adminCollin Matiza Sports Editor
PREPARATIONS to bring Italian superstar Stefy Bau to grace the 2013 Zimbabwe Summer Series have gathered pace with news that the famous former world women’s motocross champion has formally accepted the invitation to visit the country in December.The Zimbabwe Summer Series is the country’s premier motorcycling event and has been slated for December 7, 11, 13 and 15 at the home of the country’s motorsport, Donnybrook in Harare.
This annual event attracts top motocross riders from the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, Zambia and hosts Zimbabwe and they will compete in two motocross events on December 7 and 15 and as many Supercross (night racing) meetings on December 11 and 13.
And this year’s Zimbabwe Summer Series is expected to be graced by former world women’s motocross champion and Italian legend Bau, who recently accepted a personal invitation from Tawanda “Polycup” Muzinda, the father of one of the country’s few female motocross riders, nine-year-old Tanya Muzinda, to attend this big international event.
In fact, Bau, who is based at Tallahassee in Florida, United States, on Tuesday received her air ticket to Zimbabwe from Tawanda Muzinda and quickly confirmed that she will “definitely” be flying into Harare on December 2. Tawanda Muzinda sent a personal invitation to Bau whom he would like to work with his daughter, Tanya, before and during this year’s Summer Series and the Italy-born women’s motocross mentor said on Tuesday that she can’t wait to fly to this country at the beginning of December.
She said she was looking forward to working with Tanya whom she would like to turn into the first ever professional female motocross racer to emerge from Zimbabwe “if not from Africa”.
“Yes, I have received the e-ticket from Tawanda Muzinda. Everything is now confirmed, I am humbled by this and I can’t wait for this opportunity to work with Tanya,” Bau told The Herald from her base in Tallahassee on Tuesday night.
“I will contact one of the biggest motorcycle magazines here in the US and propose an article to be published in regards to this entire experience!”
Bau said although her main focus during her visit to Zimbabwe would be on developing the motorbike riding skills of Tanya, she was also prepared to work with the country’s other promising young riders.
“This said, after the first day of training I will be able to determine the daily routine so to keep riders focused and with energies for the entire time. I am assuming that from morning to evening we will be at the track. I’d like to understand how we will be able to plan the food intake for the riders.
Eating the right food and at the right time will help in giving the correct energy to the riders so they can keep focus and learn throughout the entire day, each training day. Water intake is also important.
“I will compile an accurate and personalised plan for Tanya, but since we are going to invite other riders I’d like to make sure that everyone gets the best out of this training.”
Tawanda Muzinda said bringing Bau to Zimbabwe was part of his efforts to develop his daughter Tanya as well as helping her to turn into a fully-fledged professional female motocross rider.
“I took this initiative to invite Stefy to work with Tanya before and during this year’s Zimbabwe Summer Series because I would like her (Tanya) to get some expert advice from a professional trainer of great repute like Stefy.
“One thing you must understand here is that I’m not trying to show off or do something to attract unnecessary attention, but this is a major project in which I would like to see my daughter Tanya lead the way for other aspiring female motocross riders in Zimbabwe by turning professional.
“Sport is now a big industry the world over and is now one of the biggest employers in the world and we, as parents, need to invest in the future of our children, especially if they are as talented as Tanya by getting them the best advice and best training methods available. It’s high time we should take sport seriously and I personally think our relationship with Stefy will go a long way in helping Tanya to become a female world champion in motocross . . . That is my dream and it will come true.
“We must try by all means to give our kids the opportunities of turning themselves into world-class athletes while they are still young. Look at the father of (American female tennis players) Serena and Venus Williams. I think he personally forked out thousands of dollars in training and developing his daughters while they were still young.”
Bau, meanwhile, described her impending relationship with Tanya as a wonderful opportunity for both of them as this would culminate in the Italian mentor inviting the talented young Zimbabwean rider for more professional training at her motocross academy, 211 MX School, in Tallahassee back in Florida in the United States.
“My motto is: True leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders and that’s what I aim to do with Tanya,” Bau said.
Born on February 17, 1977 in Milan, Italy, Bau is a former motocross and Supercross professional racer.
Bau was the first woman to win every round of the Women’s Motocross Association National Championship in the United States in 1999 and she also won seven Italian National Championships, five US National Championships and three Women World Championships during her illustrious career.
After a career-ending injury in 2005, Bau became the General Manager of the newly-established FIM Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme Women’s World Motocross Championship by Youthstream. Bau is also the most successful Italian motocross racer, male or female, to ever compete in the US.
Online Reporter