By Yesterday afternoon, dodging rain showers, yours truly made it up to the TT paddock, admittedly stopping a few times!
Once I made it up to the Grandstand, almost immediately it was interviewing time with none other than South Africa’s top international road racer, TH Racing’s AJ Venter.
Our uncontrived conversation, was as follows:
Road Racing News:
First and foremost, how was first practice.
AJ:
“It was good, it was an eye opener, as it always is, that’s the biggest thing. The Super Twin was fun, because I haven’t really ridden it yet, the Super Twin (TH Racing Kawasaki) was quite cool to ride.
Then the 600 (TH Racing Honda) was very good, I’d rode it at the Northwest, then the big bike (Lekka Racing BMW) was the biggest eye opener of everything because I’d never rode that bike until last night’s practice.
My guys built it back in South Africa and you know in our workshop, so that the bike was good I just had to find my feet on it.
I did my free practice on the Twin first and got straight on the 1000cc BMW, so it was a bit of a humbling experience!”
Road Racing News:
Compared to last year, any parts of the course that have slightly changed compared to 2023?
AJ:
“They’ve resurfaced a lot of areas, so that always stand out, there’s a lot of new buildings that they’ve built up by Crosby, a Co-Op I’ve never seen, obviously there was a few wet places, that calms you down.
Other than that, the direction it still goes the same way, it’s easy for me to tell you that the track has got bumpier, I did get shaken to pieces last night, but I think that’s the nature of road racing that you just accept.”
Road Racing News:
And how it’s with Trevor Harbinson’s team, a man with a wealth of experience in roads scene paddocks.
AJ:
“Trevor’s a good guy, I met him a bit last year when I rode the Wilson Craig bike, which was Trev’s bike and that led onto this year’s deal.
At the time of the Northwest, I stayed with Trev, at his house, opened his doors to me to his family, then after the Northwest, he drove us around a bit.
He took us to Joey’s Bar, and I’d never been to Northern Ireland, so, aside from the racing the bikes are fantastic, I’ve never ridden a 600 of that specification, I’m happy with TH Racing with Willis.
But at the same time, Trevor himself as a person is fantastic, really, good guy, good family man.”
Road Racing News:
Last year think you got close to the 126-mph mark, have your achievements gained further recognition back home.
AJ:
“I want to say yes, my goal last year was 125. The 125 was because I’d done a 122 and it was difficult for me to that 122. I always have that thing if you don’t set the goal, you’ll never work towards it.
So, the fact that I did 125, close to 126, fantastic, recognition at home I want to say yes and no.
The problem we have at home, no one really knew what the TT was about, and achievements last year have created a lot more awareness in a short space of time.
So, the credit at home I wouldn’t say is anything I would have investigated, because the South African’s don’t understand what a 126-mph lap is, however what the South African’s have learnt is what the Isle of Man TT is.
There’s a good 100 South African’s come over this year that have watched social media last year, that are now learning what the TT course is about.
So, I don’t do it for the credit it doesn’t bug me, it’s something I believe in and really love it and the fact that the South African’s are coming over to see it maybe through our exposure, is quite a cool thing.”
Road Racing News:
Finally, overall, in South Africa, slightly off topic with the TT has Brad Binder overall really helped raise the profile of bikes over the last five to six years.
AJ:
“Of course, he has and not just Brad, his brother Darryn, there’s a lot more younger kids, Ruche Moodley who’s riding in Red Bull Rookies, KJ Mononyane who I look after in the Red Bull Rookies, there’s a lot of kids in the Spanish Championship, in America we’ve got Matty Scholtz, Cam Petersen.
But what Brad Binder himself has done, making it to the top gun of motorcycle racing, fantastic person, gets on with everyone, humble, humble family, he has opened the eyes of the rest of the world, that there is racing in South Africa.”
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
