News: Roxy Kemp joins Danielle Du Toit at Safari Essence Titan Racing for a Packed 2026 Season
Safari Essence Titan Racing’s sophomore season is likely to be a busy one, with the squad racing from January to November, in both mountain and gravel bike disciplines.
The new year also brings a new signing for the team as Roxy Kemp joins Danielle du Toit in one of just two women’s-only teams in South African off-road racing. The pair will race as a team at the Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen, M&G Investments PE Plett, Absa Cape Epic, KAP sani2c, Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, and FNB Wines2Whales, while competing alongside one another at one-day events, including the Ford Trailseeker series and the South African XCM and Gravel Championships.
Alongside title sponsors Safari Essence and Titan Racing Bikes, the team is sponsored by Coffee Runners, Ford Dealers of South Africa, First Ascent, and Biogen, with additional support from Latty South Africa, FLR Shoes, Schwalbe Tires, Wahoo, and SIGEYI Power Meters. Like the Insect Science outfit, Safari Essence Titan Racing will be managed by Rossouw Bekker’s Neon Collective organisation. “We’re looking forward to continuing to build on the successes of last year and laying strong foundations for the team to grow into a dominant force in South African mountain biking,” Bekker stated. “Part of the long-term plan, which has the support of great sponsors, is to establish a strong organisation behind the scenes to allow for athletic success on the bike, on race days. This means combining resources with Insect Science to hire the best possible staff, including a full-time mechanic and sports massage therapist. With both Danielle [du Toit] and Roxy [Kemp] based in Wellington, and the majority of the Insect Science riders also living and training in the Winelands, it is possible to operate from a central hub.”
“The athletes will be cared for by the same staff year-round and have their bikes serviced by the same mechanic, which eliminates many of the non-riding race-day stresses. Our aim with Neon Collective is to provide professional support so the riders can focus solely on training and racing,” Bekker confirmed.
Kemp starts her season at the Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, on Saturday, 17 January. “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be part of a professional team this season, and I would like to thank Safari Essence Titan Racing for giving me my first opportunity at this level,” the former elite surfer, turned mountain biker, smiled. “It is incredibly exciting to join a team that prioritises athlete support, from racing and performance to professional fuelling with Biogen. With the support of the team around me, I am motivated to pursue my goals with confidence and to work towards achieving the dreams I have set for my career.”
Those goals include the Absa African Jersey at the Absa Cape Epic, as well as process-oriented targets. “Having raced at the elite level for the last two years, while working full-time, Roxy [Kemp’s] scope for improvement is significant, and we’re excited to see where this year will take her,” Bekker praised. “She also gets along well with Danielle [du Toit], which is vital, and I’m sure their friendship on and off the bike will help them perform in team racing.”
Du Toit, who won the South African Marathon Mountain Biking and Gravel titles in 2024, starts 2026 with renewed enthusiasm. “I’m very excited to be continuing my cycling journey with Safari Essence Titan Racing as we take on the 2026 season,” she began. “There are a few exciting changes this year… firstly, I’m gaining a new partner, Roxy Kemp, who’s also from my valley, Wellington, and I already know that we’ll create some great moments on and off the bike. We are also joining the Neon Collective group, bringing in a fresh look, including brand-new Titan Racing bikes with our very own Neon Collective paint job that’ll definitely stand out amongst the crowd! I’m excited about the collaborations and opportunities that come with this new partnership, as well as working with some cool new people and brands,” du Toit added. “With all of these amazing sponsors and brands on board, and knowing what the team achieved last year, I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do in 2026.”
Du Toit will start her racing season two weeks later than Kemp, forgoing the race through the infamous Attakwaskloof, and kicking off her year at the opening round of the Ford Trailseeker series in the Banhoek Valley. One of two Western Cape legs of the six-event national series, the local rounds present Du Toit with an opportunity to gain points in the race for the overall crown, a title which carries with it a R100 000 prize, thanks to the title sponsors Ford.
To share in the process of racing and training, as well as the travels of the Safari Essence Titan Racing team’s season, follow the squad on Instagram, @safariessence_titanracing_team. Cycling fans can join the personal journeys of Danielle du Toit and Roxy Kemp by following them individually at @daniellev_dt and @roxy_kempie. //