adminTristan Grainger, Davin Cocker, Jaden Ashwell and Daiyaan Manuel all made their presence felt at this event where they put their South African opponents in the shade and returned home with the top honours.
Leading the way for the four young Zimbabwean riders was nine-year-old Grainger who took part in the 50cc Professional Class, which he won without raising much of a sweat as he swept the opposition away.
Not to be outdone by Grainger was 10-year-old Cocker who competed in the 65cc Class and he did himself and the nation proud by taking the first podium place in this section.
Grainger and Cocker were both emulated by Ashwell (16) who took part in the MXI and MXII classes which he won easily.
And Zimbabwe’s clean sweep at Selati was completed by seven-year-old Manuel who won the 50cc support class.
The four young Zimbabwean riders travelled to Phalaborwa for the South African Northern Region Championships with Gary Grainger, the chairman of the Bogwheelers
Club who run the sport of motocross in this country.
Gary Grainger said yesterday that his son Tristan, Cocker, Ashwell and Manuel all performed exceptionally well at these championships where they competed against some of South Africa’s top motocross riders.
“All these boys came away with first positions in their respective classes and this was good preparation for some of them for the fourth round of the MSA National Championships in Durban, South Africa, on July 22,” Gary Grainger said.
Tristan Grainger and Ashwell are Zimbabwe’s representatives in the 2012 MSA National Championships in South Africa in which the former is leading in the 50cc Pro Class.
Ashwell is also leading in the MXII Class and Gary Grainger said the two young Zimbabwean riders are doing the nation proud by their outstanding performances in the South African National Championships this year.
Tristan Grainger and Ashwell will fine-tune themselves for the fourth round of the MSA National Championships in Durban on July 22 when they take part in a local club championship at the home of motorsport in Zimbabwe — Donnybrook — this coming Sunday.
Gary Grainger said this Sunday’s event at Donnybrook is a Bogwheelers Club championship and all the top Zimbabwean motocross riders are expected to attend.
“We’ve had a good season so far this year as we’ve successfully staged a number of local races at Donnybrook in the first six months of the year.
“So, we are looking at staging another highly competitive event at Donnybrook this Sunday and I think fireworks will be the order of the day.
“In fact, motocross is NOT a lifestyle, it is a life! Style is optional! All the competitions we’ve held this year have been tightly-contested in all the classes and Sunday’s event will be no exception . . . We are really looking forward to some non-stop action on this day,” Gary Grainger said.
And hundreds of local motorsport enthusiasts are expected to throng Donnybrook this Sunday to watch some of the top Zimbabwean motocross riders in action.
Gary Grainger said there would be a full bar and catering at this Sunday’s event at Donnybrook where entry fee has been pegged at US$5 per car.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter