Kenyans fly high in Kampala
Ivan Guya flies to victory in the MX85 class at the Africa Motor Union motocross championship in Kampala. Photo/NATION Correspondent
The wet and slippery conditions at Kampala’s Garuga race track did not slow down Kenyan motocross riders who took three individual titles in the Easter Holidays’ Africa Motor Union motocross championship.
Three riders - Cruze Muigai, Shivam Vinayak and Ivan Guya - reigned supreme in the MX2, MX1 and MX85 categories leaving their host,s who fielded 35 riders, to battle for the minor positions. A heavy Sunday afternoon downpour left the track muddy, thrilling enough for the spectators but tricky for the contestants.
The Ugandans had the numbers but their Kenyan rivals called the shots in individual performances. The Uganda meet was a good warm-up for Kenyan riders ahead of the third Kenya Motocross Championship on April 26 at Nairobi’s Jamhuri track.
However, Kenya’s defending 60cc class champion, Murigu Njiiri, was well on course for individual honours when he was beset by mechanical problems. On his second lap of the first heat, Murigu had his run impeded by clutch problems.
“I wanted to beat (Uganda’s captain Arthur) Blick and take the trophy home but my clutch packed up. The terrain was slippery, otherwise I enjoyed the ride,” Njiiri, who didn’t finish the race, said.
Shivam Vinayak led all the three heats but was constantly under pressure from Blick while Muigai continued to surge ahead despite pressure from another home boy Jack Evans. Ivan Guya beat Ugandan Yannick Duyck to second place with 51 points to Duyck’s 47.
Kenya’s Adil Khan settled for third overall on 47 points. Sammer Anwar (45 points) was third overall in the MX85cc class trailing Ugandan Duyck and Apollo Mbuki and settling for fourth overall with 40 points.
Results: MX1: 1. Shivam Vinayak (captain, Kenya ) 60; 2. Arthur Blick (captain, UG) 51 3. Stuart Long 45
MX2: 1. Cruze Muigai ( Kenya ) 60, 2. Jack Evans (UG) 51 3. Unisan Bakunda (UG) 47
MX85: 1. Ivan Guya ( Kenya ), 2. Yannick Duyck (UG) 47 3. Adil Khan ( Kenya ) 45
MX65: 1. Fatuh Kigundu (UG) 50, 2. Eduardo Bosi (UG) 47, 3. Sameer Anwar 45, 4. Apollo Mbuki ( Kenya ) 40,
