adminCollin Matiza Sports Editor
PROMISING young Zimbabwean motocross rider Daiyaan Manuel is only one shot away from being crowned this year’s South African National Championship 50cc pro class champion.
Manuel will today compete in the final round of the six-round 2014 South African National Motocross Championship at Syringa Park in Muldersdrift, which is just outside Johannesburg, and the nine-year-old talented Zimbabwean rider needs at least two podium places in the three races that he will compete in to be crowned the 50cc pro champion for 2014.
According to Manuel’s father, Junior, his son is currently leading in the 50cc pro class standings in the South African National Motocross Championship going into today’s last round of the tough series “and hopefully, all going well, he will win the title” this weekend.
This will be a phenomenal achievement for the St. John’s Preparatory School’s Grade Four pupil who has been a ball of fire while competing both at home in Zimbabwe and in the South African National Motocross Championship series this year.
According to the South African National Motocross Championship’s 50cc Class Provisional Standings after five rounds, Daiyaan is sitting pretty at the top of the table with 236 points, 19 ahead of second-placed Nate McLellan of South Africa. Another young South African rider Blake Young is in third place with 167 points.
Daiyaan has been “invincible” on the track this year where he obliterated the opposition in the 50cc Class in which he won almost all his races in Zimbabwe, South Africa and in Zambia where he represented his country in this year’s FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championship in Kitwe in August.
Currently, Daiyaan, who was born in Basildon in Essex in the United Kingdom, is leading in the 50cc A Class in the Bogwheelers Club’s Club and National Championship series in Zimbabwe with one race remaining for both events.
“In fact, Daiyaan’s last year on the 50cc has been phenomenal; he has excelled in his racing technique and has gained tremendous confidence and experience. He has made us very proud and has flown his country’s flag high, both in South Africa and Zambia.
“Although, a lot of Daiyaan’s focus has been on motocross this year, this has not hindered his school work as he has maintained a high grade,” his father Junior said.
Apart from taking part in today’s last round of the South African National Motocross Championship, Daiyaan is also expected to compete in the upcoming first-ever Monster Energy Supercross Africa on November 1 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa.
In what was recently described as “the most physically demanding sport in existence”, this event in Pretoria will challenge the world’s best riders on an intricately designed and physically demanding Supercross track, featuring tons of dirt and sculpted obstacles.
Fans can look forward to jaw dropping displays of skill and speed by their favourite champions as they negotiate huge triple jumps and tight turns on powerful bikes, while engaging in Extreme Racing.
By hosting it at Loftus Stadium, every fan will get an upfront view from their seat as riders rip it up in the ultimate adrenalin event.
Meanwhile, Daiyaan will be joined at today’s final round of the South African National Motocross Championship by Zimbabwe’s champion rider Jayden Ashwell who will be competing in the main MX1 Class.
Just like Daiyaaan, Ashwell will be using today’s event to fine-tune himself for the tough Monster Energy Supercross Africa at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on November 1.
Online Reporter