The Vodacom Lesotho Sun Roof of Africa starts on November 25, with the traditional Round the Houses, a 3,6km route in the streets of Maseru that the riders have to complete three times, kicking off at 09h00 in the morning with the riders departing immediately afterwards to the start of the 70km time trial near Lancer’s Gap.

On Friday, November 26, the first motorcycle competitor will depart at 06h00 on a 386km loop while the first national quad rider will start at 06h45 on a 410km route and on Saturday, the surviving riders will be starting at the same times at Matsieng which will also serve as the finishing point.

The "Roof" is the last event in the SA National Off-road Championship for Motorcycle and Quad Competitors for the year.

According to the organisers, since the first Roof of Africa race in 1967, KTM motorbike riders and Yamaha quad riders have scored the most victories, with the KTM motorcycle manufacturer scoring 17 victories while Yamaha quad riders have won the event several times since their first official participation in 1990.

The first KTM victory was in 1975 when US citizen Malcolm Smith won this event with his victory was followed by three more consecutive KTM victories including those of the multiple off-road champion, Kenny Skjöldhammer, the next year on the very same motorbike.

KTM also won the Roof of Africa overall in 1981, 1983 and 1985 to 1987 and then from 1994 to 1997 and from 2000 to 2003.

Kawasaki is the second most successful Roof of Africa victory scorers with six victories while Yamaha won four times, Honda three times and Suzuki once (in 1979).

Derrick Johnson was the first quad rider to officially finish the Roof of Africa in 1993 on a Yamaha Banshee.

17 November 2004