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Collin Matiza Sports Editor
THE 2023 Bogwheelers Club Zimbabwean National Motocross Championship series heads into a nail-biting decider at Donnybrook Park Raceway track in Harare on Sunday.
A number of national titles are up for grabs as the 2023 six-round motocross season reaches its business end this weekend.
And Jamie Kerwin of the Bogwheelers Club, who run the sport of motocross in this country under Motorsport Zimbabwe, yesterday predicted an exciting day on Sunday as top local junior and senior riders will be jostling to be crowned national champions in the different classes they will be competing in.
“All the riders in the classes need to ride their hearts out, especially in this round anything can happen in the top 5,” Kerwin told Zimpapers Sports yesterday.
She said it will be all work and no play for these dirt bike riders.
However, senior champion rider Ashley Thixton has already bagged the MX1 Class National title after amassing an unassailable 160 points during the first five rounds of the series, leaving Doug Mellor (124 poits) and Dylan Zanin (92 points) fighting for second and third places on the podium.
Thixton took part in the last round of the series last month at Donnybrook where he once again came out tops in the MX1 Class despite not pushing himself to the limit as he was trying to avoid any injuries ahead of the 2024 Dakar Rally which he is set to compete in at the beginning of next year in Saudi Arabia.
In the 2024 Dakar Rally, Thixton will be competing in the motorbike section of this grueling event which is set to run from January 5 to 19 in the dunes of Saudi Arabia.
Thixton is likely to be back racing at Donnybrook as a way of saying “thank you” to local motocross racing fans who backed him during the first five rounds of the National Championship series.
He is set to resume his “mini rivalry” with guest rider Joshua Mlimi of South Africa whom he beat into second place in the MX1 Class during the last round of the National series on September 12 at Donnybrook.
Mlimi is once again set to grace Sunday’s event together with his brother Jonathan.
Exciting young rider Daiyaan “D” Manuel is leading the pack in the MX2 Class with 130 points and set to be crowned the National Champion in this class as he is well ahead of his nearest challengers Emmanuel Bako (88 points) and Regan Wasmuth (86 points).
Riley Rocher (106 points), Jack Gobey (92 points) and Joshua Pike (87 points) are the leading contenders in the 125cc Class but the former is a safe bet to walk away with the title on Sunday.
Rocher is also in contention for the National title in the MX Lites 85cc Class where he is leading in the standings with 157 points ahead of Tariq Shelton (135 points) and Karl van As (122 points).
Young Kudzwai Chitsurura (171 points) holds the lead in the juniors 65cc Class and should walk away with the National title ahead of Victor Nyamupfukudza (152 points) and Jayden Kerwin (120 points).
Nine-year-old Nyamupfukudza is also competing in the 50cc Class and he needs one victory in one of his two races on Sunday to be crowned the National Champion for 2023 in this class.
This will crown a memorable season for Nyamupfukudza who, in August, led Zimbabwe to a second place finish behind the hosts South Africa during this year’s FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championships in Cape Town. A Grade Four pupil at Elland Oak Junior School in the Waterfalls area of Harare, Nyamupfukudza came third overall in the 50cc Class to walk away with a bronze medal and a trophy from Cape Town.
And his father and manager, Simbarashe Nyamupfukudza, yesterday told Zimpapers Sports that his son was more than ready to tackle the track at Donnybrook on Sunday.
“Although the 65cc Class title seems to be out of reach for Victor, he should wrap up the 50cc Class crown by finishing in the top two at the end of racing on Sunday.
“Victor had a relatively good season this year in which he won most of his races and he is now looking forward to racing in the 65cc Class next year.
“We now need to get him a brand new 65cc bike and we are hoping a number of well-wishers will come to our rescue and help us to buy this new bike in South Africa before the season starts early next year,” Simbarashe Nyamupfukudza said.
Meanwhile, there are 10 different classes to be contested in during the final round of the 2023 Bogwheelers Club National Motocross Championship series at Donnybrook on Sunday.
Taking place at the iconic motocross track at this famous motorsport venue in Harare, admission stands at US$5, with Under-14s gaining free entry.
There will be full bar and catering.
Racing on Sunday starts at 9am.
Online Reporter