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Collin Matiza Sports Editor
YOUNG Zimbabwean motocross sensation Emmanuel Bako will be out to tighten his grip at the top of the 2015 Monster Energy South African National Championship’s 50cc Pro Class standings when he takes part in the fifth of the seven-round series at Dirt Bronco in Johannesburg this coming Saturday.
Bako, a Grade Three pupil at Heritage Primary School in Harare, has been in dominant form this year in which he has been battling for the top honours in the 50cc Pro Class with his peers from South Africa in that country’s National Championship series.
After competing in the first four rounds of the 2015 Monster Energy South African National Championship series in Harrismith (round one), Zone 7, Cape Town (round two), Port Elizaberth (round three) and in Durban (round four), Bako has found himself sitting pretty at the top of the 50cc Pro Class Standings with 166 points in the bag.
He is 14 points clear of his nearest rival from South Africa Wian du Plooy while another promising young South African rider James Thompson is placed third with 148 points. His (Thompson’s) fellow countryboy Lucca Mynhardt is in fourth place with 140 points.
And after having made his presence felt in the opening four rounds of this year’s South African National Championship series in which he gave the three South African riders du Plooy, Thompson and Mynhardt a good run for their money in the 50cc Pro Class, Zimbabwe’s Bako will this weekend head out to Dirt Bronco where he is once again expected to shine on the track at this tough motocross venue in the outskirts of Johannesburg.
All eyes will be on Bako as he fights to emulate fellow young Zimbabwean rider Daiyaan Manuel who was crowned the overall winner of this class last year.
The last time out in Durban at the end of last month, Bako didn’t have the best of his rides in the fourth round of the series in which his clutch blew up in heat 2 and was forced to finish fourth overall.
And Bako will be out to redeem himself when he comes up against his same South African rivals on Saturday.
A number of Zimbabwean riders will be competing at Dirt Bronco and they will be led by the country’s champion rider Jayden Ashwell who is taking part in the main MX1 Class.
Ashwell has been getting some coaching from Brandon Hinton of South Africa and it seems to be paying off.
During last month’s fourth round of the series in Durban, he finished a career best 3rd in heat 2 and is looking like a serious contender should this form continue to rise.
Another local rider Davin Cocker will take part in the 85cc Class which should be another great race to watch on Saturday.
Online Reporter