Ugandan Captain Maxime Van Pee will be the star attraction this weekend as he leads a strong 16-man Ugandan team to the FIM Central Africa Motocross Challenge slated for Jamhuri Park track.
Van Pee has acquired the 2017 model of KTM 350sxf motorbike well in time for the MX1 showdown against Kenyan riders including Isaac Kuria.
Notable absentee on the Kenyan side will be US-based Apollo Mbuki and multiple MX1 East Africa champion Ivan Guya, currently a second year civil engineering student at Brunel University in East London.
In the absence of Mbuki and Guya, Van Pee should sweep the ground with all his opponents on his new machine.
"I'm still getting used to it but I'm sure that I will be ready for the weekend. We have been practicing really hard just to ensure we collect the much-needed many points. We have always looked forward to a tussle against Kenyan riders at Jamhuri," said Van Pee.
Also named in Ugandan team is MX 85 star Ben Nsamba, Aviv Orland, Stav Orland and Joshua Mwangala. The Orland siblings are no strangers to Kenyan events having participated in the initial rounds of the series as guest riders.
Barrack Orland senior, apart from mananing his sons Stav, Alon and Aviv will also ride in the veterans and masters class.
Final round
The event running from Saturday to Sunday will also serve as the final round of the Kenya National Motocross Championship.
MX125 rider Ethan Nyachae and MX85 star rider Kigen Kiplagat are among the riders Kenya will be pegging their hopes on for points.
Other Kenyan riders include Jaiden Takkunen in MX50 and Neo Wahome in MX65. Jet Takkunnen and Dylan Mutahi will fly Kenya’s flag in the MX65. Kenya is expected to also field the likes of Ngugi Waweru and Elias Sherman in MX2.
The weekend’s showdown will feature three heats per class. Unlike in the past when all the three heats were all run on a Sunday, this time round, Heat One will start on Saturday from10 a.m. onwards.
Scrutineering and practice will also take place on the first day. The second and third heats will be run on Sunday. Sunday practice is scheduled in the morning.
Team Uganda
Maxime Vanpee and Olivier Vanpee (MX1), Barak Orland (Veterans), Aviv Orland (MX85), Stab Orland (MX85), Alon Orland (MX50), Ben Nsumba (MX85), Joshua Mwangala (MX85), Miguel Katende (PW), Shadia Katete (65), Leticia Drake (PW), Sharifah Katete (125), Atusasiire Barbara (50), Arunailtwe Brinnah (50), Aminah Zawede (65), Ahmed (50).
