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would help him to compete in this year’s South African national championship series.
Ten-year-old Grainger recently secured sponsorship from local vehicle dealership company Toyota Zimbabwe and from petroleum company Fuchs Silkolene.
Grainger’s father, Gary, revealed this yesterday, saying the two sponsorship packages from Toyota Zimbabwe and Fuchs Silkolene would go a long way in helping his son to hone his motocross skills while competing in this year’s South African national championship series.
“Tristan is now being sponsored by Toyota Zimbabwe and Fuchs Silkolene who have both agreed to pay for all his expenses when he travels to South Africa to compete in that country’s national championship series.
“I can’t mention the figures involved (in the two sponsorship packages) at the moment but it’s enough for him to compete in this year’s South African national championship series and we are grateful for the two companies’ generosity,” Gary Grainger said.
The two sponsorship packages from Toyota Zimbabwe and Fuchs Silkolene will now come as a major morale booster for young Tristan Grainger who is this year’s riding a KTM 65cc motorbike and is expected to compete in the next round of the South African national championship series in Johannesburg on June 1.
Tristan Grainger is one of a number of talented local young riders who have shown a lot of promise in the demanding motorsport event of motocross in which an individual needs a lot of support, both financially and materially, in order for him or her to succeed in this sport.
The other talented local young riders who also need support from the corporate world includes the likes of one of the country’s only black female rider Tanya Muzinda, Big “BJ” Chitima (Jnr), Ryan Masimo and Kuda Mhene (Jnr) who are all eyeing to join Tristan Grainger in competing in this year’s South African national championship series.
In fact, young Mhene (Jnr) recently competed in the South African Northern Region championships in Polokwane where he did himself and the nation proud by taking a credible sixth-place finish in his class and his father Kuda Mhene (Snr) recently indicated that he was looking at taking his son back to South Africa to compete in the next round of that country’s national championship series.
“Kuda did well extremely well by coming sixth overall in his class as competition in the Polokwane event was high and stiff because a number of top South African motocross riders were in attendance.
But this also gave him the much-needed international exposure which could come in handy when he competes in his next big race in South Africa,” Kuda Mhene (Snr) said.
Meanwhile, young female rider Muzinda is still struggling to get support from the corporate world and this might cut short her promising career although her father, Tawanda, recently indicated that he is determined to see his daughter becoming the first professional female motocross rider in Zimbabwe.
“We recently approached a number of companies seeking sponsorship for Tanya but they have not been forthcoming although one other big company promised to fulfil their pledge of sponsoring a bike for her by the end of this week.
“So, all hope is not lost and I’m quite confident that we will soon secure her a big sponsorship package that will also see her joining Tristan Grainger and the rest of the other top young Zimbabwean riders in this year’s South African national championship series,” Tawanda Muzinda said.
Tanya Muzinda’s exploits on the track have also caught the attention of top American female motocross instructor Stefy Bau who recently indicated that she was willing to come to this country to work with the young rider for at least two weeks.
“I’m interested in coming to your country and work with Tanya in her environment for a two-week 24/7 training school. I will look at her diet, her exercise regime, and we will be going to the track for training sessions (three times a week). We can also add a race so we can work on mental approach,” said Bau from her base in Florida, United States, where she owns and runs a motocross training school for female riders – 211 MX.
Bau added that the cost of her coming to Zimbabwe to work with Tanya Muzinda would cost US$3 000 per week (all expenses paid) and this includes her airfare, accommodation, a car and meals. But she added that the other option was for young Tanya Muzinda to go to the United States for a two-week training stint.
“She can come to the United States for two weeks and we will be going to local tracks and work on a strict exercise and diet schedule. Cost of this option is US$2 500 per week but you (Tanya Muzinda’s handlers) will be responsible to find her a hotel, food, rent a motorcycle, a vehicle and pay for the gas to/from the track or any extras (for example going to a race),” Bau said.
Meanwhile, Tanya Muzinda and Tristan Grainger will join the rest of the country’s other top young motocross riders at this weekend’s Autumn Series at Donnybrook Raceway in Harare.
The two-day Autumn Series will kick-start with a Supercross (night racing) meet tomorrow, starting at 6pm, and will be followed by an all-day motocross event at the same venue on Saturday. The series is being staged by the Bogwheelers Club and its chairman Gary Grainger said yesterday that all the country’s top junior and senior riders are expected to take part in this exciting event.
This weekend’s Autumn Series is sponsored by a local borehole-drilling company Tandamanzi.
And Temba Mazvimbakupa of the Zimbabwe Motorsport Federation yesterday saluted Tandamanzi for extending their support to motocross in this country.
“Many thanks to Tandamanzi who have come in as the title sponsor for this event. This will help the sport to grow from strength to strength,” Mazvimbakupa said.
Online Reporter