Thixton’s Dakar Rally dream lives on
IT’S “three more sleeps’’ before Zimbabwe’s motorbike rider Ashley Thixton realises his dream of lasting the distance at the 2024 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.
After yesterday’s Stage 8 in which he came home in 35th place (+45:41), the 30-year-old biker just has to clear the last four hurdles (today, tomorrow, Thursday and on the last day of competition on Friday) to write his own piece of history as he will become the second Zimbabwean biker after Graeme Sharp (2020) to complete the whole Dakar Rally course in the Saudi dunes. Yesterday’s Stage 8 comprised of 220km liaison and 458km special stage from Al Duwadimi to Ha’il and Thixton came out with another clean bill of health.
Thixton actually wants to join the Zimbabwean motorsport immortals by achieving this phenomenal feat of going full length when the curtain finally comes down on the 2024 Dakar Rally on Friday.
He just wants to be a Zimbabwean motorsport legend! In fact, going into yesterday’s Stage 8 of the 2024 Dakar Rally, Thixton, who is making his de-but appearance at the world’s biggest and toughest motor rallying event in Saudi Arabia, had managed to clear the first seven stages with some smart rides which kept him in the top 40 of the bikes section of the Rally.
On Sunday, he survived a scare after an early fall during the Stage 7 but he dusted himself up and rode his Husqvarna bike expertly to glide home safely as he kept his dream of being among the finishers on Friday very much alive.
He should have been gutted to exit the rally early. Sunday’s Stage 7 was one of the Rally’s longest and after falling in the early stages of this stage, Thixton gathered his wits and managed to climb back into the top 30s after having dropped to around 78th.
Meanwhile, yesterday’s Stage 8 was a very difficult, tough and slow stage — according to preliminary calculations, the average speed on it was less than 80 km/h. In such conditions, the Argentinean Kevin Benavides (Red Bull
KTM Factory Racing) rode the best, winning the second special stage at this year’s Dakar.
Last year’s race winner remains one of the main heroes of the race — only a month and a half ago he suffered a serious leg injury, and is now fighting for a position in the Top 5 and ahead of his teammate Toby Price.
The battle for victory is becoming increasingly difficult — American Ricky Brabec (Honda) keeps the lead and even has a slight lead over Botswana’s Ross Branch (Hero), but his advantage four days before the finish is only 42 seconds. This pair of leaders is under increasing pressure from Chile’s José Ignacio Cornejo (Honda), whose gap is now less than 4.5 minutes. An interesting fact is that both Benavides brothers, the elder Kevin (KTM) and the younger Luciano (Husqvarna), finished in the Top 3 together for the second time in a row on a special stage.
Stage 8 (moto)
1. Benavides K. (KTM)
2. Benavides L. (Husqvarna) +0:31
3. Van Beveren (Honda) +1:27
4. Cornejo (Honda) +1:41
5. Price (KTM) +2:18
Overall (moto)
1. Brabec (Honda)
2. Branch (Hero) +0:42
3. Cornejo (Honda) +4:21
4. Van Beveren (Honda) +11:58
5. Benavides K. (KTM) +20:31
FORMER Highlanders and Tanzanian giants Azam FC skipper, Bruce Kangwa has joined Harare giants CAPS United on a two-year deal, Zimpapers Sports can reveal.
His two year contract also has an option to extend, pending his performance and fitness during his stay in the capital.
The deal between Kangwa and Harare giants was finalised yesterday and his manager George Deda confirmed that his player has joined the capital based side after a scramble for his signature by a number of clubs.
“It’s true, Kangwa is now a CAPS United player and on his behalf, we would like to thank the CAPS United management led by Honourable Farai Jere and coach Lloyd Chitembwe for showing great interest in Kangwa.
“The way they moved showed us and made us believe that Bruce is a wanted man and the player feels at home if he is wanted. CAPS acted swiftly to get his signature while with other teams, it was just talk with no action,” said Deda. Kangwa was released by Tanzanian giants Azam last season after seven years of service to the club and on his return to Zimbabwe, he was heavily linked with a move to his former club, Highlanders.
“Bruce’s commitment to Bosso is unquestionable. It is not that we did not consider Highlanders, we spoke to the Bosso hierarchy but up to now they didn’t come up with anything.
“Last season Bruce missed the chance to join Simba Bhora because he was still waiting (for Highlanders to make a move).
One window closed and we couldn’t let another one close as well, he is a family man, he needs to provide for his family,” said Deda.
Deda said there are a number of clubs in the capital that showed interest but they had to settle for the Green Ma-chine, who have a rich history and also tabled a better offer.
In his own words, Kangwa said CAPS showed seriousness for his signature and that’s why he chose them.
He added that he cannot wait to hit the ground running and is looking forward to his stay in the capital.
“If a team is serious, they do what CAPS did and move swiftly. CAPS United is a big team, and I will do my best to try and help them win trophies. That is what we are promising as a team and everyone at the club,” said Kangwa.
During his stint in Tanzania, the utility player won everything on offer in Tanzania except the league championship. He was also captain of the club until the last match of the season just a few days before his release. Kangwa also played in both the African Champions League and Caf Confederation Cup.
Deda described Kangwa as the ultimate professional who was humble and hardworking, always having a sense of belonging. Kangwa started his professional career at Railstars before Madinda Ndlovu took to Highlanders in 2009.*