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Collin Matiza
ZIMBABWE’S motocross champion rider Emmanuel Bako has stepped up his preparations for this year’s Surge Energy Drink Zimbabwe Summer Series and has declared “war” against overseas riders who will be coming down to compete in this end-of-the-season motorcycling racing jamboree.
This year’s Zimbabwe Summer Series has once again been slated for three days with riders burning the track on December 11, 13, and 15 at the ceremonial home of local motorsport — Donnybrook Park Raceway in Harare.
The three-day international event has already attracted a new title sponsor — Surge Energy Drink — after last year’s sponsors, BetterBrands Petroleum, stepped aside for this year’s competition. And according to Scott Fraser, the chairman of the Bogwheelers Club who run motocross in this country, this coming December’s event is likely to attract more than 30 international riders.
“Our new title sponsor for this year is Surge Energy Drink.
“We are looking at 30 to 40 international riders from Europe and Southern Africa.
“Both motocross and Supercross tracks will be rebuilt to provide even better action for the fans,” Fraser recently told Zimpapers Sports Hub.
With this attractive incentive already on the table, this year’s Zimbabwe Summer Series will be no place for the faint-hearted as there will be three days of some high-octane racing at Donnybrook.
The event will rev off with the first of its two Supercross (night racing) events on December 11 followed by another night of Supercross action on December 13.
The international event will close with a full day of motocross racing on December 15.
By that time, it is anticipated that the visiting professional riders from overseas would have swept everything away in the three-day competition.
But one of Zimbabwe’s top motocross riders, Emmanuel Bako, has promised to give the visitors a good run for their money.
Bako, who recently turned 21, has already rolled up his sleeves, preparing for the big December event.
He rides in the seniors’ 125cc Class and MX1 Class.
Speaking to Zimpapers Sports Hub yesterday, Bako said, “So far so good to be honest!
“Mostly off-the-bike training, so that’s stuff like cardio, a bit of weight but too much of recovery, and recovery and cardio are the most important ones for me because I’m lacking a bit in terms of fitness and recovery because of all the racing, long flights, training on the bike, so my body needs time to recover and relax, so I get a few massages to relax the muscles and ice bath and sauna.
“But other than that, I’m feeling extremely confident because I know I can win, I mean last year I raced with four broken toes and still won the most heat races and finished second overall despite missing the first two races! And racing in front of a home crowd at such a big event like this is just motivation itself.
“The team and I are working hard to get healthy and fit to go out there and clean up. I refuse to be beaten by the international riders coming over.”
Bako’s bold declaration of taking no prisoners at Donnybrook in December throws an unexpected wrinkle in the race for the overall champion between the local riders and the visiting dirt bike riders.
It’s no longer a crystal-clear fight among the foreign riders.
Bako felt there was no chance of him losing during the three days of action at this year’s Zimbabwe Summer Series and reports that the foreign riders will sweep the board have “kind of gone a little bit under the radar in the last few days.”
leeroy
Online Reporter