Missing Van hands Blick golden chance

Blick Jr is the defending champion and huge favourite to retain his crown in Busiika today.

Kampala

The absence of teenager Maxime Van Pee for the seventh and final national motocross event of the year has given Arthur Blick Jr a chance to seal a record 10th title. The event takes place at the Uganda Motorsports Arena (UMA) – Busiika today.

“Maxime (Van Pee) communicated that he would be absent for today’s event after breaking his collar bone while training in Europe where he is studying,” said Bryan Tumusiime, the spokesperson of the organisers. “But he promised to be available for the Central African challenge MX race at the Jamhuri Park Nairobi next month.”

Foreign spice
Despite the absence of the competitive Van Pee, plenty of action is on card with three foreign riders led by African champion Sean Mitchell (Zimbabwe) and Latvias Davis Ivanovs and Gundars Guasis set to participate.

Ivanovs finished 14th at the recent Motocross of All Nations race in Europe while Guasis is the 3rd best rider in his country. The presence of the three adds spice to the event.

Alistair-Omar showdown
While Blick Jr is now the overwhelming favourite to win the MX1 clash, fireworks is expected in the MX65 where Alistair Blick is battling the Omar brothers (Ali and Wazir) for the title. That should be an enthralling duel.

Fortune Ssentamu is seeking his first MX50 title while Yannick Duyck is tipped to triumph in the MX2 class.

The race is sponsored by Total Uganda, Coca Cola Uganda, Yamasec Limited, Bluesky International, International Air Ambulance, Aon, Safe Solutions, Fotogenix, Kampala Executive Aviation , Feil and Visual Exteme .

The race for the title

How they stand
MX50
F. Sentamu - 441
Ben Nsumba - 370
Waleed Omar - 351

MX65
Alistair Blick - 418
Ali Omar - 413
Wazir Ali - 358

MX85
H. Kamstra - 289
M. Hamilton - 123
Chris Prinsloo - 75

MX2
Y. Duyck - 286
M. Lutwama -278
O. Van Pee - 257

MX1
A.Blick Jr -398
M. Van Pee - 350
B. Orland - 348
Senior class
P. Van Pee - 298
J. Kamstra - 297
Dave Cliff - 282

fmusisi@ug.nationmedia.com