Sought after Buffalo title up for grabs at 2016 dusi2c

Barry Hugo (front) leads his partner Wouter de Wet over one of the floating bridges on their way to the Buffalo Category win at the 2015 BSi Steel dusi2c. The pair will return in 2016 to defend their title when the race gets underway from 11-12 June.

Pietermaritzburg – The two day BSi Steel dusi2c is set to be a tough a battle for supremacy for the over 180kg combinations as all of the top five in 2015’s Buffalo category return for another shot at one of the more unique, sought-after titles up for grabs when they head off from Camps Drift in Pietermaritzburg to Durban’s Blue Lagoon on 11 and 12 June.

The Buffalo category is a weight division developed by the editor of TREAD Magazine, Sean Badenhorst as a way for the heavier riders to have something to race for with teams qualifying for the category if their combined weight is equal to or over 180kg.

The 2016 edition of the BSi Steel dusi2c gives defending Buffalo champions, Wouter de Wet and Barry Hugo the chance to defend their title despite the pair not having the category win at the front of their minds last time around.

“We set winning the Buffalo category as one of our goals last year but we didn’t focus too heavily on it.” De Wet said.

“We were a little bit surprised when we managed to win the category after I encountered some fairly bad mechanical issues on the second day of the race, but I think the other teams must have had issues of their own which was lucky for us.”

Winning the Buffalo category in 2016 will be an impressive feat as the field again includes the top five pairs from the 2015 edition of the race but for De Wet, winning a category is a by-product of an enjoyable two days of racing with his partner, Hugo.

“We really enjoyed our first time at the dusi2c last year,” he commented. “It has such a unique vibe with the smallish field, the informal atmosphere and the incredible environment that we ride through.”

“There are some great technical sections and we really enjoyed the river crossings last year, so we are looking forward to whatever the race has to throw at us this year.

“It is definitely one of my best races and being so close to home makes it even more appealing!”

The 2016 race for the Buffalo title will be an intense one and De Wet’s attitude towards the category prize will be the same as it was in 2015.

“The challenge for the Buffalo title is going to be a really competitive one again, probably the most competitive it has been but we will take the race as it comes.

“Our focus won’t be on winning the title but rather having an enjoyable, mistake-free two days of riding although our competitive spirit might start coming through towards the end,” he chuckled.

The pair of De Wet and Hugo have done their fair share of riding together in 2016 and De Wet feels that they are ready to take on the short, sharp challenge that the dusi2c poses in just over a week’s time.

“We have ridden a lot of races this year with the sani2c being one of the most recent, so we have got the miles in the legs and we are both feeling great.

“Hugo and I have done a lot of riding together and we know each other well, which is a bonus when you spending long days in the saddle, but we are really looking forward to the challenge and will be hoping that we can defend our title!” an excited De Wet concluded.

For more information visit www.dusi2c.co.za

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