21/08/2026
🎙️ FUN FACT FRIDAY: FROM DURBAN TO WORLD CHAMPION! 🇿🇦🏆
This week, we are throwing it back to a South African motocross legend who took the world by storm: Tyla Rattray!
Born in Durban in 1985, Tyla’s journey to the top is packed with incredible milestones. Here are some fun facts about his amazing career:
👶 A Teenage Prodigy Tyla’s first taste of international racing was in 1999 at the inaugural FIM 85cc World Cup in Germany. Completely unfamiliar with the conditions, the young South African didn't just survive—he finished on the podium in 3rd place!
🌟 The "Dream Team" In 2002, he formed part of the legendary Vangani Racing "dream team" alongside fellow stars Ben Townley and Tanel Leok. That same year, at just 16 years old, Tyla finished 2nd at the GP in Genk, Belgium, making him one of the youngest GP podium finishers in history at the time.
🏆 The 2008 World Championship After winning his first GP in Spain in 2004, Tyla hit the ultimate peak in 2008. Riding for the KTM factory team managed by 10-time champ Stefan Everts, Tyla won the FIM MX2 World Championship! (Fun fact: He switched his permanent race number from 16 to 4 right before this championship-winning season because it was available!).
🇿🇦 The SA Elite Club With that 2008 win, Tyla joined an exclusive list of South African FIM World Champions alongside Greg Albertyn (3 titles) and Grant Langston (1 title).
🏎️ The Kimi Räikkönen Connection After a highly successful stint in the AMA Championships in the USA (finishing 2nd in the 250 Nationals in both 2010 and 2011), Tyla returned to Europe for his final two seasons. The cool part? He raced for the Ice 1 Husqvarna Racing Team, which was actually owned by Formula 1 superstar Kimi Räikkönen!
🧠 Life After Racing After retiring in 2015, Tyla didn't leave the sport. He transitioned into one of the best roles in the industry, becoming a team trainer and mentor for the prestigious Troy Lee Designs / Red Bull KTM 250 team, passing his world-class knowledge down to the next generation.
Did you ever watch Tyla race, or have you seen his work as a team trainer? Let us know in the comments! 👇
anToTheWorld