Motocross riders looking for another golden season

Collin Matiza Sports Editor

THE 2024 motocross season explodes into life with the opening round of the Bogwheelers Club National Championship series at Donnybrook Park Raceway in Harare on Sunday.

It’s all systems go as a number of riders prepare to get round one of the the six-round National Championship series off in style at the iconic motorsport venue in Harare.

Among the champion riders who will be out to start the new season on a winning note will be Kudzwai Chitsurura, Victor Nyamupfukudza (both 65cc Class), Dylan Zanin, Doug Mellor (both MX1 Class), Daiyaan Manuel (MX2 Class), and Emmanuel Bako (125cc Class).

They will all be looking for another golden season after a memorable 2023 season in which they walked away with gold medals in their respective classes.

And after getting two brand new bikes from the major sponsor of motocross in Zimbabwe, Scott Sakupwanya, young Victor Nyamupfukudza can’t wait to get back on the track on Sunday.

Nine-year-old Nyamupfukudza has this year moved a class up from 50cc to 65cc where he is set to battle for the top step on the podium with fellow talented young rider Chitsurura.

“We are expecting a very good performance from Victor on Sunday and we are confident that he will  win all his races,” said Nyamupfukudza’s father and manager, Simbarashe Nyamupfukudza.

“He will be racing in two classes – 65cc and 85cc. He will be using the 65cc bike in both classes though we’re still doing settings on the bike  suspension, height etc and we are getting there.”

Daiyaan Manuel will be out to defend the seniors MX2 Class and he aims to do so with more overall wins aboard his KTM bike.

Manuel has been a dominant force in all the classes he has competed in since he took up the sport of motocross at the tender age of four and winning is now part of his DNA.

He is also a household name in the South African motocross circles where he has been a national champion more than once.

Manuel’s rival Emmanuel Bako is also looking forward to the start of the new season after a disappointing outing last year in which he was hit by a number of injuries.

“I am very excited for the season to start with the Better Brands Petroleum team,” Bako admitted through his father and manager, Brighton “Bucks “ Bako. “I am fit, my KTM is prepared and ready to take on both this weekend’s Zimbabwean and South African Nationals!”

Emmanuel Bako is first expected to compete in the opening round of the 2024 South African Nationals in Gauteng tomorrow before he flies back home on Sunday morning for the first round of the Zimbabwean Nationals at Donnybrook.

Emmanuel Bako will this year once again compete in the 125cc Class but he will also cross the floor to race in the MX2 Class.

In the 125cc Class he is likely to be in the good company of Riley Rocher, Jack Gobey, Joshua Pike, Karl van As and Tariq Shelton.

With the absence of last year’s National Champion, Ashley Thixton, Dylan Zanin will be going for gold in the MX1 Class but he should expect to be pushed to the limit by veteran rider Doug Mellor.

So, it all points out to an action packed day at Donnybrook on Sunday as the gates drop for the first time in 2024.

Motocross is now enjoying some good sponsorship after prominent Harare businessman and politician, Scott Sakupwanya, poured in thousands of US$ into the sport through his Better Brands Petroleum company.

Sakupwanya’s two young sons, Judah and Medicare, are also into motocross and they will both be in action on Sunday.

Racing on Sunday starts at 9am and there will be full bar and catering.