As the 2026 motocross season kicks off, a powerhouse partnership has emerged to champion the future of South African motocross racing. The Ride Train Race (RTR) Academy, in a long-standing partnership with Motul, has joined forces with Tork Craft and Husqvarna South Africa to officially unveil the Tork Craft Husqvarna Motocross Team.
Bringing together the sport’s most promising young talent under one banner, the team is a natural extension of Motul’s commitment to developing South Africa’s next generation of champions. Selected strictly on merit following standout performances last year, the 2026 lineup combines title-winning track records with riders on a fast track to the top.
The 2026 Roster
- Rayden Woolls, 12 years old, (85cc): The “Triple Threat” of 2025. Woolls enters the new season as the reigning 65cc African, National, and Regional Champion. He makes the highly anticipated jump to the 85cc class this year.
- Mackenzie Bam, 16 years old, (Ladies Class): A revelation in the sport. After only one year in competitive MX, Bam secured an incredible 2nd place in both the National and Regional Ladies Championships.
- Kabelo Ledwaba, 14 years old, (125cc): Resilience personified. After a dominant 2025 where he led the 85cc National standings, Ledwaba’s title hopes were dashed by global logistics when his return from the Junior World Championships was halted in Dubai. Now moving to the 125cc class, he is a favourite for the podium.
For Motul, this initiative is a deep-rooted commitment to youth development and grassroots motorsport across Southern Africa. Extending their support to power the Tork Craft Husqvarna team is a seamless progression of their multi-year partnership with the RTR Academy.
“The youth are the lifeblood of motocross,” says Mercia Jansen, Managing Director of Motul South Africa. “Our partnership with the RTR Academy has been built over several years of shared commitment to developing young riders in this discipline, and extending our support to power the Tork Craft Husqvarna team is a natural next step in that journey. At Motul, we’re not just supporting a race season—we are investing in a pipeline of future champions.”
Central to this development is the RTR Academy, led by renowned mentors Tony Riddell (multi-time National Champion and International MX veteran) and Ryan Hunt (multi-time SA National Champion and International Grand Prix veteran). Both bring massive depth to the paddock, having transitioned from legendary racing careers to coaching and training. Motul has been a proud technical partner to RTR for several years, supporting the ecosystem that enables athletes to grow physically, mentally, and technically.
“Working with these young athletes is about more than preparing them for races,” says Tony Riddell. “At RTR we are building complete riders, and this partnership gives us the platform to do that at an even higher level.”
“To match that vision, Tork Craft has stepped in as title sponsor to ensure our riders have the support they need to match their ambition,” adds Ryan Hunt, Director at Tork Craft and co-founder of RTR. “We are proud to provide the tools necessary to maintain these bikes and, more importantly, to build the future of South African motorsport.”
A Collective Force
The partnership creates a complete performance ecosystem: RTR develops the talent, Motul powers the performance on track, Tork Craft provides the essential tools and Husqvarna delivers world-class machinery.
“At Husqvarna, pioneering performance is in our DNA,” says Megan Prinsloo, Marketing Manager for Husqvarna SA. “By teaming up with Tork Craft, Motul, and the RTR Academy, we’re giving these incredibly talented young athletes the ultimate platform to chase their dreams at full throttle. As junior riders, Rayden, Mackenzie, and Kabelo represent the very best of South African motocross.”
This joint partnership represents a long-term investment in the growth of South African motocross—ensuring the sport remains competitive and the development pathway remains robust for years to come.
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Author: Adilia Joubert from Listen Up on behalf of Motul SA.
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