Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
UNHERALDED Morongoa Mahopi is on the verge of making history by becoming the first black woman superbike rider to represent South Africa outside the nation’s borders with her debut in Zimbabwe next month.
Mahopi is among the first foreign competitors that have registered for the Bulawayo Motoring Club’s ultimate race of the year, the Toyota Castrol Three- Hour Endurance set for December 9.
The South African rider will compete in the One- Hour Motorcycle Endurance race on the same day, riding a Kawasaki ZX6 prepared by Adrenalin Powersport.
Mahopi is excited to try her new found passion and skill on the Bulawayo circuit.
“My dream is to become the first black woman superbike rider to be competitive in the national championship and quite possibly get to race abroad as well.
I would also like to inspire other black women to follow their dreams irrespective of their age or background. Who you are and where you come from should never limit you to become who you want to be. I’d love to own my own racing academy in the future, but for now I want to hang around with the best of them,” said Mahopi.
Leonora Young, a BMC member, who is also in the organising committee, said women can draw inspiration from the 34-year-old rider.
“It is never too late to put your dreams in motion. She (Mahopi) has done it and I think there are a lot of women that can try racing on a superbike. We’ve got a number of upcoming youngsters,” said Young.
South Africa has produced a host of well-known and successful female superbike riders in the form of Savannah Woodward and Nicole van Aswegen.
Mahopi got on a motorbike for the first time four years ago at Eagles Bikes Club Limpopo.
After two years of predominantly road and social riding, she started attending track days where her passion for circuit racing was born. In 2016 she made her debut in Class C of the Red Star Raceway Club Championship, ending the season in second place in her class points table.
At the beginning of the year she progressed to Class B, finishing second in the just ended season in South Africa. — @ZililoR.
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