Motocross dominated by youth amid controversy in Africa MX championship

MX1 champion Van Pee was the outstanding rider of the season. Photo by JB Ssenkubuge 

KAMPALA. 2015 will go down as the year when the youth took over Motocross from veterans and the trend looks set to continue when the new season commences next year.
It was a positive development for a sport that is still dependent on support from individuals and parents as main sponsors.
The year also witnessed a howler by the Federation of Motorsport Clubs in Uganda (FMU), who failed to pay the event fee for the FIM Africa Central Africa Motocross Championship first leg against Kenya. FMU was supposed to pay Shs8m (2,280 Euros).

The failure meant that the event hosted at Garuga in May, in which Uganda emerged winner with 1376 points against Kenya’s 549, was declared a friendly one. Uganda lost the return leg and surrendered the title. Kenya collected 939 points to Uganda’s 393. With both Arthur Blick Jr and Asaf Natan on the way out, Maxime was left alone to entertain in MX1. And in order to bring excitement to the class, Maxime made it a point to give rivals a head start.
If MX1 was dull, you cannot say the same for the other categories – MX2, MX85, MX65, and MX50 junior and Seniors respectively.
The rivalries between Ali Omar and Alestair Blick in MX2, and Fortune Ssentamu and the Orland siblings Stav and Aviv in MX85 were the highlight of the year. And you have not heard the last from the youngsters.

In the MX 50cc junior, Gift Ssebuguzi won his maiden title. Likewise Isabella Blick was crowned champions in MX50cc Seniors.
Waleed Omar had no equal in MX65. On the international scene, Uganda emerged 5th in Africa championship while in the regional championship, Uganda collected two individual titles through Stav (MX65) and Maxime (MX1).

fmusisi@ug.nationmedia.com