Curro learner speeds to motorsport world champions in Finland. The sky is literally the limit for Cruz Martin, a Grade 6 learner from Curro Vanderbijlpark in Gauteng, who has just been selected to represent Motorsport South Africa (MSA) at the World Junior Championships to be held in August in Finland.

A talented rider from the get-go, Cruz first started racing 50cc bikes before moving on to 65cc at the age of 9 and has been competing in the South African National Championship in 65cc for the past two years. Although excited, this isn’t his first rodeo either, having already competed in Europe on two occasions earlier this year. Thanks to his performance, Cruz was invited to race in the EMX championships in Italy and France, by the French racing team EHR and raced to success, qualifying in a fantastic 5th position out of 90 riders in the Italian leg, and 11^th out of 46 riders in the French leg.  This phenomenal achievement meant he could now choose to either represent South Africa at the World Junior Championships in Finland or compete for his South African colours in Uganda.

“We as parents are extremely proud of Cruz’s achievements and cannot wait to see him represent his country in Finland. We chose the World Championship option as we feel this is the best next step for Cruz who has been training very hard – almost every day of the week. He is currently lying 5th in the 2022 South African Championship so naturally, the World Championships would be next,” says dad Branden Martin.