Spinks takes Enduro title
Spinks taking on the challenge of rocks at Lake Mburo on Sunday. Courtesy photo
What you need to know:
- The event was sponsored by Hima Cement, Lato Milk, Ferro Mobile, City Ambulance, Red Bull, ICEA, Fire and Safety, World Wide Movers and Civcom.
KAMPALA. Six years ago, Ben Spinks from Kenya did not have a clue on how to ride a motorbike. In fact he had no interest at all.
But encouragement from his dad, Ralf Spinks, eventually convinced him to take up the sport and the rest is history.
Spinks, 34, was crowned winner of FIM Africa Central Africa Enduro Challenge that ended at Lake Mburo National Community Ranch on Sunday.
No one can tell how he would have fared had compatriot Shaun Miller, the reigning Kenya Champions, and Maxime van Pee participated.
But take nothing from Spinks, he was absolute class from the rest and his time of 03:17:18 in 5 laps was comparatively better than the one posted by second-placed Craig Lentz of 03:04:41 in 4 laps. The route, for good measure, was 25km and riders had to do it in an average of three hours (approximately an hour for every 25kms).
In the begining, however, it was not all smooth-sailing for Spinks as he got lost in the first section because of bad marking according to him.
“It was a bit rough in the first section, the marking was not good and I could not find my way,” Spinks, who has also taken part in off the road races in Europen told the Daily Monitor. “The course was good although not so technical like the one we have in Kenya but it was more challenging and I will be back next year.”
His father was meanwhile full of praise observing that, “He is improving every time because he takes the sport seriously.”
Olivier van Pee who finished fourth was delighted with his effort. “This was good for me as I continue to build my stamina. It will give me momentum going into the MX duel against the Kenyans (Easter weekend),” he remarked.
Earlier on Saturday, 14-year-old Ali ‘Bobo’ Omar delighted the crowd at Fiduga Flower Estate, Nsimbe when he powered his Buggy to second position in a time of 16:42 behind winner Alwi Hassan (15:40) who drove a Subaru N14. Veteran Arthur Blick Jr in another buggy came third in a time of 16:49.
In the 4x 4 Challenge, the Betway crew of Julius Mugambwa and Daily Monitor’s Sean Oseku in a Suzuki came out top in a time of 8 minutes 39 seconds.
The event was sponsored by Hima Cement, Lato Milk, Ferro Mobile, City Ambulance, Red Bull, ICEA, Fire and Safety, World Wide Movers and Civcom.
