New Moto-X brooms set to sweep clean at Donnybrook

Collin Matiza-Sports Editor 

NEVER in his wildest dreams did young Victor Nyamupfukudza ever thought of one day finding himself standing in front of the local motocross world ranked as one of the top junior riders in this country. 

A Grade Four pupil at Elland Oak Junior School in Waterfalls, Harare, Nyamupfukudza was introduced to motocross by his father, Simbarashe, at the tender age of four.

He began his trade as a motocross rider from the Peewee level, which is designed for riders under the age of seven.

Victor then moved a class up into the 50cc Class where he became a regular feature at Donnybrook Park Raceway in Harare before the Covid-19 pandemic hit these shores at the beginning of March 2020, bringing to a halt all sporting activities in Zimbabwe. 

But this did not deter young Nyamupfukudza as he continued to train privately under the watchful eye of his father, Simbarashe, and in August 2022 when sporting activities resumed in this country and in some African countries, he was the first to leave the country to represent Zimbabwe in the FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championships in Uganda.

He followed this up by picking up a bronze medal when he came third overall in the 50cc Class during this year’s FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championships which were held in Cape Town, South Africa, in Africa.

His remarkable feat helped Zimbabwe to finish second overall behind the hosts South Africa at the end of the two-day continental competition. 

This also marked the entry of nine-year-old Nyamupfukudza as one of the country’s top junior motocross riders. 

In fact, Nyamupfukudza is not the only promising young rider who has entered the fray in the local motocross scene as there is a new generation of local dirt bike riders who are now setting the track on fire at Donnybrook. 

They are ready to take over the mantle from the likes of Trevor Thixton, Doug Mellor, Shaun Whyte, Jayden Ashwell, Ashley Thixton, Regan Wasmuth and Cameron Thixton who used to dominate the local motocross scene at Donnybrook for the past decade or so.

Last year saw the likes of young riders Kudzwai Chitsurura, Mudiwa and Judah Sakupwanya coming in from the cold to join this exciting but demanding motorcycling sport. 

Mudiwa and Judah Sakupwanya are the sons of prominent Harare businessman Scott Sakupwanya and they were introduced to motocross by their father’s close friend Brighton “Bucks” Bako. 

Bako’s 17-year-old son Emmanuel is already a household name in the local and South African motocross fraternity and he thinks the coming in of a number of young riders into the fray bodes well for the sport’s future in this country.

“Remember motocross was on its death bed just before the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions and I decided to approach a number of parents who I thought were interested in bringing in their kids into the sport.

“I was really surprised by their response as I managed to get more than five kids, including the Sakupwanya brothers, on board.

“If you look at the number of young riders who are now taking part in our junior ranks, it’s really amazing.

“We now have more junior riders in the junior ranks than in the seniors and I think this shows the future of motocross is bright in this country.

“These youngsters now need support from both their parents and the corporate world for them to continue having an interest in this sport,” Brighton Bako said. 

Simbarashe Nyamupfukudza concurred.

“Most people talk of motocross of being an elite sport but it’s no longer the case as more and more young riders are being introduced to the sport by their parents. 

“What we need now is for these parents to help in approaching the corporate world for sponsorship.

“Lately, we only had Scott Sakupwanya’s Better Brands Jewellery who came in as one of the major sponsors of motocross in this country which is a very good sign of better things coming ahead.

“But we need more sponsors to get motocross back on its feet in this country and lure more young riders into this exciting sport,” Simbarashe Nyamupfukudza said. 

Of late, Donnybrook Park has welcomed a number of promising young riders who are now competing in different classes. 

They include the likes of Riley Rocher, Jack Gobey, Joshua Pike, Tariq Shelton, Karl van As, Kudzwai Chitsurura, Victor Nyamupfukudza, Jayden Kerwin, Cameron Fraser and Michael Krause. 

The junior ranks also have a number of budding riders such as Willem Krause, Declan Barrett, Sebastian Wright, Elroy Shamuyarira, Chris Mufanechiya, George Zeimann, Craig Ormerod, Wade Cameron, Cameron Zeimann, Keegan Ormerod, Cameron Morgan and Jaxen Bird.

“These are all talented riders and are a joy to watch every time they get on the track at Donnybrook. 

“These are our future champions and they deserve all the praise that’s been given to them,” Brighton Bako said. 

Local motocross racing fans will have a chance of watching all these riders in action during tomorrow’s final round of the 2023 Bogwheelers Club National Motocross Championship series at Donnybrook. 

Entry fee for spectators has been pegged at US$5 per person while Under-14s will get in for free.

There will be full bar and catering. 

Doug Mellor, one of the organisers of the National Motocross Championship series,  said all was set for tomorrow’s event at Donnybrook. 

“We have had earth moving machines on site sponsored by Orca Plant Hire and Better Brands.

“The track has been reversed in the opposite direction.

“There are the Mlimi brothers here from South Africa racing which will be very exciting for this event which is being  sponsored by our new sponsors Better Brands Jewellery,” Mellor said.