Peter Tanyanyiwa
Collin Matiza
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE countdown is on!
In just less than a week, Africa’s best motocross riders will go head-to-head at Donnybrook Park Raceway in Harare from August 16–17 where speed, skill and national pride collide.
The track at Donnybrook is set to ignite with thunderous action at the 2025 FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Continental Championships!
The event is a major motocross competition on the African continent where national teams compete for continental supremacy.
It’s a two-day event featuring adrenaline-packed motocross showdowns.
The MXOAN is the only motorcycle Continental Championship in Africa, where riders from throughout Africa will push their limits in an exciting two-day competition.
And with the 2025 African Nations Championships just a few days away, Zimbabwe’s rising stars and veteran motocross riders are set to compete against the continent’s best during this exciting two-day motorcycling event.
The MXoAN, which attracts scores of top riders from Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, returns to Zimbabwe after the country last hosted this big continental event six years ago.
And the air is thick with anticipation!
Hosts Zimbabwe have already named a strong team of more than 50 of the country’s top junior and senior motocross riders, who will be out to raise the national flag high in the different classes that they will be competing in.
Veteran rider Dougie Mellor will lead Team Zimbabwe’s assault in the Veterans Class.
He will be joined on the big stage by other senior riders, who include Ashley Thixton, Riley Rocher, Karl van As, Daiyaan “D” Manuel and the irresistible Emmanuel Bako.
In the juniors’ section, Team Zimbabwe will be led by two of the country’s most talented young riders Victor Nyamupfukudza and Chris Mufanechiya, who will be fighting for the top step on the podium in the 65cc and 85cc classes respectively.
In fact, 10-year-old Nyamupfukudza is set to feature in his fourth straight African Championships after having taken part in the last three editions of the continental event in Uganda (2022), South Africa (2023) and Morocco (2024).
His best showing was at last year’s event in Marrakech, Morocco, where he grabbed a silver medal in the 65cc Class.
Nyamupfukudza, now a Grade Six learner at Elland Oak Junior School in Waterfalls, was the darling of the crowd in Marrakech as he took their breath away with the way he handled his machine during the two-day continental Championships in which he emerged as the second-best rider in Africa in the 65cc Class.
He was just like a ball of fire during the two days of racing in Marrakech in October last year.
Nyamupfukudza had in 2023 helped Zimbabwe to finish second overall behind perennial continental champions South Africa when he helped the 50cc Class team to win a bronze medal.
And he will once again be out to set the big stage alight when he takes part in next weekend’s MXoAN at his favourite hunting ground at Donnybrook.
There’s also Jayden Kerwin and Elroy Shamuyarira in the 65cc Class and Sab Wright, Kudzwai Chitsurura, Mufanechiya and Shamuyarira in the 85cc Class.
Budding motocross riders Judah and Mudiwa Sakupwanya will also be in action next weekend.
The event is being organised by the Bogwheelers Club on behalf of Motorsport Zimbabwe and one of its top officials, Jamie Kerwin, said that they are looking forward to another strong turnout and another weekend of great racing. Kerwin, one of the local organisers of this year’s African Championships, said all was in place for the successful staging of this big continental motocross event.
She urged the local motorsport enthusiasts to come in their thousands to cheer Team Zimbabwe.
“Let’s cheer on Zimbabwe’s rising stars as they carry the hopes of their nation during Africa’s premier motocross showdown!
“Don’t miss this thrilling celebration of motocross. Come support your team, feel the energy, and enjoy the action!
“Riders from different African nations will compete for continental honours.
“The event is expected to draw a large number of spectators. Zimbabwe is hosting the event for the first time since 2016,” Kerwin said. She also said more than 10 African countries, including Namibia, have already confirmed their participation at this year’s event at Donnybrook. Fourteen riders in eight different classes will represent Namibia at the event.
They will be part of more than 500 motocross riders who are expected to “invade” Donnybrook for what could be the biggest sporting event to be staged in Zimbabwe this year.
Online Reporter