The Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race (TDR 1000) started on Friday at the Jwaneng Sport Complex in Botswana and finished there on Sunday (26 June). The race also formed two rounds of the Botswana Motorsport Off-road Championship. Riders did not only compete for valuable points in the championship, but also for the glory of finishing this gruelling three-day race in the Botswana desert. It was a true survival test for the fittest and those with the most determination and perseverance can be proud of completing this marathon race while the winners are true heroes.
After the third day, Botswana rider Ross Branch (Brother Leader Tread KTM) took the overall victory in the motorcycle category as well as the in the OR1 (Open) Class after winning the 50km time-trial on Friday as well as the 490km race on Saturday and the 374km race on Sunday. He was followed by the defending OR1 champion, Kenny Gilbert (Kargo Racing Husqvarna) with Altus de Wet (BCR Arrow Yamaha Racing) rounding off the OR1 podium. Michael Pentecost (Proudly Bidvest Yamaha) crashed on Sunday and was one of the OR1 casualties.
