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Multiple championship-winning Pepson Plastics Factory Kawasaki Racing is ready for a fresh season of Cross Country Racing in South Africa. Kawasaki has assembled a strong team of riders and machinery across the various classes.
The biggest for 2023 is last year's South African National High School champion Wian Wentzel stepping up to the 250cc OR3 class. A fast and consistent rider, Wentzel is switching to Kawasaki for this year's season aboard a Pepson Plastics Factory KX 250 X in a move that will have the class regulars looking over their shoulders.
He joins fellow SA champion, Seniors man Kenny Gilbert, who continues for a second season aboard a Kawasaki KX 450 X alongside circuit car race star Lee Thompson on a KX 250 X. The senior team is rounded off by a man better known for his car racing exploits, team boss Iain Pepper, who will be racing in the Masters' class.
Jaycee Nienaber, who made steady progress through the 2023 season, will continue in the premier class OR1 aboard a Kawasaki KX 450 X alongside his 2022 teammate Wade Den. They will be joined by Kawasaki OR3 graduate Taki Bogiages, who ended fourth in that championship in 2022 and is looking forward to stepping up to the big class.
Pepson Plastics Kawasaki Factory Racing will continue in the Junior classes, where Jake Pretorius joins Nathan Sinclair in 85cc Junior. Also racing in 85cc Juniors are brothers Clayton and Dylan Human, while the team will support Jayden Boyce in the GXCC races.
"Pepson Plastics Factory Kawasaki Racing is looking forward to another strong season of Cross Country racing with a powerful line-up of riders and bikes," says team principal Iain Pepper.
"Although we aim to win and will not pull any punches, winning is not everything for us. We also thrive on our strong family orientation and having fun. We also look forward to continuing that ethos into our third season as Pepson Plastics Factory Kawasaki Racing."
