Motocross season returns with a bang
After a two-month break, the motocross season returns on february 25 after the successful staging of the Zimbabwe Summer Series in December last year at Donnybrook Park raceway in Harare.
Local motocross fans in December witnessed the most exciting three days of Supercross and motocross action during the 2023 Zimbabwe Summer Series.
The event attracted more than 20 professional riders from overseas and they were joined by 14 bikers from South Africa who spiced up the international motorcycling jamboree.
The three-day competition enjoyed some massive sponsorship from prominent Harare businessman and politician Scott Sakupwanya, who, through his Better Brands Petroleum Company, poured more than US$1 million into the event.
Better Brands Petroleum is now the official sponsor of motocross in Zimbabwe and with the sport now enjoying some sound sponsorship from the petroleum company, the Bogwheelers Club, who run the sport in this country, can’t wait for their new season to start on february 25.
The season kicks off with the opening round of the six-round National Championship series at Donnybrook on february 25.
The iconic motorsport venue is likely to welcome hundreds of local motocross enthusiasts as they come to witness the opening round of the 2024 season.
A lot is in store for the local motocross riders as they will battle it out for the top honours in each class they will be competing in over the six rounds of this year’s National Championship series whose other rounds have been slated for March 24, May 19, June 23, July 21 and September 22.
They will all be held at Donnybrook which was given a major face-lift during the 2023 Zimbabwe Summer Series.
And the local riders can’t wait to get back on their bikes to tackle the new track and the new season when it opens on february 25.
Among the riders who are looking forward to the opening of the new season is nine-year-old Victor Nyamupfukudza who is currently on cloud nine after he recently received a donation of two brand new 2024 KTM 65cc bikes from the major sponsor of motocross in Zimbabwe – Scott Sakupwanya.
Nyamupfukudza, now a Grade five pupil at elland Oak Junior School in Harare’s neighbourhood of Waterfalls, has moved a class up from 50cc to 65cc for this season.
And his father and manager, Simbarashe Nyamupfukudza, yesterday told Zimpapers Sport that they just can’t wait for the new season to start in two weeks after they received their two new bikes from Sakupwanya.
“I think we now have what we want, we have been fully equipped and empowered, both from school and to the track.
“The two new bikes are a huge morale booster for us ahead of the new season and I’m also going to do my best as a parent to see that Victor becomes a dominant force on the track this coming season.
“With the two new bikes now in his bag, it’s now up to the rider to do the job on the track and I don’t doubt his skills when it comes to holding his machine,” Simbarashe Nyamupfukudza said.
He also said they were expecting to compete in the South African Nationals this year for Victor to get the much-needed international exposure.
“We also have the African Championships which are going to be held in Morocco later this year and we looking at having a crack at that one.
“We are looking forward to a very busy season both at home and outside our borders . . . We are on the ascendancy,” Simbarashe Nyamupfukudza said.
They are also looking forward to racing in this year’s major event — the Zimbabwe Summer Series — which has been slated for December 11, 13 and 15 at Donnybrook.
Meanwhile, the 2024 main circuit racing season gets underway on March 3 with the staging of ezytrack race Day at Donnybrook.
The event brings together some of the country’s top motor racing drivers and motorbike riders.