02 Sep 2018

Serowe Extreme Bikers Club, an affiliated member of Botswana Motorsport, by their Mmabesi 200 motorsport race are breeding and nurturing a monster spectacle, at least by observation and confirmation.

Mmabesi 200 race is not only a thriller to motorsport competitors due to its challenging terrain, it has since its establishment three years ago, been a crowd-pulling spectacle for revellers and patrons around Serowe and beyond.

Moved from Serowe to Paje where bikers converge on the sponsor’s farm, the bikes roar in between the two villages in question as they seek to accumulate championship points whilst some wrestle for thrill.

The usually aloof and quiet village of Paje sprung awoke to the roaring sounds of engines when bikers sped through the village right by the Botswana Defence Force gate into the river that cuts across the village, apportioning the village into two.

For the past two years, such delight has been a reservation of the Serowe folks only.

Those Paje villagers settled along the river found themselves having to appreciate dust that engulfed their shores as they welcomed for the first time such a show for their lonely village.

Besides the roads and into the perimeter fences, the revellers fashioned their sitting arrangements and feasted on the show as bikers flashed past them in lightning speed. Some cheered whilst others were in awe.

Those who are accustomed to the scenes cut relaxed figures in their camp chairs.

Quad-biker Ahmed Noble of NS Race Team, who competed in the previous races, paints the race a growing success and said it second after the Toyota desert race. For bikers, he observed it was the biggest show.

“It was a good race. It had a nice river section and a rocky section,” said Noble who found the previous race to have been tactical though not very fast in comparative terms.

Mmabesi 200 race always attracts over 30 quad bikes and thereby stoking fierce competition between the riders, Noble observed.

In fact, Noble argues that Mmabesi 200 always attracts high numbers of spectators and bikers.

However, Noble believes the appreciation and level of biking in Botswana is improving at a steady pace.

He finds that racing is expensive and invites sponsors into the sport for growth and thrill.

President of Botswana Motorsport Federation, Lebogang Mosope found that Mmabesi 200 attracted lesser racers minus the South African bikers who found Paje to have been distant.

He also attributed the lesser numbers to absence national team riders who had just arrived from Zambia on national duty.

Although he appreciates the good shift that the organising committee put in to stage the spectacle, Mosope advised that the committee should start preparing for the next race immediately.

Plans are afoot to train more officials for discharging the organising duties with distinction for sustainability of events, Mosope promises.

Mosope, like riders, finds the Mmabesi 200 terrain as beneficial to competitors since it requires a change of riding style amongst other things.

To the community, Mosope finds the event to be of economic benefit as well as of entertainment nature.

The race, according to Tshegofatso Sentsho, has sprung from a mere idea to a fully-fledged motorsport buzz that does not only thrill multitudes, but has become an economic activity for residents of both Serowe and Paje.

He finds that bikers love Serowe and to a large extent the central region terrain.

Although the race seemingly is satisfying the adventure role for families and other spectators, Sentsho complains about the lack of a substantive sponsor who could be relied upon to render the race a spectacle they dream to showcase.

“The race has been growing in leaps and bounds except that we don’t have a highlight sponsor, but because of the love for sport tourism and economic value that the race brings we still forge ahead with it,” said Sentsho, who also competed in the quad bikes category.

Small businesses and the hospitality and tourism are said to be benefitting during the race by way of sales and provision of accommodation to bikers and revellers alike. 

Garages and fuel providers too enjoy a brief bullish activity. Out of school youth are engaged to be road marshals as a way to empower them, Sentsho said.

An extreme and somewhat sensational sport, motorsport racing has been perceived a preserve for the elites and wealthy.

However, Serowe Extreme Bikers Club seeks to demystify the perception.

In fact, Sentsho tells that his committee usually visits neighbouring villages and as far as villages in Bobirwa to spread an appreciation of motorsport in an endeavour to lure future bikers into their fold. ENDS