Kenyan motocross rider Shivam Vinayak (96) leads Tutu Maina (55), Ivan Guya (15) and Charles Mugo in a past competition in Nakuru, in Kenya’s Rift Valley. Photo/FILE
What you need to know:
While the numbers of those taking up motocross are growing, the sport is still beyond the reach of many.
The motorcycle competition known as the Motocross, has been spreading gradually across the region, particularly in Kenya and Uganda.
In Kenya, the sport has experienced significant growth since it was revived in the 1990s after its death in the 1980s. Today, the country boasts 113 licensed motorcyclists of whom 68 are active competitors, participating in motocross championships throughout the season. The others choose to attend one or two events out of the total eight.
These competitions exclude the annual Africa and regional championships.
The last appearance by the Kenya national team in the continental championships was in August in South Africa, where nine riders wound up third behind South Africa and Zambia that emerged first and second respectively.
The regional championship attracts riders from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. In Uganda, which has 85 riders, the sport is popular. But in Tanzania, it is has taken a nose-dive because the Automobile Association focuses mainly on rallying.
The growth in Uganda has been attributed mainly to competition with rival Kenya, with the past five years registering significant development in the country. Uganda has even overtaken Kenya in the junior class. Last year, the team beat Kenya for the first time.
Nevertheless, Kenyan riders have held their position in the senior category with superior skills and speed owing to their frequent exposure to the Africa Championship in Morocco, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa.
But although the sport has recorded significant growth, stakeholders say that the results have not been satisfactory due to a myriad bottlenecks.
For example, despite growth in the numbers of those taking up the sport, especially in the junior category, motocross is still beyond the reach of many owing to its expensive nature. Out of the 68 active riders, 30 are juniors.
But Motorcycle Commission of Kenya chairman Maina Muturi said all is not lost.
The commission has been pushing the government for duty exemption for equipment including motorcycles, to cut costs.
“We are determined to kill the myth that motocross is a rich man’s sport; it’s only the government that can help us in that endeavour by waiving the tax to enable riders to get more than one motorcycle or afford one quality one,” said Muturi. “Rallying cars are exempted from paying taxes. We want the government to consider us too, if we are to grow this sport to the next level.”
Steep prices
A standard helmet for competitions costs between Ksh20,000 ($236) and Ksh60,000 ($706), depending on the make, while a chest guard goes for Ksh15,000 ($177). The gloves and goggles cost Ksh3,500 ($42). The suit — a pair of shorts and a shirt — goes for Ksh30,000 ($353), while protective boots cost Ksh35,000 ($412).
“This is just standard gear, with the price tripling for designer gear,” said Muturi.
Also, in efforts to boost the sport, a number of riders were taken to South Africa for training, while an international trainer was also brought into the country to assist locals.
“The gains made over the years are as a result of such programmes,” said Muturi.
Muturi noted that each of the eight events on the motocross calendar have a budget of over Ksh100,000 ($1,177). The money is used to pay for two ambulances, 50 flag marshals and to refurbish the grounds for the races. These expenses are subsidised by the entry fee for contestants, who part with Ksh6,000 ($71) each, per event.
Kenya’s top motocross rider Shivam Vinayak said that the sport is expensive due to the steep costs of equipment and maintaining motorcycles, whereas sponsorship is not forthcoming.
“For example, as a top rider, I need to replace my rear tyre for each of the eight events, and one costs Ksh24,000 ($283),” Vinayak said.
Vinayak added that besides the cost of buying his two 450cc Kawasaki Motocycles, among the best in the market that he acquired within the past five years, the annual membership fee at the East African Motor Sports Club, a driver’s licence and the costs of travelling for international events across the continent are also high.
Anyone intending to join motocross has to become a member of the East African Motor Sports Club where the annual under-16 junior membership fee is Ksh8,000 ($95), while the senior membership fee is Ksh12,000 ($142). One has to part with Ksh12,000 ($142) for a license for juniors and Ksh16,000 ($187 ) for seniors.
Muturi and Vinayak reckon that the most expensive part is when the national team goes on a tour for the African Championship say down south, or regional championship in Uganda.
For example, when the team toured South Africa in August, it had to arrange for road transportation for the 10 motorcycles, with each costing $1,400 for a journey that takes eight days to and from South Africa. By airfreight, each of the motorbikes would cost $2,500, which the riders prefer as they can take more spare parts along.
“Mark you that cost excludes the airfare for the riders and personal insurance,” said Muturi.
