Motorsport: Uganda wins 1st FIM CAC round – now focus is on MXOAN set for August
Photo by Innocent Mutaawe
Regional defending champions Uganda have once again put a stamp on their intentions of winning FIM Africa Central African Motocross challenge tittle, after a two-year covid19 hiatus.
Photo by Innocent Mutaawe:
Uganda who played host of the first round of the regional championship at Garuga over the Easter weekend managed to gunner 1245 points, as their counterparts Kenya could only manage to collect 566 points.
Tanzania the other East African country missed out on final Nations classification, as they are not yet affiliated to FIM.
“Tanzania only rode as ‘White bibs’, scored individual points but not for country”, explained acting FMU’S vice president technical, Reynolds Kibira.
Uganda who won 2019 championship plans to build on the cushion 679 points at second and final round to be hosted by Kenya in December, to bag yet another silverware.
Living to their billing and didn’t disappoint the big crowds that turned up for the event, were the Katende brothers, Miguel and Jonathan, who dominated 65CC class with a 1-2 position finish.
Uganda dominated all junior classes from 50cc to 85 just as was Mx2, MX1 and Veteran class.
Jamaira Makumbi won the 50CC, beating Kenya’s Dylan Hatanga by 13 points, as the class’ defending National champion Filbert Muwonge managed to finish third on his debut with 47 points.
Jerome Mubiru who came second on day one, took command of MX85 when won the last two heats on day two, beating Kenya’s Ryan Tiren who had won day one by margin of three points, as another Ugandan Mubarak Ssenoga Mayanja finished third overall in same class.
Kenya only got consolation in MX125 when Alex Kandie won it, and had Peter Magwa third behind Uganda’s Apollo Milton Akena.
Same as in 125CC ,Kenya raised up again in the women class with a 1-2 top finish through their riders Natalie Kandie and Ivan Yongo who gave Ugandans a run for their money and could only afford to settle for third, fourth, fifth and sixth positions.
Exciting fans, was the self competition between Ugandans in MX2 that Kylan Wekesa commanded from the word go and competition between former national team captain Maxime Van Pee and new team skipper, Alestair Blick Jnr.
Tanzania that had a two-man team representation after arriving on race day, and could only participate in two heats managed to have their riders Massoud Seif Khamis and Nassor Said Mohamed finish third and fourth respectively.
Uganda now puts her focus on preparing a formidable team that will represent the country in the continental championship, FIM Motocross of ALL African Nations set to be held I August, same venue Garuga Entebbe.