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Collin Matiza
ZIMBABWE’S motocross champion rider Emmanuel Bako finally made a mark during the third round of the 2024 South African National Championship series this past weekend at Bloemfontein Off-road Club (BORC) in Bloemfontein, South Africa, where he swept to victory in the 125 High School Class.
After having played second fiddle to South African riders during the opening two rounds of the tough seven-round series at Legends in Gauteng in February and at Rover in Port Elizabeth in March, where he came third and fourth respectively, Bako returned with a vengeance at BORC on Saturday.
Bako (17), piloting his KTM bike with impressive consistency, took a hard-earned first-place finish in the first moto and then settled for a third place in the second moto, securing a solid first-place finish overall.
And the young Zimbabwean rider couldn’t hide his excitement as he commented on his Facebook wall after the race: “Bloem, you beauty. Never disappoints and certainly didn’t this past weekend, P1 — P3 for first overall and some good points! Super happy with the results but gotta work on the speed and fitness still, we’ll get there I promise.
“Shoutout to the team @betterbrandsracing, @fast_ktm for getting the race bike dialled after the PE disaster, @cycleworx suspension for getting my suspension dialled as always and everyone else behind me, appreciate you all so much.”
Bako was in a no-nonsense mood, especially in the first moto in which he took the lead from the start and never looked back to kick-start a good and memorable weekend for himself.
And a third-place finish in the second moto was good enough for him to take the first step on the podium in the 125 High School Class, his first victory in the South African Nationals this season. The Red Bull KTM team dominated in the High School Class this past weekend in the third round of the National Motocross Championship in Bloemfontein.
Bako’s old foes Trey Cox and Tristan Durow came second and third while mounting KTM bikes to seal a good day for the South African manufacturers.
The class saw Cox overcoming a fall in the first moto that resulted in a sixth-place finish.
In the second moto, Cox claimed the hole-shot and pulled away from the pack, ultimately claiming victory and the coveted top podium position to finish second overall behind Bako.
He commented on the weekend with a fighting spirit stating, “It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, it’s about the size of the fight in the dog.”
Red Bull KTM team manager, Kerim Fitz-Gerald, was thrilled with the team’s performance, highlighting individual achievements: “Cameron (Durow) dominated once again, taking all four motos. While Luke faced chal-lenges, he finished on a positive note. Young Trey (Cox) showcased incredible fighting spirit, battling back from behind to win the second moto.”
After round three of the National Motocross Championship, the Red Bull KTM Motocross team finds itself in a commanding position. Durow maintains an unblemished record, leading both the MX1 and MX2 classes with a perfect score of 100 points.
Luke Grundy sits comfortably in fifth place within the MX2 Class. Cox holds a strong second-place position in the High School Class, trailing the leader by a mere two points.
Meanwhile, former Zimbabwean rider Davin Cocker, piloting his Husqvarna FC450, competed in the MX1 Class in which he finished fourth overall.
Cocker, who was a regular feature in the local motocross events at Donnybrook in Harare before he moved to South Africa, clawed his way back to hard-earned third-place finishes in both motos, securing a solid fourth-place finish overall.
Online Reporter