MX riders converge at Donnybrook

DONNYBROOK - the home of local motorsport - will once again come alive tomorrow when the Bogwheelers Club host the third round of the 2017 National Motocross Series which they will use to pick the team that will represent Zimbabwe at this year’s FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championships in Botswana next month.

The 2017 FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championships are set to be hosted by Botswana during the weekend of August 25-27 and they are expected to bring together top junior and senior riders from a number of African countries such as Angola, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Last year’s championships were hosted by Kenya but Zimbabwe failed to send a team there due to financial challenges.

However, Gary Grainger, the chairman of Harare-based Bogwheelers Club who run the motorcycling sport of motocross in this country, this week indicated that they were “definitely” going to send a team to this year’s African Championships in Botswana and will use tomorrow’s race meeting at Donnybrook as a selection event for the continental competition. African Championships in Botswana. Grainger said the riders will take part in eight classes - 50cc, 65cc, 85cc, 125cc, MX1, MX2, Masters and Veterans - during the one-day event where some high octane of motocross racing is expected as the bikers jostle for places on the podium.

And one should look no further than the exciting Daiyaan “Dee” Manuel from winning the 65cc A Class in which he will be racing against fellow talented young riders such as nine-year-old Emmanuel Bako, Big “BJ” Chitima (Jnr), Jordan Dewdney, Tristan Verfeld and Dillan Faasen.

Racing tomorrow starts at 10am and entry fee for spectators has been pegged at $5 per person while children under the age of 12 will get in for free.

There will be full bar and catering.