September 24 2012 at 08:57am
By Dave Abrahams
Justin Sangster has just won his first South African title - at only nine years old.
And the Cape Town youngster clinched the Pro Senior, 50cc South African Motocross championship in the best way possible, with a convincing win in the first heat at the weekend's national meeting at the Rover raceway in Port Elizabeth.
Sangster, who started racing three years ago at six years old, dominated his class throughout the season. He finished on the podium at every race this year, with seven wins, three seconds and two thirds in 12 races.
The KTM 50 rider holds the lap record for his class at four of the six circuits at which he competed.
He also finished fifth in the 65cc class, competing against riders several years older and more experienced.
Sangster has been coached by nine times Western Province Motocross champion Dean Hoffman since he began riding, with the emphasis on riding technique, speed, starts and mental and physical fitness.
In July this year Hoffmann took Sangster to France and Holland, where he competed in the 65cc class against some of the top riders in Europe, achieving several top 10 finishes.
But for now, with the SA championship done and dusted he just wants to get the school year over and done - so that he can get out there and ride all day!
