Uganda in slim lead at regional motocross meet
Van Pee cruises home during the first leg of FIM Africa Central Africa Motocross Championship at the Uganda Sports Arena-Busiika on Sunday. PHOTO BY JB SSENKUBUGE
What you need to know:
The highlights of the event were the MX1 duel involving Maxime, Tutu Maina and Arthur Blick jr plus the combined race of MX125 and MX2 where the Kenyans dominated.
KAMPALA- Uganda collected 1,353 points to win the first leg of FIM Africa Central Africa Motocross Championship by 477 points held at the muddy Uganda Sports Arena-Busiika on Sunday.
However, the Kenyan contingent will be happier going into the second leg of the regional championship in Nairobi this August after amassing 876 points. The third leg, scheduled for December will be held in Kampala.
Team Uganda captain Arthur Blick Jr was satisfied with the home win. “Our primary objective was to win the home leg, which we did. It was unfortunate we could not get a healthy lead,” the 10-time national champion told Daily Monitor.
“The absence of Fortune Ssentamu (MX65CC) and Imran Nkuruziza (MX50cc) due to injuries held us back,” the veteran rider said, adding. “We have to give Kenya credit for challenging us in the junior classes (MX50-85) that we have been dominating in the past. We have to remain positive.”
On the individual front, Kenya won four of the six classes contested. Ali Omar (MX85cc and Maxime Van Pee (MX1cc) were the only Ugandan winners while Jet Takkunen (MX50cc), Kegen Kiplagat (MX65cc), Ngugi Waweru (MX125), Apollo Mbuki (MX2) scooped the other classes for Kenya.
The highlights of the event were the MX1 duel involving Maxime, Tutu Maina and Arthur Blick jr plus the combined race of MX125 and MX2 where the Kenyans dominated.
In the MX1, Maxime showed why he is still the best in the country by winning the first two rounds before crashing in the final heat. He managed to recover to take fourth place which cemented first spot. “The condition suited my style as I train in similar conditions in Germany,” he said.
The next event is the fourth round of the national MX Championship to be held at Garuga on May 18.
FIM AFRICA CENTRAL AFRICA MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
FIRST LEG RESULTS - UGANDA
MX50cc
Jet Takkunen (Ken) 60 points
Jarden Takkunen (Ken) 41
MX65cc
Kigen Kiplagat (Ken) 54
Joshua Mwangala 46
MX85cc
Ali Omar 60
Elias Sherman (Ken) 51
MX125
Ngugi Waweru (Ken) 57
Samir Anwar (Ken) 54
MX2
Apollo Mbuki (Ken) 60
Fathu Kiggundu 47
MX1
Maxime Van Pee 53
Tutu Maina (Ken) 52
Veterans
Jesse Kamstra 60
Dave Cliff 49
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