Following a lengthy layoff due to illness PYGA Euro Steel’s Philip Buys will hope to make a strong return when he takes part in the second Trailseeker Series event at Legends MX, Pretoria, tomorrow.
A Coxsackie viral infection ruled Buys out for much of the season, forcing him to withdraw just days before the Cape Epic in March.
Following a lengthy layoff due to illness PYGA Euro Steel’s Philip Buys will hope to make a strong return at the second Trailseeker Series event at Legends MX. Photo: Marike Cronje (www.zcmc.co.za)
Buys last took part in a major race when he and dynamic teammate Matthys Beukes finished third overall at the Tankwa Trek in February.
“I have only been riding again for about two or three weeks now,” Buys told In the Bunch today. “I just want to get back into things.
“I have not been going too hard, but will probably have to put in another month or two of riding and training before I get to top shape again.”
A few of the PYGA Euro Steel riders – Buys, Beukes, Pieter du Toit and Phillimon Sebona – will feature in tomorrow’s race.
Buys said he would try to play a supporting role. “Matthys especially is in top form at the moment, so I will just be there to do what I can to help him and the other guys.
“With the National MTB Series no longer happening this year many more riders are taking part in the Trailseeker events, which is a good thing.
“So we are expecting quite a lot of competition. There will be many guys taking part who are out to win it.”
Personally, he said he would aim to use the race to assess where he stood in terms of form and fitness.
“I am feeling fresh, good and motivated, but I will only know where I stand after the race.
“I want to see how far I still need to catch up after being off the bike for over two months.
“The race will sort of serve as a gauge to see where I am in comparison to the other guys. It will be a nice race to get back into the game again.”
He was looking forward to racing again, Buys said. “It is almost like a home-ground race for me; it is not a big effort for me to get to the start.
“It is a convenient and fun race for me to test my legs,” he added.
