Ace driver Duncan wins motorcross season ender

By JAMES WAINDI

The Kenya National Motorcross Championship series final round at Jamhuri Park was a thriller.

Ivan Guya (65cc), Murigu Njiiri (50cc) and Shivam Vinayak (125cc) clinched their titles on the homestretch as the eighth round of the series came to a dramatic close.

Cruze Muigai (85cc) and Tom Porter (Open) had sealed their titles in Diani last month. But Porter, who skipped Sunday’s race, has since proceeded to Ireland where he intends to turn professional under the auspices of KTM.

It’s been such a competitive season that treated spectators to exhilarating display of bike artistry. The rivalry between Tutu Maina and his cousin Cruze was, no doubt, the highlight of the season.

But Muigai who won some rounds by the skin of his teeth had the last laugh when Tutu skipped the last two races with a nagging wrist injury. The cousins are, however, expected to renew rivalry in the 125cc class next season.

Shivam Vinayak retained the 125cc class title but admitted it was a challenging showdown with Honda’s Trevor Mwenja.

It was an emotional victory for Shivam who graduates to the competitive Open class next season.

In Porter’s absence legendary rally driver Ian Duncan on his KTM 530 machine won Sunday’s round with 55 points beating former Enduro champion, Harry Guelker, also on a KTM 525, to second spot.

Behind the two was an interesting family battle with Charles Mugo beating his father Moses to the fourth slot overall. But Charles missed the second overall place in the table when his father ranked second to Porter on 276 points.

Guya, the 2006 50cc class champion, moves up to the 85cc class along with Ted Wanday and Masalule Kituyi. This was a welcome relief for Guya who lost the 65CC title to Davide Bernardi last year.

The 50cc class had its share of thrills and spills. Though Murigu Njiiri won the title, he has on the last four races borne the brunt of Walter Kuria who excelled. Kuria proceeds to the 65cc class next season where he is expected to face off with Eugene Maina.

Apollo Mbuki, who’s riding lines impressed many this season, is set to take an inspiring position in the 65cc class next year in the absence of Maina.

Rnd 8 results: 50cc: Walter Kuria (KTM) 57, Murigu Njiiri (KTM) 54, Owain Ashely (KTM) 45, Ryan Bailey (KTM) 39, 65CC: Ivan Guya 60 (KTM), Eugene Maina (KTM) 51, Samir Anwar (KTM) 35, 85CC: Cruze Muigai (Yamaha) 57, Davide Bernardi (KTM), Adil Khan (YAMAHA) 45, 125CC: Shivam Vinayak ( YAMAHA) 57, Trevor Mwenja (Honda) 54, Jordan McCloy (Yamaha) 45, OPEN Ian Duncan (KTM) 55, Harry Guelker (KTM) 51, Charles Mugo (Honda) 50 Moses Mugo (KTM) 39.