of the weight as well.
“The fact that Skizo (Nhlapo) won’t be there is obviously a great pity but this hasn’t affected the way the rest of the guys have been preparing in anyway. They’ve all been working really hard since mid-December to be ready for the nationals which are just around the corner and then the Supercross shortly after that so they’ll definitely be one hundred percent ready,” said
Chislett.
“Gavin Lubbe’s been training hard in the States and has had Kyle