Kenya’s motocross moment in Uganda

By FEVERPITCH TEAM

When curtains finally folded on the 2010 AMU Central Africa Championship, Kenyan champions Shivam Vinayak (MX1) and David Murigi (MX50) were left to rue surprising mishaps.

But the charging Kenya team, though lean on numbers, recaptured the regional AMU Championship title following the conclusion of the third and last round at the newly-built racing track in Luwero, Uganda.

The first round was staged at Entebbe’s Garuga track, but the tactical riding in Luwero on Sunday offered riders diverse feeling, what with some technical jumps and the lose surface.

After three rounds, two in Uganda in April and December and one in Nairobi in October, Kenya chalked up a cumulative total of 3,795points, while Ugandans stretched their tally to 3,683 points. Tanzanians didn’t show up in Luwero.

In the 50cc, Ugandans fielded 16 riders with five Kenyans fighting to eclipse the might of fast-rising Ugandans.

MX1 class entered a total of 15 riders, three of which were Kenyans. MX65 attracted three riders apiece from the two countries, while MX2 featured a total of 11 of which seven were Ugandans.

It was such a fabulous experience for Kenyans who lost the title to Ugandans last year but fought gallantly to recapture it at individual level.

Kenyans dominated

Kenyans dominated all races, but lost the MX1 honours to Ugandan Asaf Nattan. Kenya captain Shivam dictated MX1 proceedings in the last two rounds, but lost the opening heat in the wake of damaging his bike.

Kenya’s Rolf Kihara won all the heats at MX50 followed by two Ugandans — Ali Omar and Uzear Butt. Murigi had to contend with a last position after colliding with a Ugandan in the second heat.

Murigi retired with minor injuries also with his KTM 50 bike being damaged.

Githuku Mungai won the MX65 class followed by Jesse Waithaka. Kenyans enjoyed a clean sweep at MX85 when Ivan Guya led Apollo Mbuki and Masalule Kituyi to a 1-2-3 podium dash.

Cruze Muigai prevailed at MX2. Ugandan Maxime Van Pee and Tutu Maina were second and third. It was a bitter pill for Maxime to swallow after winning the first round in Uganda in April and having to contend with playing second fiddle to Cruze.

Vinayak finished second overall at MX1 following a mishap that saw his bike lose its kick-start. He lost quite a bit of time while trying to get the big Yamaha 450 four-stroke machine started again.

Shivam, however, observed that the backbone of their title victory was built on good preparations, hard work, focus and dedication.

AMU THIRD ROUND RESULTS:

MX50: 1. Rolf Kihara 75; 2. Ali Omar (UG) 54; 3. Uzear Butt (UG) 51

MX65: 1. Githuku Mungai 68; 2. Jeremy Waithaka 65; 3. Fattuh KIggundu (UG) 64

MX85: 1. Ivan Guya 75; 2. Apollo Mbuki 66; 3. Masalule Kituyi 58; 4. Talha Kiggundu (UG) 57

MX2: 1. Cruze Muigai 72; 2. Maxime Van Pee

(UGA) 62; 3. Tutu Maina 60; Ken Anunda 57

MX1: 1. Asaf Nattan (UGA) 69; 2. Shivam Vinayak 67; 3. Arthur Blick Jnr (UG) 62; 4. Charles Mugo 58