Famous Faces - Parts 10 and 11

Shannon Terreblanche and Marianne Veenstra

Shanter, as he is better known was the MX2 rider for South Africa joining Gareth Swanepoel and Tyla Rattray. As a 15 year old in 2004 he had won the 80cc National title then raced with success in Germany. In 2005 he relocated to Germany and had varying success in the European and Dutch Championships. 2006 resulted in several podiums in the Belgium Championship which held him in good stead for 2007 where he was regarded as the new generation of GP riders with the Beursfoon Suzuki Team. 2008 saw him feature in the GPs but he broke a femur in the German GP and his season was over. For 2009 he was contracted to the German Kawasaki Sterm Team to ride in MX1. Not an easy transition but a Top 10 finish at Lommel and a tour of duty in the German ADAC Masters resulted in a 9th overall. He was ranked 23rd in the World Championship. 2010 was an injury riddled season but he secured a MX2 ride for 2011 with the Van Haut Honda team for the Dutch and German Championship. At MXoN he rode 24th in Race 1 (MX1 & MX2) and in Race 2 (MX2 & Open) he was 24th again. South Africa finished 6th overall.

Marianne Veenstra has quite a following, evidenced by the number of young Europeans (male and female) at her Racetruck that served as a pit for Shanter.

The vivacious, Dutch, 21 year old was 2nd in the Dutch Championship and whilst she only rode 2 of the 7 rounds of the FIM Women’s World Championship she finished 11th overall.