dyton mupawaenda
Collin Matiza
AFTER turning professional, motocross champion rider Emmanuel Bako recently wrote his own piece of history when he became the first Zimbabwean and African to test the new 2024 Stark VARG electric motorbike in Europe.
The bike is part of Green Energy, which is the term used for the E-Bike and related electric vehicles in Europe.
And Bako’s French manager and trainer of EMX Motocross Academy in France, Joe Tavares, was given one of these latest E-Bikes for testing in Europe with the aim of finding a rider to take part in the upcoming E Bike FIM World Championships in Oslo, Norway, next month.
“We have been allocated a wild card entry to compete against a number of International Factory Teams. After Norway, we move to Crans Montana in Switzerland and then onto Vollore-Montagne in France,” Tavares told Zimpapers Sport from his base in France yesterday.
“Manu Bako was selected by EMX Motocross Academy to test the E-Bike on his recent training boot camp in Europe and after initial testing, Manu was both overwhelmed and impressed by the performance and handling of this futuristic machine which by the way outperforms most MXGP bikes in the paddock today!!
“With a fully computerised setup to control everything from horse-power, engine braking and even regenerative capabilities, Manu soon got hold of the power delivery and put in some very respectable lap times on some of the most punishing tracks in Europe, most notably the deep sand track of Lommel in Belgium.
“Manu will return to Europe shortly to prepare for the balance of his national races in South Africa and also for his first European Championship race at Trentino in Italy,” Tavares said.
Exposing the 17-year-old Bako to the latest in both motocross technology and training methods proved its point this past weekend where he finished fourth in the High School Class during the second round of the 2024 South African National Motocross Championship series at the sandy track at Rover in Port Elizabeth.
After experiencing some mechanical problems in practice and qualifying, Bako still finished in fourth place with a borrowed bike!… An unbelievable result at this high level.
And the Zimbabwean rider was not totally disappointed by his overall performance as he wrote on his Facebook page yesterday:
“You will have bad days, and that’s when you have to show up. Some real bad luck seizing 2 bikes but that’s just part of the game. At the end of the day it’s a new day. Thanks Team.”
In Zimbabwe and South Africa, Bako races under Betterbrands Petroleum Racing Team which is sponsored by prominent Harare businessman and politician Scott Sakupwanya’s Better Brands Petroleum.
Online Reporter