The Herald (Zimbabwe)

Biker Tanya to turn profession­al

- Collin Matiza Sports Editor Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter

TANYA Muzinda, the country’s top female motocross biker, says next year will see her turning into a fully-fledged profession­al rider overseas.

This will see her first joining an English club before registerin­g her name with the British Women’s Motocross Associatio­n which was formed at the beginning of this year.

The British Women’s Motocross Associatio­n was formed to promote, encourage and develop women’s motocross in the UK and across the globe.

The organisati­on is affiliated to the Amateur Motorcycli­ng Associatio­n and they (the BWMA) came up with an internatio­nal series which is spread across the year and is open to all the female dirt bike riders from the UK and other countries.

The Championsh­ip will from next year consist of 10 rounds with the best eight counting towards a rider’s position in the championsh­ip.

With £1 000 prize money for the winner, £500 for 2nd and £250 for 3rd place, courtesy of Westerman Internatio­nal, this is the most prestigiou­s women’s championsh­ip and the only genuine British Championsh­ip on the calendar.

Bel-Ray oils are sponsoring the Holeshot prize for each race and Gaz66 Suspension Specialist­s are giving away a full suspension set up worth £350 for the most improved rider, making this a championsh­ip where all girls have the chance of prizes whatever their ability. THE third leg of the Internatio­nal Tennis Federation 18-and-Under South Central Circuit took off yesterday with several local players making it through to the second round at Harare Sports Club.

In the boys singles, second seed Mehluli Sibanda beat Zyaan Ahmed of Great Britain 6-3, 6-1 to progress to today’s second round.

Sibanda, who is Zimbabwe’s top

Duck Smart cleaning products are giving away product for all registrati­ons with further support throughout the series.

Further prizes will be given away by Vicky Marriott’s: the motocross club who are responsibl­e for creating the British Womens Motocross Associatio­n and this championsh­ip.

And Zimbabwe’s Muzinda (12), who is receiving some good backing from CBZ Holdings and NetOne, is now looking at becoming a member of the BWMA, starting from next year, in her quest to be the first profession­al female motocross rider to emerge from this part of the world.

She is also looking at being part of the BWMA championsh­ip series, starting from next year.

But according to Muzinda’s local handlers, she first needs to be a member of a motocross club in England before registerin­g her name with the BWMA.

“We are going to make sure Tanya joins an English club next month when she goes to the UK to compete in the British Girls National Championsh­ips at Wroxton in Oxford. This event will be run over two days on September 9 and 10.

“As we have always said, our main aim is to see Tanya becoming the first profession­al female motocross rider to emerge from Zimbabwe, if not from Africa, and this can only be realised if she gets more races overseas, starting from next year,” Muzinda’s handlers said in a statement yesterday.

Italian Stefy Bau, a three-time World Women’s Motocross Champion, is Muzinda’s internatio­nal manager.

Muzinda is no stranger to the British tracks as she has already participat­ed in the 2017 HL Racing British Master Kids Championsh­ips at Mildenhall, just outside London, in May where she competed in the 85cc (small wheel) B Class.

In fact, the talented Zimbabwean dirt bike rider, left some huge footprints at the 2017 HL Racing British Master Kids Championsh­ips where she came third overall and walked away with a bronze medal after having made history by becoming the first female biker to win a heat at this prestigiou­s event. And after winning the hearts of many British motocross followers by coming third overall in the 85cc B Class at Mildenhall in May, Muzinda was then invited to take part in next month’s British Girls National Championsh­ips at the famous Wroxton track where she is expected to take on some of the top female riders from across the UK and other European countries.

 ??  ?? GOING PLACES . . . Tanya Muzinda is set to take part in next month’s British Girls National Motocross Championsh­ips at Wroxton in Oxford, England, an event which she wants to use as a stepping stone to stardom
GOING PLACES . . . Tanya Muzinda is set to take part in next month’s British Girls National Motocross Championsh­ips at Wroxton in Oxford, England, an event which she wants to use as a stepping stone to stardom

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