Vinayak returns to action this weekend

By Oscar Pilipili

After skipping the fifth round, defending champion Shivam Vinayak returns to the sixth Kenya National Motocross Championship series at Jamhuri Park on Sunday.

Vinayak, who became the first rider in Kenya to win all rounds right from MX50 through to MX1 last year, has been practicing to ruffle feathers come the weekend meeting.

The daredevil rider has been working to perfect his act at Jamhuri over the past few weeks as well as to keep his Yamaha 450cc four-stroke bike is in good form.

Vinayak missed the fifth round at Jamhuri Park, as he was out of the country.

The MX1 has attracted the likes of round five winner Charles Mugo (Honda 450), Enduro Champion Harry Guelker and Charles Mugo (KTM525). More riders are expected to make their way into the national series if what has been witnessed in practice is anything to go by.

Raffaele Boraudo is set to make a debut at MX1, while regulars Louis Dirnboeck and Tej Sehmi are exuding confidence in the run up to the race.

The MX2 is a battle pitting cousins Tutu Maina and Cruze ‘Control’ Muigai. The two are expected to dice for motorbike supremacy in the competitive class, also featuring Ken Anunda, Allan Maina, outgoing MX85 champion Adil Khan and Salim Walomohammed.

The MX85 leader Ivan Guya hopes to avenge the defeat he suffered to Apollo Mbuki in the fifth round.

Borrowed bike

Mbuki is at pains to prove his win against Guya was not a fluke. Guya, on the other hand, has been compelled to practice on a borrowed bike, after damaging the rear wheel hub of his KTM85 machine.

Meanwhile, the KTM agents in Kenya have ordered for a new spare, which is expected to arrive on Friday.

"If the spare is not here in time, then we might resort the borrowed bike," said Guya.

David Murigi will be the man to watch in the MX50 class also featuring Rolf Kihara and Ryan Bailey.

Samir Anwar, son of rally ace Anwar Pandya, is expected to remain dominant at MX65.

Clerk of the course, George Guya has asked riders to stay focused and look ahead to a very technical track setup.

"Its an exciting course. We have made a number of changes on cornering and jumps and made them a lot more vibrant to test the skill and endurance of riders," Guya Senior said of the 1.5Km Jamhuri park track.