Richest Enduro motorcycle race in Southern Africa!
Monday, 16 November 2009 13:47 | 
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Mud, heat and intense competition is what the competitors to the 2009 Baboons Lesotho Sun Roof of Africa will have to overcome during the three day event from the 26th to the 28th of this month. According to the long term weather forecast rain is expected for the two days prior to the event which should leave most tracks quite muddy and keep dust to a minimum. However, for the Friday and Saturday clear skies with maximum temperatures of 32 and 33 degree Celsius are forecast by AccuWeather.
On Wednesday (11 November 2009) last year’s winner, Chris Birch from New Zealand wrote on his website: “I've just finished packing jamming all my gear into my spanky new Fox gear bag and am ready for the 4am start tomorrow to fly out for the roof. This year I will be racing under the KTM South Africa flag on the same 300EXC that I used in Romaniacs. The bike has had a good going over at the factory and should be ready to go. The level of competition has really stepped up this year with lots more international riders taking on "the mother of hard enduro." The locals seem to be pretty fired up too! I'm not the only Kiwi this time either as KiwiRider magazine's Ollie Sharp is taking on his first proper enduro. He has really given himself a big challenge as he is pretty much a motocross rider and has little experience in the technical stuff. He's pretty fit though so should be on for a finish. Also coming over is Rory Meed, Claud and Natasha Sabatier and most importantly my wife Monica! We should have a good time I recon... “
He continued saying: ”I have finally found a good personal trainer that actually understands the level of fitness needed for enduros and he has been whipping my arse into shape. It’s been hard work but hopefully it will pay off at the Roof and into next year. It’s been really good to have someone push me past my limits, thanks Aaron! I don’t expect to win by 45min like last year but I don’t see any reason why I can’t make it two in a row this year!”
All the reason for Birchy to get on his bike and ride as the Roof has the biggest prize-money of all motorcycle off-road and enduro races in Southern Africa at a total of R100 000.00 made possible by Alliance, Plascon, LEO Ineternet Services, Wesbank, Vodacom Lesotho and Avis. Being the biggest single sporting event in Lesotho, the local companies have come out in great support of the race.
Knowing what they are racing for, competitors, as Chris Birch so appropriately phrased it, “are pretty fired up”, and that is not just the locals, to challenge each other for a piece of that reward as they do not often see prize-moneys at races.
After Round-the-Houses in Maseru’s city centre on Thursday (26 November 2009) morning, the Time-Trial has a refuel point after 34.1km out at Ha Ratau and covers a total distance of 69.7km finishing at the Roma Trading Post next to the A5 main road about 30km outside of Maseru. This is a great opportunity to shake off the nerves and settle down in the Lesotho dirt.
On Friday morning the first competitor starts at 06:00 just around the corner from Roma at what has become known to Off Roaders as Roma Bridge. The route goes in an Eastern direction, crosses the A3-MTN Road before it passes through Belekomo Pass and returns to the DSP (Desiganted Service Point) at Setibeng, a total distance of 56.1km.
The route leads south and then takes the Likolobeng Loop prior to a refuel at Makhaleng Store; continuing through the St Benedict Loop and Jock Strap Pass across the A5 main road and Baboons pass in a westerly direction to the DSP at Ramabanta, a distance of 114.6km. This is where those old boys who not only fear the Roof because it is so much more difficult to keep up the fitness levels, would be very glad to realise they miss both Jockstrap and Baboons Pass, but also all the more reason for the Seniors, Masters and Silver Class riders to enter and enjoy this event, because they share the pleasure and excitement. They take a breather sometimes because in most cases they only want to finish and do not have to race flat-out all the time. They are the fortunate riders who appreciate the beauty Lesotho has to offer whilst doing what they love so much – dirt riding on two wheels. Doing the event with your buddies and being able to ride across the finish line and be satisfied that you have conquered another day is all the reward these old-boys need, in many cases something boys half their age will never do.
The trip home from the DSP leads along the contours of the Maboloi River until it turns West at Ha Makafana, crosses over the mountain at about 2600 meters above sea-level before dropping down to cross the A5 at the 2-Bridges, before the final stretch home past Pops, Ha Patrick, Music Box and Ministers HSB, running parallel to the south of the A5 main road. The day’s stage amounts to 223km and 178.5km for the 75% competitors.
Saturday morning sees another 06:00 start, ensuring enough light for competitors to see and also making the daylight as long as possible for those who need 12 hours in the saddle to finish before time-bar. The route leads past Roma Bridge, and then turns south before crossing Forest Saddle in a South East direction. At Pops competitors turn right, onto the previous afternoon’s section, but in the opposite direction to the 2-Bridges crossing, and then right into the south section to the refuel at Ha Raboletse. One of the gurus, writing in a discussion forums, suggested that: “on Saturday the mean 13km section, forming part of the stage between the start and Ha Raboletse may welll determine this year’s winner”.
After the refuel the route cuts across the mountain in an eastern direction, then loops back west across the mountain and back to the A5 main road in a quick mountain loop before crossing the A5 in the pass on the way to the DSP at Ramabanta, a total distance of 65.8km.
From Ramabanta it is time for the big southern loop first to the refuel at Semonkong then back over the Mutsoa Range past Thusong and into Ramabanta, a distance of 78.5km. Here the Seniors, Masters and Silver riders take the easier route, doing Baboons Pass in an eastern direction joining the main route just before Semonkong. Once back in Ramabanta it is time to repeat the final 52.3km from Friday and the race is all over. A total distance of 196.6km completed for the day.
The refuels at Ha Ratau, Makhaleng Store, Ha Fochane, Thusong and Ha Raboletse will not be easily accessible by service crews. Therefore these will have fuel-trucks going to them.
THE ROOF FOR A ROOF - Mike Morris started a charity that is now supported by the Roof
Mike writes: “After spending hours and hours riding around the villages and mountains of Lesotho I have gotten to see how many little children are running around, lots of them with very little clothing, no shoes no toys and many of them no homes. I was filling my bike up at the trading post in Roma a few months ago and this little boy came out of nowhere and sat on my lap and hugged me, he didn’t ask for anything or want anything, he just sat holding me, it was then that I felt I needed to give something back to Lesotho, the place that has given me and so many other bikers such great memories. I decided that this year I will dedicate my Roof of Africa race to the children of Lesotho and try and raise as much money as I can for them.”
Like the other big events in the world, such as the Dakar, the Roof also wants to give back to those in need that we see along the route.
Any donations can be made to: THE ROOF FOR A ROOF
Bank: Absa
Account number: 9227675340
Bank code: 632005
Reference: YOUR NAME
On Wednesday (11 November 2009) last year’s winner, Chris Birch from New Zealand wrote on his website: “I've just finished packing jamming all my gear into my spanky new Fox gear bag and am ready for the 4am start tomorrow to fly out for the roof. This year I will be racing under the KTM South Africa flag on the same 300EXC that I used in Romaniacs. The bike has had a good going over at the factory and should be ready to go. The level of competition has really stepped up this year with lots more international riders taking on "the mother of hard enduro." The locals seem to be pretty fired up too! I'm not the only Kiwi this time either as KiwiRider magazine's Ollie Sharp is taking on his first proper enduro. He has really given himself a big challenge as he is pretty much a motocross rider and has little experience in the technical stuff. He's pretty fit though so should be on for a finish. Also coming over is Rory Meed, Claud and Natasha Sabatier and most importantly my wife Monica! We should have a good time I recon... “
He continued saying: ”I have finally found a good personal trainer that actually understands the level of fitness needed for enduros and he has been whipping my arse into shape. It’s been hard work but hopefully it will pay off at the Roof and into next year. It’s been really good to have someone push me past my limits, thanks Aaron! I don’t expect to win by 45min like last year but I don’t see any reason why I can’t make it two in a row this year!”
All the reason for Birchy to get on his bike and ride as the Roof has the biggest prize-money of all motorcycle off-road and enduro races in Southern Africa at a total of R100 000.00 made possible by Alliance, Plascon, LEO Ineternet Services, Wesbank, Vodacom Lesotho and Avis. Being the biggest single sporting event in Lesotho, the local companies have come out in great support of the race.
Knowing what they are racing for, competitors, as Chris Birch so appropriately phrased it, “are pretty fired up”, and that is not just the locals, to challenge each other for a piece of that reward as they do not often see prize-moneys at races.
After Round-the-Houses in Maseru’s city centre on Thursday (26 November 2009) morning, the Time-Trial has a refuel point after 34.1km out at Ha Ratau and covers a total distance of 69.7km finishing at the Roma Trading Post next to the A5 main road about 30km outside of Maseru. This is a great opportunity to shake off the nerves and settle down in the Lesotho dirt.
On Friday morning the first competitor starts at 06:00 just around the corner from Roma at what has become known to Off Roaders as Roma Bridge. The route goes in an Eastern direction, crosses the A3-MTN Road before it passes through Belekomo Pass and returns to the DSP (Desiganted Service Point) at Setibeng, a total distance of 56.1km.
The route leads south and then takes the Likolobeng Loop prior to a refuel at Makhaleng Store; continuing through the St Benedict Loop and Jock Strap Pass across the A5 main road and Baboons pass in a westerly direction to the DSP at Ramabanta, a distance of 114.6km. This is where those old boys who not only fear the Roof because it is so much more difficult to keep up the fitness levels, would be very glad to realise they miss both Jockstrap and Baboons Pass, but also all the more reason for the Seniors, Masters and Silver Class riders to enter and enjoy this event, because they share the pleasure and excitement. They take a breather sometimes because in most cases they only want to finish and do not have to race flat-out all the time. They are the fortunate riders who appreciate the beauty Lesotho has to offer whilst doing what they love so much – dirt riding on two wheels. Doing the event with your buddies and being able to ride across the finish line and be satisfied that you have conquered another day is all the reward these old-boys need, in many cases something boys half their age will never do.
The trip home from the DSP leads along the contours of the Maboloi River until it turns West at Ha Makafana, crosses over the mountain at about 2600 meters above sea-level before dropping down to cross the A5 at the 2-Bridges, before the final stretch home past Pops, Ha Patrick, Music Box and Ministers HSB, running parallel to the south of the A5 main road. The day’s stage amounts to 223km and 178.5km for the 75% competitors.
Saturday morning sees another 06:00 start, ensuring enough light for competitors to see and also making the daylight as long as possible for those who need 12 hours in the saddle to finish before time-bar. The route leads past Roma Bridge, and then turns south before crossing Forest Saddle in a South East direction. At Pops competitors turn right, onto the previous afternoon’s section, but in the opposite direction to the 2-Bridges crossing, and then right into the south section to the refuel at Ha Raboletse. One of the gurus, writing in a discussion forums, suggested that: “on Saturday the mean 13km section, forming part of the stage between the start and Ha Raboletse may welll determine this year’s winner”.
After the refuel the route cuts across the mountain in an eastern direction, then loops back west across the mountain and back to the A5 main road in a quick mountain loop before crossing the A5 in the pass on the way to the DSP at Ramabanta, a total distance of 65.8km.
From Ramabanta it is time for the big southern loop first to the refuel at Semonkong then back over the Mutsoa Range past Thusong and into Ramabanta, a distance of 78.5km. Here the Seniors, Masters and Silver riders take the easier route, doing Baboons Pass in an eastern direction joining the main route just before Semonkong. Once back in Ramabanta it is time to repeat the final 52.3km from Friday and the race is all over. A total distance of 196.6km completed for the day.
The refuels at Ha Ratau, Makhaleng Store, Ha Fochane, Thusong and Ha Raboletse will not be easily accessible by service crews. Therefore these will have fuel-trucks going to them.
THE ROOF FOR A ROOF - Mike Morris started a charity that is now supported by the Roof
Mike writes: “After spending hours and hours riding around the villages and mountains of Lesotho I have gotten to see how many little children are running around, lots of them with very little clothing, no shoes no toys and many of them no homes. I was filling my bike up at the trading post in Roma a few months ago and this little boy came out of nowhere and sat on my lap and hugged me, he didn’t ask for anything or want anything, he just sat holding me, it was then that I felt I needed to give something back to Lesotho, the place that has given me and so many other bikers such great memories. I decided that this year I will dedicate my Roof of Africa race to the children of Lesotho and try and raise as much money as I can for them.”
Like the other big events in the world, such as the Dakar, the Roof also wants to give back to those in need that we see along the route.
Any donations can be made to: THE ROOF FOR A ROOF
Bank: Absa
Account number: 9227675340
Bank code: 632005
Reference: YOUR NAME
Special thanks to KTM. All routes are marked with KTM Bikes.
