Full throttle for the Roof of Africa

Grahamstown schoolboy Josh Thorburn is among only 100 riders selected to take part in a prestigious enduro off-road motorcycling event next month.

The Kingswood College pupil has been riding for several years, but only began racing competitively in 2013, with the Port Elizabeth-based Rover Club.

He started racing seriously this year, and it quickly became the focus of his life.

Joshua has had a successful racing year, finishing first in the Junior High School U21 class in all but one of the races he competed in. This resulted in his securing this EC class championship for the 2014 season – no mean feat for a 16-year-old in his first full season of racing.

The Kingswood College pupil managed to achieve this result, despite losing his race bike and spares during a runaway veld fire that destroyed five bikes, a workshop and garage at his home in Stones Hill three months ago.

Fortunately, his father, Dominic Thorburn, was able to raise money for a replacement bike. While Josh has bounced back, he is apprehensive about future prospects without sponsorship.

In December, Joshua will be competing in his first Roof of Africa extreme enduro in the Bronze class, having completed the tough qualifier earlier this year that saw only 100 riders selected.

This is a dream come true. Josh has been waiting until his 16th birthday to qualify, and he will become one of the youngest competitors in the Roof of Africa, provided he gets sponsorship.

The Roof of Africa is an international extreme enduro, considered one of the toughest races in the world. It takes place over three days in the mountains of Lesotho, from 3-6 December.

Josh has been preparing all year by mountain biking, playing squash and cross fitness training. Mental fitness and stamina are important and require dedication.

Josh recently completed the Sea to Ski 3-day extreme event that started on the Wild Coast and ended at Tiffindell, near Rhodes village.