adminCaroline Magenga Sports Reporter
SHAUN Whyte, the chairman of the Bogwheelers Club, has expressed disappointment over some of the country’s top riders who let the country down last weekend by snubbing the FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championship.
The FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championship was held last weekend in Kitwe, Zambia, and for the second time in as many years, Zimbabwe played second fiddle to South Africa who emerged as the overall winners of this motorcycling event.
Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, South Africa and the hosts Zambia took part in this year’s championship in Kitwe.
Zimbabwe were tied with champions South Africa for the greater part of the competition but were edged by a single point on the final standings.
“We had the same points with South Africa going into the final races, so they compared the number of riders from both countries that had many first and second positions, and we lost by a single point.
“Our biggest disappointment came from some of the country’s top riders, Jayden Ashwell and Sean Mitchell, who snubbed the event.
“They would have done very well as they are both top riders but they chose not to join the team and did not give any explanation really and that cost us victory,” said Whyte.
The riders had earlier shown interest to race in Kitwe but just pulled out at the last minute without giving any excuses.
“I don’t know really why they did not join the team because they had been selected on the list and they did not give any excuses but if they had competed as we had planned, we would have won the championship,” Whyte said.
Efforts to get a comment from both Ashwell and Mitchell proved fruitless this week.
Despite the setback, Whyte said the team did well in Zambia and were a true reflection of national pride.
“The team tried their best and did well against the odds and I am proud of them on their achievements, particularly our captain Ashley Thixton.
“He really went out of his way to rally the team together and we could not have picked a better captain than him.
“We also witnessed some great performances from young Davin Cocker who came second in the 65cc class, Dyaan Manuel who came first in the 50cc class and Reagan Wasmuth who came second in the 85cc class,” he said.
Online Reporter