15 Feb 2015

The motocross riders have started the 2015 calendar on a wrong footing after their governing body failed to stage the much anticipated National Cross country championships.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Kopong off-road fun day, Gaborone Motorsport Club (GMC) spokesperson, Motsumi Lekone said they were equally disappointed to learn at the eleventh hour that the riders governing body, Botswana Motorsport Association had failed to pay Liability insurance company, who had been taking care of third party insurance in their events.

He said they resorted to host the fun day event instead of the much competitive national champions because rules and regulations of the two events differed logistically. The association hosts about seven events the entire year including the much fancied Toyota Desert race. 

However, despite the administrative feuds, GMC put up a brave face and hosted an interesting race of rugged terrains and tricky water crossing just on the outskirts of Kopong.

Renowned for being one of the toughest and most unpredictable races on the calendar, the rider’s skills lived up to their fearsome reputation behind the engines. Some riders ran into problems of badly drowning their bikes on the river section of the terrain adding to the excitement of the village spectators who lined up in every corner of the route.

 Entering the race as a defending champion local motocross, youngster Ross Branch had his sight set on making it a repeat victory and did not disappoint with an impressive record of 35 minutes and 12 seconds.

In the quad bike section, Alex Mazadza came in first with a record of 55 minutes 20 seconds. The event also saw the participation of South Africa’s most decorated female rider Natasha Rugani who finished after 56 minutes 10 minutes on her 290cc four stroke Yamaha engine.

In an interview, 16-year-old Johannesburg-based rider said she was excited to have taken part in what she described as an exciting race. She explained that it was her first time to participate in the local shores and was looking forward to more events lined up for the year. 

Rugani has ample international experience having been the youngest female to finish the physically taxing Roof of Africa with a bronze in Lesotho. ENDS