No SA joy for Nyamupfukudza

Collin Matiza-Zimpapers Sports Hub

THERE was no joy for young Zimbabwean motocross rider Victor Nyamupfukudza during the opening round of the 2026 South African National Championship series at Terra Topia just outside Johannesburg over the weekend.

The dirt at Terra Topia delivered absolute carnage and world class racing as the hunt for the No.1 plate officially began.

And round one of the South African Nationals, unfortunately, didn’t go as planned for Nyamupfukudza who came seventh overall in the 85cc Class.

Nyamupfukudza, a Grade 7 pupil at Elland Oak Junior School in Waterfalls, was expected to enjoy the hardpack in his first attempt in the 85cc Class.

He was competing in the South African Nationals for the second time in his career and found the going tough on Saturday.

Coming up against some of South Africa’s top young dirt bike riders, Nyamupfukudza, who turns 12 in May, came a disappointing seventh in the 85cc Class.

The Zimbabwean rider was competing in the 85cc Class for the first time at the South African Nationals after having previously raced in the 65cc Class when he last raced in this tough event in March 2024. Mounting a KTM bike, the young Zimbabwean rider was forced to settle for seventh place in the 85cc Class which was won by Brody Bircher.

According to reports from South Africa, Bircher was exceptional when navigating through the whoop section, finding speed while blitzing and jumping through the moguls aboard his superb KTM chassis.

Two other South African riders, Rayden Woolls and Aiden Retief, came second and third. The 85cc Class attracted a good field of 10 riders and Nyamupfukudza’s father and manager Simbarashe, thought his son performed well despite failing to get a place on the podium at the business end of Saturday’s proceedings at Terra Topia.