{"id":226799,"date":"2020-01-06T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-06T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/226799\/10th-national-title-for-fitz-gerald\/"},"modified":"2020-01-05T19:35:55","modified_gmt":"2020-01-05T17:35:55","slug":"10th-national-title-for-fitz-gerald","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/sports-news\/2020\/01\/06\/10th-national-title-for-fitz-gerald\/","title":{"rendered":"Tenth national title for Fitz-Gerald"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kerim Fitz-Gerald from the Red Bull KTM team was crowned MX2 champion when the National Motocross season wrapped up at Terra Topia recently.<\/p>\n

For Fitz-Gerald, a motocross legend, it was also a race where he held off some of South Africa\u2019s finest rising talent to snatch up the 10th national title of his career.<\/p>

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The past few seasons have been quiet for Fitz-Gerald by his own high standards with his last national title dating back to 2016.<\/p>\n

If there was any rider capable of surprising his rivals with an epic comeback, however, it was always going to be the multiple national champion.<\/p>

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Kerim Fitz-Gerald from the Red Bull KTM at the 2019 MX Nationals taking his 10th title. Photo: Marike Pearton for www.zcmc.co.za<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cJust like that, the 2019 season has come and gone.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a fun year racing and being a new dad.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you to my team for all the effort and making sure I had everything I need and more.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll that\u2019s left to say now is \u2013 2020, we\u2019re coming,\u201d said Fitz-Gerald.<\/p>\n

The final round of the series may not have panned out like teammate Joshua Mlimi had hoped for, but the rider will be pleased with a third place in the MX2 Championship overall.<\/p>\n

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After multiple podium finishes and a victory this season, it was the most successful year that Mlimi has experienced in the MX2 Class yet.<\/p>\n

Adding to the celebrations in the orange camp was a win in the High School Class from rising motocross star Camden McLellan.<\/p>\n

The 14-year-old rider from Germiston made history when he swept up the 2018 FIM European Championship.<\/p>\n

As the first South African rider to have ever claimed a European Championship title, his pursuits internationally were his top priority this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, I was only in South Africa for three national motocross races as I was overseas for most of the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so good to be home racing with my team, so I always make the most of the time I get to compete here,\u201d said McLellan.<\/p>\n

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Red Bull KTM team action at the 2019 MX Nationals. Photo: Marike Pearton for www.zcmc.co.za<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was a rather dramatic end to the season for Red Bull KTM\u2019s Tristan Purdon who went into the last round of the championship as the MX1 point\u2019s leader.<\/p>\n

After a crash in the first moto, Purdon took his place at the start line for the second heat tied for points with championship rival Matthew Malan.<\/p>\n

Purdon was charging and pressurising Malan, who took a tumble, resulting in Purdon taking over the race lead on his KTM 450 SX-F.<\/p>\n

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Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Ashley Kiley (Journalist)\u00a0ashleyk@caxton.co.za.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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