It was sweltering, and the combination of heat and humidity that Kwazulu-Natal in high summer is infamous for, was hanging over everyone like a tangible curtain. A group of cyclists pulled up after a long, hard ride. The pain of their exertions over the last few hours was carved on their faces as they panted for breath. The lead man, a competitive cyclist, cast an admiring glance at Tyla Rattray a short distance away. “He’s incredible,” he said with unconcealed wonderment. “He’s so determined, and never gives up.” The group had just covered the between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, a goodly distance, and definitely not the flattest piece of terrain known to mankind. Even though he was in the company of several professional and semi-professional cyclists, Tyla gritted it out and kept with the group.
This little narrative so accurately typecasts the man. Whenever he is faced with a challenge that he considers worthy of his efforts, Tyla Rattray takes to it with gusto. When obstacles appear along the way, he regroups, changes strategy, works harder or does whatever is necessary to get over, around or through them and further along the path of achieving his goals. If that holds true for his leisure activities, how much the more for his passion/profession, racing dirt bikes at unfathomable speeds across hazardous terrain. A top-level racer he may be, but compared to most of his opposition, his supercross experience is a bit thin.Through a combination of circumstances, it is only at the beginning of the 2011 AMA supercross season that he first got the opportunity to take on the world’s best exponents of the genre on their home soil. A year down the line, he is now that more experienced. The 2011 season had delivered up a few punches and uppercuts of disappointment, injury and experience, but like a Rocky of old, he repaired to the gym, worked on his weaknesses, honed his strengths, and as the 2012 season rolled along, he declared himself ready for battle.
There are a few motocross and supercross events that are eternal classics. The AMA supercross opener at Anaheim is one of them. Weeks before, fans were already counting the days on social networking sitesn expentact, and in the last few says leading up to the event, #Anaheim1 was actually officially trending on Twitter as fans tweetled their delight at the fact that their racing cravings could yet again be sated. The 2012 season was mooted as one of the most competitive ever, and, as expected, every perch in the Angel Stadium was filled for an officially-announced attendance of 45 050. Tyla familiarized himself and his Monster Energy Pro-Circuit Kawasaki with the track during the afternoon as he breezed through the preliminary qualifying sessions, and got himself ready for the evening’s action.
An expectant buzz went round the capacity crowd as the bikes wheeled out for the first action of 2012. Tyla had the afterburners of his machine well lit up, and stormed to a holeshot in the semi-final. A short distance into the race, he came to within inches of suffering an abrupt end to his season. Wil Hahn, eager to make a pass, dabbled in a bit of over-enthusiastic jumping and landed on the Kawasaki rider. Fortunately for both, it was just a glancing blow which the South African’s steely constitution is well-equipped to withstand. Despite the setback, Tyla got the throttle twisted the right way again and crossed the line in second position after a great qualifying run. Back in the pits, he fully realized just how close to disaster he had come. His race jersey was caked in blood, and how it would have ended up with the bikes’ respective positions differing by just a few centimetres, does not bear thinking about.
Be that as it may, Tyla is made of stern stuff, and a bike imprint or two wasn’t going to keep him from the start line. Another great start had the South African handily placed as the grand finale got underway. Within a few corners, he saw his opportunity and struck, surging into the lead. He was riding with practised ease, displaying no nerves, no unfamiliarity with the conditions, nary a bobble. A few laps in, however, his bike went into an accidental neutral, and Cole Seely, who had been lurking with intent for a while, got by. Recovering from the lost momentum. Tyla gave chase again. He not only had to focus on closing the gap to the leader, but also fight a rearguard defence where teammate Dean Wilson had set up camp. The pitched battle was later joined by Eli Tomac, and the four-way dice for the lead had two Kawasakis squeezed between two Hondas, creating the world’s fastest avocado- and tomato salad. At one stage the riders were close enough to each other for a group cuddle, and the crowd roared its collective approval.
In the end Seely grabbed his opportunity with both hands and rode to the win, whilst Tyla cruised to an eventual comfortable second place. This marked his best-ever supercross result, and a near-perfect way to start off the season.
The South African had seemingly hardly raised a sweat during all of th exertions, and calmly and in his deadpan manner commented on his race during the post-race interview. “ I am obviously happy about this result,” he said. “A win would have been great, but I’m happy to start the season off with a handful of points. My starts were good, and then it’s easier to find a rhythm. I’ve worked very hard during the off season and I’m fit and ready to fight for top honours.”
The video of the race has made it online, and can be viewed by scrambling across to this corner of the cyberworld
Reporting by Tinus Nel.
RESULTS
Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Results: Anaheim Race 1
1. Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
2. Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda
4. Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM
5. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, KY, Yamaha
6. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki
7. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, NM, Suzuki
8. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda
9. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, SC, Yamaha
10. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda
Western Regional Supercross Lites Class Season Standings
1. Cole Seely, Murrieta, Calif., Honda – 25
2. Tyla Rattray, Wildomar, Calif., Kawasaki – 22
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Honda – 20
4. Marvin Musquin, Murrieta, Calif., KTM – 18
5. Ryan Sipes, Ekron, KY, Yamaha – 16
6. Dean Wilson, Menifee, Calif., Kawasaki – 15
7. Jason Anderson, Edgewood, NM, Suzuki – 14
8. Wil Hahn, Decatur, Texas, Honda – 13
9. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, SC, Yamaha – 12
10. Travis Baker, Temecula, Calif., Honda – 11