adminCaroline Magenga Sports Reporter
THE Bogwheelers Club chairman Shaun Whyte has bemoaned lack of sponsorship in the relatively minority sport of motor-cross, whose growth has remained stunted for a while now in this country.
Speaking to The Herald yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s club championship event at Donnybrook in Harare, Whyte said with a serious backer, the sport could soar to greater heights as proved by the impressive performances displayed by the local riders time and again at local and international competitions.
“The sport remains largely a minority one because we don’t have a sponsor backing us and also the sport itself is relatively expensive, but with a sponsor to shoulder some of the costs, we would have more people taking part, particularly in the female category that currently has only one rider, Tanya Muzinda.
“Motocross is a very demanding sport not only financial-wise, but also physically. One has to be fit, so it also involves a lot of training and hard work,” Whyte said.
The veteran rider said they needed a sponsorship package of at least US$12 000 to facilitate for the 12 race meetings held each year.
“We host 12 race meetings a year and to run a meeting costs at most a thousand dollars to cover all the necessary costs and we need a sponsor who can invest at least US$12 000 into the events.
“Such a package would shoulder the costs for riders and that would encourage more interested riders to join in the sport.
“Zimbabwe has a lot of talent, evidenced by our performances at some competitions. On two consecutive occasions, we have won a silver medal at the prestigious FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championship and with some sound backing, I believe the sport can put our country on the world map,” said Whyte.
The Bogwheelers Club, who run the sport in this country, will tomorrow be hosting a club championship event at Donnybrook.
Top riders who will headline the event include Lee Chigumba in the 65cc Class, the exciting Dyaan Manuel in the 50cc Class and Reagan Bond in the 85cc Class, while Brad Perry will likely lead the pack in the 125cc Class.
“Racing will begin at 10am and we are expecting 60 riders for the event from all classes, ranging from PeeWees to senior classes, and in addition the 125cc class.
“Everything is already in place and we are looking forward to hosting another successful race meeting, so I urge everyone to come out and join us at Donnybrook on Sunday.
“The event is open to the public, there will be full bar and catering and the entrance fee is US$5 per car,” Whyte said.
Meanwhile, Muzinda (10) will be back on the track for the second week in a row tomorrow after having participated in a flat track event at Donnybrook last weekend where she finished second overall on her brand new KTM 65 motorbike which she recently received from the European Union.
Muzinda was also recently elected as the Zimbabwean Honorary Ambassador for Gender, Youth and Sport by former EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe Aldo Dell’Ariccia during a ceremony held at Donnybrook.
“First Race with the European Union-funded bike, the Austrian KTM, this Sunday at Doonybrook. Am excited and once again Thanks to EU, I can ride again #TEAM TANYA#EU#COSV,” Muzinda wrote on her Facebook wall yesterday.
The talented 10-year-old rider is also using tomorrow’s race meeting as part of her preparations for a month-long training stint in Germany in April next year.
Muzinda was recently invited for the training stint by a top German motocross racing club AMC Zirndorf, courtesy of Cape Town-based GeBe Foundation, which is run by Bernd Wulffen of Germany.
Zirndorf is in Bayern, south of Germany and Muzinda is expected to join their club at the beginning of April next year for her month-long stay where, apart from racing, she will also receive some professional training from some top motocross coaches from that country.
GeBe Foundation’s Wulffen said yesterday from his base in Cape Town, South Africa, that all was in place for Muzinda to travel to Germany in April next year “and we hope this will be the beginning of better things to come for her in her quest to become the first professional female motocross rider to emerge from Zimbabwe.”
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