Experience versus exuberance - which will prevail at the Kei Enduro, Round 3 of the SA Enduro series, on Saturday 11 May at Spring Valley outside East London in the Eastern Cape?
Seventeen year old Wade Young (Husaberg) and 23-year old Yamaha star Marc Torlage - the defending champion - have scored a win each so far, with Young leading the overall standings, but they had better not underestimate their more experienced opposition.
Former champion Louwrens Mahoney (KTM) is fourth overall, only eight points behind Young, and second behind another KTM rider, Nicholas Pienaar, in the E1 (Open Class) category. Torlage's team mate Kenny Gilbert is just behind Mahoney; any or all of could upset the status quo.
A mechanical gremlin took Husqvarna's Altus de Wet out of the season opener but he took revenge by winning E1 and finishing second behind Torlage on his own doorstep in the Montagu race, promoting himself into the top 10, and he will be out there to show the youngsters how it's done.
CONSISTENCY THE KEY
Consistent results have put schoolboy Blake Gutzeit (Sherco) in sixth overall ahead of Timmy Young (Yamaha), Scott Bouverie (KTM) - who finished on the podium at Round 1 - and another teenager, Brett Swanepoel (KTM). It's close, however, only four points separate De Wet from Young.
The 2013 season will reach the halfway point at the Kei and the riders will be under pressure as time is running out to score points towards the various class championships. Yamaha rider Michael Pentecost would like to forget the previous enduro where chain problems resulted in him scoring only a few points and dropping to eighth place in E2 while his team mate, Mark Garland, holds the same position in E1.
In E2 Pentecost will have to catch up to the consistent James Hodson and youngster Bronson Louw (each also on a Yamaha), behind Swanepoel and Bouverie with Young, Torlage and Gutzeit holding the top three positions in this class.
SENIOR CLASS
Dakar hero Riaan van Niekerk (KTM) will be competing for the first time this season and might upset the applecart, while local rider Mark Fox - competing for the first time this season- will add extra spice to the extremely competitive Senior Class.
Defending champion William 'Wild Bill' Gillit and Bruce May (each on a Yamaha) have taken a win each this season with Gillit leading May by just two points, while two podium positions have put Jody Engelbrecht (Husaberg) in third, with only five points separating the top three.
OLD MASTER
ReignIng Master Class champion Denzil Torlage (Yamaha) will aim for yet another victory to add to his long list of race wins. His second place in the 2013 season opener - he was beaten by the legendary Alfie Cox and there's no shame in that - is still the only time he has been off the top step of the podium since February 2009.
Torlage has a comfortable lead (14 points) ahead of Graydon Ilderton (KTM), but the multiple champion will be on full alert until the finish to ensure he scores points towards the championship. Ilderton leads Carl Rohrbeck (KTM) by a single point and the battle will be on between these riders - all older than 46.
The race will start at 7.30am and the 50km Spring Valley course will include a 13km special stage as well as a 2.5km motocross-style stage.