Tyler Newman from Jamestown, reached the final of the 2026 Red Bull Shay’ iMoto event that took place this past weekend. The spinner, affectionately known to his supporters as “King Tyler”, was one of the 16 spinners who showcased their talent at the Suncoast Casino in Durban.
Tyler “King Tyler” Newman makes it into the final of the 2026 Red Bull Shay’ iMoto competition. Here Newman showcases his talent with an E30 BMW. PHOTO: Supplied/Mpumelelo Macu
“I did not expect to make it to the final because I knew [that] the competition was tough,” said the 21-year-old. He noted that it had been an overwhelming but exciting feeling. “From a young age, I used to watch the competition,” said Newman, adding that debuting in the 2026 Shay’ iMoto had made his childhood dream a reality.
Ultimately, Newman came second, with 2025 winner Jean Kruger known as Panjaro, claiming the title for the second time in a row. The motorsport event, that took place on 18 April, got the best spinners in the country to compete in elimination battles. Drivers each got two minutes and 30 seconds of non-stop spins through obstacles, sliding targets, 360s in tight boxes, and wall-kisses at fast speeds.
Drivers were judged on the day by four experienced judges in the field, including two-time Red Bull Shay’ iMoto champion (2021, 2022) and Red Bull athlete, Samkeliso “Sam Sam” Thubane. They were judged on control, creativity, and style. Together with the judges’ votes, the crowd voted through LED wristbands.
“Shay’ iMoto was [started] to create a platform that could catapult future talented spinners into more eyes […] and most importantly, [those of] promoters, so that they can get more bookings and monetise their talent and turn this into a professional career,” said MC and spinning culture enthusiast, Victor Pardel.
The spinner did not get to the final alone, as his stuntman Kabelo “KB” Maleka was alongside him. Maleka received recognition for his stunts on the night and was awarded the “Top Stuntman” title. For each spinner, a stuntman performs tricks in and on the vehicle while the driver manoeuvres through the obstacles. They are also judged, in a separate category, on the boldness of their stunts. The 18-year-old expressed that he enjoys being a stuntman because “you go out and [you] entertain the crowd”.
It wasn’t a solo run as Tyler “King Tyler” Newman was joined by stuntman Kabelo “KB” Maleka. Together they dominated the arena, with Maleka walking away as “Top Stuntman” at the 2026 Red Bull Shay’ iMoto. PHOTO: Supplied/Wayne Reiche
Newman showcased his talent with an E30 BMW, better known as a gusheshe in the kasi [township]. “My interest [in] spinning started through my father. He was a spinner, but not a consistent spinner,” he said. Newman has been spinning for three years now, with an interest that sparked when he was 10-years-old.
From Jamestown to the national stage, Tyler “King Tyler” Newman spun his way to a second-place finish at the 2026 Red Bull Shay’ iMoto finals in Durban. PHOTO: Supplied/Wayne Reiche
When asked where to from here for “King Tyler”, he said that he wants to take his spinning everywhere in the country. “I want to be well-known in the whole [of] South Africa before I take it overseas,” he said.