Motocross takes on a regional track

The regional motocross is back, following Kenyan riders’ second tour of Uganda this year. Last year, Kenya stayed away from the Uganda events over security fears.

Kenya did not send riders to Uganda for the third round of the regional championships that were held last December.

In 2013, there were great concerns during the Ugandan leg at the Victoria Raceway Park in Entebbe when Ugandan fans threw stones and bottles at each other. A Kenyan rider was struck at a jump, crashed, and had to be airlifted to Nairobi for treatment.

Advising their riders to stay away from the Ugandan events, Kenya Motorcycle Commission chairman Maina Muturi said: “It’s natural in a sports-loving nation like Uganda for crowds to grow every year, but we have to mitigate the issues of security if the future of motocross is to be assured.”

Muturi wrote a report to FIMA concerning the security situation in Uganda, and followed it up during a conference in South Africa in June and when Nairobi hosted the second leg in August.

“We went for Africa Championships in October in South Africa, where we raised the issue with FIMA, since the course in Busungi that was to hold the third leg in December wasn’t secure and safe,” said Muturi, adding that they unanimously agreed that Kenya should withdraw from the third leg after Uganda failed to guarantee the safety of Kenyan riders.

This year, the redesigned Victoria Raceway Park hosted the East and Central Africa Motocross Championships in May, and the Uganda Invitation on July 26.

Ugandan Maxime Van Pee was truly on top of his game during the Uganda Invitation, defeating Kenyan MX1 champion Ivan Guya.

Van Pee won two of the three heats; Guya won one.

“I like the track, it is much better and more interesting, I really like the jumps,” Guya said of the revamped park.

Van Pee won the MX 1 class during the East and Central Africa Motocross Championships in May, beating compatriot Arthur Alistair Blick to second, with Kenya’s Ngugi Waweru settling for third place. Uganda won the overall team title.

Uganda Motor Sport administrator Arthur Blick Junior said the security issues have been resolved.

“The safety of the riders is paramount, hence that has been enhanced at the two events, and Kenyan riders are happy now. This presented another opportunity to grow the sport further,” said Blick. “We want to grow stronger, not as Uganda or Kenya but as a region.”

Blick said the new partnership should send a warning to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia, who are a force to reckon with on the continent.

Blick noted that the number of events should be increased so as to give riders more time to gauge their standards. “We used to have three events; this year we have only two. We need to revert to three legs, and even add one more. This will further improve the level of competition,” explained Blick.

Muturi commended Uganda for the work they have done in the two events. “The two events in Uganda have been smooth, with increased security,” Muturi said. “Besides having each country hosting two legs, we want more exchange programmes in the technical part of the sport.”

Muturi said they have had two trainers: Sergey Garin from Russia was working with the Kenyan riders before they travelled for the East and Central Africa Motocross Championships in May.

Currently, Jurgen Kuper from Germany is preparing the Kenyan team for the Africa Motocross Union Championships, to be held from August 28 to 30 in Zimbabwe.

Kupper, a former German motocross champion, also trained the Ugandan riders last year. “This will help refine our riders for a stronger charge at the continental event,” said Muturi.

Rwanda and Burundi have expressed interest in joining the regional fold.