Local rider Sechaba Chabeli has received a significant boost ahead of this year’s Roof of Africa, after securing sponsorship from Ramabanta Trading Post Adventures and Beta South Africa, a partnership organisers hope will set a new precedent for how Lesotho’s motorsport talent is backed at home.
Chabeli will compete in the Silver class aboard a Beta 200 RR, a two-stroke enduro motorcycle built for demanding off-road conditions, after the sponsorship deal secured him both the machine and the technical backing needed to take on one of the world’s toughest hard enduro events.
The sponsorship is being led by Ramabanta Trading Post Adventures, a long-established mountain lodge and adventure-tourism destination situated near the Roof of Africa route, with Beta South Africa joining as co-sponsor to supply Chabeli’s race machine.
The backing extends beyond the bike itself after receiving suspension work from South African off-road specialists TBR Suspension, who customised the fork and shock settings to Chabeli’s weight, ability and riding style, giving him equipment tailored specifically for the Oxen Hill terrain.
Chabeli will also have access to mechanical and technical support alongside the Beta factory team throughout the three demanding race days, support that local riders have rarely had at previous editions of the event.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to ride a Beta at this year’s Roof of Africa. Getting onto the Beta 200 RR is something I’m genuinely excited about, the bike feels incredible, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together,” Chabeli said.
“A huge thank you to Ramabanta Trading Post Adventures and Beta South Africa for making this possible.”
Ramabanta Trading Post Adventures representative Seamus Tšepo McCarthy said the sponsorship was specifically designed to get behind Chabeli and, through him, encourage more Lesotho businesses to invest in homegrown riders.
“We have seen Sechaba get increasingly competitive in the hard enduro scene and felt it was time that we kickstart the practice of local brands backing local riders,” McCarthy said.
“Luckily, we have a good relationship with Beta, and we were over the moon when they decided to join us supporting Sechaba.”
The sponsors say their support for Chabeli is intended to go beyond this year’s race. They see the partnership as a potential foundation for building a Lesotho team capable of competing in major hard enduro events across the region, with Chabeli’s backing serving as a template for how future riders could be supported.
The long-term goal is to use lessons from Chabeli’s sponsorship to create pathways for emerging Basotho riders to develop their skills and eventually earn places on such a team.
Chabeli is among a growing number of Lesotho-based riders competing in this year’s event, but his sponsorship deal has made him one of the standout local storylines, giving fans a homegrown rider to follow as he goes up against international competitors on home terrain — now backed by the kind of professional-grade equipment and support usually reserved for factory riders.
His run at this year’s Roof of Africa comes as the event itself enters a new chapter. The spectacular Roof of Africa (ROA) burst into life yesterday, turning Maseru into a hive of activity as international riders, teams and tourists descended on the capital for one of the world’s most renowned hard enduro competitions.
The main race gets underway today and continues tomorrow at the rugged Oxen Hill terrain in Matsieng, just outside Maseru, terrain that will now put Chabeli’s newly tailored suspension and machine to the test.
The 2026 edition marks a milestone for the event after its incorporation into the international Hard Enduro World Championship calendar, drawing some of the world’s top off-road riders to Lesotho and raising the stakes for local competitors like Chabeli.
Unlike its traditional November slot, this year’s competition runs from September 23 to 26, with the Lesotho Off Road Association (LORA) hosting the event in collaboration with the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC).
The programme includes the time trial today, followed by the main race on September 25 and 26. Avani Maseru is serving as the event headquarters, while the route passes through areas including Thaba Bosiu, Bushmans and the Ramabanta area, fitting territory given Ramabanta Trading Post Adventures’ role as Chabeli’s lead sponsor.
The Roof of Africa, held in Lesotho since 1967, is widely regarded as the “Mother of Hard Enduro” and is considered the oldest event of its kind in the world.
Summary
- Chabeli will compete in the Silver class aboard a Beta 200 RR, a two-stroke enduro motorcycle built for demanding off-road conditions, after the sponsorship deal secured him both the machine and the technical backing needed to take on one of the world’s toughest hard enduro events.
- Chabeli is among a growing number of Lesotho-based riders competing in this year’s event, but his sponsorship deal has made him one of the standout local storylines, giving fans a homegrown rider to follow as he goes up against international competitors on home terrain — now backed by the kind of professional-grade equipment and support usually reserved for factory riders.
- The 2026 edition marks a milestone for the event after its incorporation into the international Hard Enduro World Championship calendar, drawing some of the world’s top off-road riders to Lesotho and raising the stakes for local competitors like Chabeli.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
