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Collin Matiza Sports Editor
FAST rising Zimbabwean motocross rider Kuda Mhene (Jnr) is set to compete in his first major international competition this year when he takes part in the East African Championship in Entebbe, Uganda, on May 18.
The 10-year-old Lomagundi College Primary School’s Grade Five pupil was recently invited to take part in this one-day meet by a club in Uganda and is scheduled to leave for the East African country on Wednesday next week accompanied by his father Kuda Mhene (Snr) who doubles up as his trainer and manager.
Kuda Mhene (Snr) said yesterday that in Uganda his son will race in the 65cc A Class where he is expected to challenge top Ugandan rider Fortune Sentamu.
“A motocross club in Uganda has invited us to compete in the East African Championship on May 18 in Entebbe and it’s an all expenses paid for trip for us. So, we are scheduled to leave Harare on Wednesday next week for Uganda via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and we will do our practise from Thursday to Saturday before we take part in the championship on Sunday May 18.
“They (the Ugandan people) want Kuda to challenge their top rider in the 65A Class — Fortune Sentamu — because they’ve seen him riding before at last year’s FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations in South Africa and they were quite impressed by his riding skills.
“I think this prompted them to send an invitation for Kuda to go over there to compete in this year’s East African Championship which attracts top motocross riders from Uganda and Kenya. I understand some top riders from Morocco are also attending this meet but Kuda will be the only Zimbabwean who will be competing in this big international event,” Kuda Mhene (Snr) said.
Kuda Mhene (Jnr) has been to Uganda before in 2012 where he competed in the FIA Africa Motocross of African Nations before he took part in the same competition in South Africa in August last year.
In both competitions, the exciting, talented young rider competed in the 50cc Class but he has since graduated to race in the 65cc A Class where he is expected to challenge Uganda’s Sentamu during next Sunday’s East African Championship in Entebbe.
“We are going to take our own bike to Uganda because I feel it’s much safer for Kuda to ride his own KTM bike during this meet rather than to compete on a borrowed one. So, I can safely say that we are more than ready to take part in this event,” Kuda Mhene (Snr) said.
Kuda Mhene (Jnr) has been riding since he was four years old and has won numerous motocross titles at junior level in this country.
Last year, Kuda Mhene (Jnr) rode in the 50cc Class and was placed third overall at the end of the six-round national championship series.
Meanwhile, the Bogwheelers Club, who run motocross in this country, will today hold the third of their six-round 2014 club championship series at Donnybrook Raceway in Harare.
Shaun Whyte, the chairman of the Bogwheelers Club, said today’s club championship event will be followed by a Supercross meet on May 24 and it will be held in conjunction with the popular 4×4 Jamboree at Donnybrook.
“We are expecting all our top riders to first take part in the club championship event (today) and then in the Supercross meet on May 24 as our 2014 season gains momentum. So, we are urging all the motocross fans to come to Donnybrook in their hundreds to watch these two exciting events,” Whyte said.
Today, the riders will compete in all the classes ranging from the PeeWees (for riders under the age of seven) right up to the Masters Class (for riders over the age of 35).
Racing today starts at 10am and there will be a full bar and catering.
Entry fee has been pegged at US$5 per car.
Online Reporter