Malan in dominant form

Collin Matiza Sports Editor
ONE of South Africa’s top motocross riders Matthew Malan was in dominant form during the opening day of the 2015 Zimbabwe Summer Series at Donnybrook in Harare on Wednesday night. This year’s Zimbabwe Summer Series opened with a Supercross (night racing) meeting on Wednesday and Malan, who raced in the United States last year, was unstoppable in the main MX1 Class, taking the first step on the podium ahead of fellow South African Damon Strydom. Malan amassed 75 points to emerge as the top dog on Wednesday night while Strydom collected 64 points to take second place.

Jeffrey Meurs, the 2010 Dutch national champion, could only settle for third place in the MX1 Class behind the two South African riders, who were just a joy to watch on the track on the night. Meurs picked 60 points as he came home in third place.

Cameron Thixton, who came sixth, was the best placed Zimbabwean in the MX1 Class while his fellow countryman, former professional rider Sean Mitchell was disqualified following a slight mishap, according to Temba Mazvimbakupa of the Zimbabwe Motorsport Federation.

Malan also won the MX2 Class to crown a good night for the stylish South African rider.

South Africa’s Dalton Venter emulated Malan by taking the first step on the podium in the 85cc Class, beating fellow South African Cameron Durow and Zimbabwe’s Davin Cocker into second and third places.

There was a clean sweep by Zimbabwe in the 65cc A Class in which the country’s top junior riders Daiyaan Manuel, Emmanuel Bako and Big “BJ” Chitima (Jnr) took the first three places. It was good to see nine-year-old Bako racing in the 65cc A Class and coming second in this section as he spent most of this year competing in the 50cc Class. He’s surely a star in the making.

Another promising young Zimbabwean rider Ryan Masimo also did well to take first place in the 65cc B Class with 75 points as he outpaced Travis da Silva (66 points) and Ricky Whyte (60 points) in this section.

The 2015 Zimbabwe Summer Series continues tonight with another Supercross race meeting at Donnybrook before the three-day event draws to a close with a full day of motocross action on Sunday at the same venue.

Today’s Supercross race meeting starts at 6pm while Sunday’s motocross action gets underway at 10am and there will be full bar and catering at both events where entry fee has been pegged at $5 for adults and $2 for children under the age of 12.