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Collin Matiza Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE’S Emmanuel Bako will be out to solidify his growing status of being one of the best motocross riders in the Southern African region when he takes part in the South Africa Dirt Bike Festival in Pretoria this weekend.
Excitement is mounting as the 2023 South Africa Dirt Bike Festival is set to take place at Legends Adventure Farm just outside Pretoria from today to Sunday.
According to reports from Pretoria, the three-day event is set to feature a multitude of racing categories including motocross, Enduro, and cross-country events.
Supported by Motorsport South Africa and the world’s motorsport governing body, FIM, this eagerly anticipated event now holds a prominent position on the South African motor racing calendar spanning a three-day spectacle that encompasses a myriad of racing categories including motocross, Enduro, freestyle and cross-country events.
The Festival, now in its second year, is under the expert of seasoned organiser, Guy Henley, from Out of Africa Group.
Henley is confident that this year’s event will surpass its inaugural edition, expecting to attract hundreds of dirt bike participants from various disciplines and a significantly larger crowd of spectators.
He believes the Festival provides a golden opportunity for families engaged in the sport or with a keen interest in competing to witness first-hand the excitement of dirt bike racing.
The organisers of the South Africa Dirt Bike Festival yesterday told the Zimpapers Sports from Pretoria yesterday that more than 400 participants from across South Africa and outside its borders had by Wednesday registered to take part in this weekend’s big event and they include Zimbabwe’s motocross sensation Emmanuel Bako.
Infact, the Zimbabwean flag will be hoisted at Legends Adventure Farm this morning as 17-year-old Bako takes to the field in the motocross category in which he is likely to compete in the 125cc High School Class. Fresh from taking a credible second place finish in the 125cc High School Class during Round 8 of the 2023 Inland Championship at Terra Topia just outside Johannesburg last weekend, Bako will once again be out to make his presence felt during the three-day of some high octane racing at the South African Dirt Bike Festival in the next three days.
His father and manager, Brighton “Bucks” Bako said his son was fit and raring to go in this weekend’s event.
“After competing in the Inland Championship series at Terra Topia last weekend, Manu decided to stay in Johannesburg where he trained with two of South Africa’s top motocross riders, the Mlimi brothers, Joshua and Jonathan, under one of that country’s top motocross trainers Ricky Ralph for the whole of this week in preparation for the South Africa Dirt Bike Festival.
“This shows how seriously he’s taking this weekend’s event in Pretoria where I’m quite confident he will get one of the three places on the podium at the business end of this big international dirt bike racing event.
“It’s all systems go for Emmanuel and I’m quite confident he won’t disappoint us (Zimbabweans) at this event.
“Emmanuel is now a household name in the South African motocross racing circuit where he has won countless races in the past decade or so and he will have his fair share of South African motocross fans rooting for him at this event.
“I can foresee the Zimbabwean flag being raised and the national anthem being played during the prize-giving ceremony on Sunday,” Brighton Bako said from Johannesburg yesterday.
Online Reporter