Sam Sam not competing at Red Bull Shay' iMoto 2025
Sam Sam performs at the Red Bull Shay'iMoto at Wheelz 'n Smoke, Johannesburg, South Africa, on 3 September 2022. Picture: Mpumelelo Macu, Red Bull Content Pool
The top 16 drivers for Red Bull Shay' iMoto 2025 have been announced, and this year the biggest shock is Samkeliso 'Sam Sam' Thubane's absence from the list.
Fans should not fear, though, because Sam Sam makes his return as a judge at this year's event.
Sam Sam poses for a portrait after winning Red Bull Shay' iMoto in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 11 September 2021. Picture: Mpumelelo Macu / Red Bull
As has become known of this event, it isn't just about who can produce the thickest smoke or the longest slide.
The judging criteria —vehicle control, style, showmanship, and crowd impact —reflect spinning's evolution from a street pastime to a performance art.
The Durban crowd will witness battles that extend beyond the track.
Old rivalries will reignite under the coastal sun, while new ones are born in the heat of competition.
Chadwin 'Boksie' Hadje performs at the Red Bull Shay'moto in Cape Town, South Africa, on 16 March 2024.. Boksie became the first Capetonian to win the event, which was hosted on Century City Boulevard. Picture: Mpumelelo Macu – Red Bull Content Pool
Indeed, the move to Durban represents more than a change of venue; it's a homecoming for a sport that has always belonged to the people.
The Suncoast Casino location brings together the urban energy of spinning with the laid-back coastal vibe that defines Durban.
Expect the unexpected: tyre smoke mixing with sea breeze, the roar of engines competing with crashing waves, and a crowd that understands both the technical precision and emotional weight of every performance.
Tickets for Red Bull Shay' iMoto 2025 are available via Computicket for what promises to be a defining moment in South African motorsport.
Crowd seen waving Boksie's shirt at Red Bull Shay' iMoto at Canal Walk, Cape Town, South Africa on 16 March 2024. Picture: Tyrone Bradley / Red Bull Content Pool
Come for the competition. Stay for the community. Leave with stories that will last a lifetime.
List of top 16 drivers at Red Bull Shay' iMoto 2025
Boksie
Jabu
Magesh Junior
Makgasa Fire
Robin Fortuin
Sadz – Flyboxin
Skopas / Bad Company
Team 2xspicy JZ
Team Kayla
Team Nevs
Team Osizweni
Team VQ25
Vaaitjie
Ziko
Lockdiff
ALSO SEE: From Mbombela to Salzburg: Sam Sam Spinning at Hangar-7 reopening (VIDEO)
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