Bucharest calling for Ugandan star riders
One of the bikers flying during the MX championship round in Fort Portal. PHOTO/COURTSEY
What you need to know:
The quartet were selected after impressive performances at the fourth round of the Mountain Dew National Motocross Championship held at Kyakaigo Sports Arena in Fort Portal, Kabarole District.
Four Ugandan motocross youngsters will represent the country at the 2023 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship in Bucharest, Romania this July.
The Katende brothers of Joel and Jonathan, Isaiah Larry Ssekamwa and Malcolm Gift Ssebuguzi will compete in the 65cc and 85cc categories in the Romanian capital.
Coasting to victory
The quartet were selected after impressive performances at the fourth round of the Mountain Dew National Motocross Championship held at Kyakaigo Sports Arena in Fort Portal, Kabarole District on Sunday.
Ssebuguzi, who has now won all the first four rounds of the national championship, coasted to victory in all of his three 85cc heats at the weekend for 60 points on the day and 240 overall.
The Katende brothers continued imposing themselves in 65cc, Miguel beating his little one, Jonathan, and the field for a 1-2 family finish.
Ssekamwa finish third to beat Ramadhan Mubiru to the final slot to Bucharest by 11 points.
In MX 1, Fatuh Kiggundu continued his charge at the top by winning all his three heats at Kyakaigo to move to 163 points overall.
He is followed by Isma Mukiibi at 141 and Ashim Serwadda at 101.
The top four have at least each missed a round this year, with superstar Maxime Van Pee riding and winning only the second round.
Kyakaigo & Fort Portal's first
Sunday's championship was the first national motocross event to be hosted at Kyakaigo after the arena opened about two years ago.
It has hosted mixed events including motor rally and motocross, with the most recent activity - prior Sunday - happening over Easter this year, but never a national motocross championship.
"I have to say it was an extremely successful event, with lots of people coming and enjoying," Eddie Ssekamwa, the proprietor of Kyakaigo Sports Arena, told Daily Monitor yesterday.
"Of course the first feeling is that of relief. When you host such an event, all you want is for it to happen and pass without any serious incidents.
"And I'm relieved that we did our best safety wise and our very first national championship at Kyakaigo has passed without any serious incident. It's definitely the first of many more to come."
Elsewhere, motocross authorities are expected to soon announce the national team to represent Uganda at the FIM Africa Championship in South Africa due August in Cape Town, South Africa.
2023 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship in Romania
Ugandan team to Bucharest
MX 65
Jonathan Katende
Isaiah Larry Ssekamwa
Miguel Joel Katende
MX 85
Malcolm Gift Ssebuguzi
2023 Mountain Dew National Motocross Championship standings after the 4th round
MX 50 Junior
Name R1 R2 R3 R4 Overall
Hellena Birungi Ainomugisha 60 60 57 60 237
Janani Makumbi 30 45 39 45 159
Mark Hansel Kugonza 47 51 43 _ 141
Alba Muwanguzi 33 11 35 39 118
MX 50 Junior (ladies)
Name R1 R2 R3 R4 Overall
Hellena Birungi Ainomugisha 60 60 57 60 237
Janani Makumbi 49 51 45 45 190
Arriella Katende 32 45 39 39 155
Athina Faith Mbabazi _ _ 54 51 105
MX 50 (ladies)
Name R1 R2 R3 R4 Overall
Jamairah Makumbi 60 60 60 60 240
Faith Deedan Angel 49 47 51 43 190
Abigail Katende 47 49 15 51 162
Abigail Muwanguzi 36 33 43 39 151
MX 50
Name R1 R2 R3 R4 Overall
Jude Kyle Musedde 55 60 60 54 229
Jamairah Makumbi 49 51 51 57 208
Noel Sekamwa 52 15 41 41 149
Faith Deedan Angel 36 38 38 25 137
MX 65 (ladies)
Name R1 R2 R3 R4 Overall
Rahmah Nakachwa Kimera 40 60 60 60 220
MX 65
Name R1 R2 R3 R4 Overall
Jonathan Katende 49 57 45 49 200
Miguel Katende 60 _ 60 60 180
Ramadhan Mubiru 37 43 47 34 161
Larry Ssekwamwa 39 47 23 45 154
MX 85 lites
Name R1 R2 R3 R4 Overall
Malcolm Gift Ssebuguzi 60 60 60 60 240
Jerome Mubiru 51 51 47 41 190
Ron Young 43 45 49 41 178
Dan Mitima 31 39 26 49 145
MX 85 (lites) ladies
Name R1 R2 R3 R4 Overall
Agness Nakanwagi 57 40 60 60 217
Sasha Nagadya 54 0 _ 17 71
MX 125
Name R1 R2 R3 R4 Overall
Apollo Milton Obote Akaki 54 52 60 54 220
Waleed Omar 57 54 17 55 183
Jeremiah Mawanda 39 35 47 47 168
Mubarak Ssenoga Mayanja 7 38 30 _ 75
MX 125 (ladies)
Name R1 R2 R3 R4 Overall
Asia Kasirye _ _ 40 40 80
MX 2
Name R1 R2 R3 R4 Overall
Wazir Ali Omar 60 47 60 _ 167
Jordan Mukiibi _ _ 34 60 94
Fortune Ssentamu _ 60 _ _ 60
Junior Mahad 34 _ 15 _ 49
MX 1
Name R1 R2 R3 R4 Overall
Fatuh Kiggundu 43 _ 60 60 163
Isma Mukiibi 41 _ 51 49 141
Ashim Serwadda 54 _ _ 47 101
Maxime Van Pee _ 60 _ _ 60
VMX Veterans
Name R1 R2 R3 R4 Overall
George Sserugunda 43 45 45 45 178
Ashi Young 43 51 _ 39 133
Andrew Marinelli 49 39 _ 33 121
Christian Milletti 60 60 _ _ 120
VMX Veterans (ladies)
Name R1 R2 R3 R4 Overall
Rose Deedan Turinawe 60 0 _ _ 60
VMX Masters
Name R1 R2 R3 R4 Overall
James Michael Akena 60 60 60 _ 180
