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Collin Matiza Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE are looking at sending a strong team of 36 riders to this year’s FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championship that is scheduled to be held in Kitwe, Zambia, on August 30 and 31.
Shaun Whyte, the chairman of the Bogwheelers Club, who run the motorcycling sport of motocross in this country, said all was in place for Team Zimbabwe to compete in this annual event, which attracts all the top riders from Africa.

“We are hoping to send a strong team of 36 riders to Zambia but at the moment we have picked 32 and I’m also coming out of retirement to compete in this one. We need US$24 000 to send our team to Kitwe but so far we’ve raised US$6 000 among the members of the club. So, we are still running around to raise the other US$18 000 for this trip to Zambia and we hope some well-wishers will help us to meet our target before our departure for Kitwe,” Whyte said.

Last year’s FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championship was held at Syringa Park just outside Johannesburg where Zimbabwe was represented by 19 riders, who were led by the country’s champion rider Jayden Ashwell.

At Syringa Park on September 1 last year, Team Zimbabwe performed extremely well as they came second overall behind the hosts South Africa in the event that attracted seven African countries — Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Members of Team Zimbabwe who settled for a silver medal at last year’s FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championship were Jayden and Wade Ashwell, Ashley Thixton, Tafadzwa, Mike and Tyler Mawarire, Josh Blaize, Aiden van Breda, Kuda Mhene (Jnr), Ryan Masimo, Daiyaan Manuel, Big “BJ” Chitima (Jnr), Mudiwa Chigumba, Davin Cocker, Tanya Muzinda, Barry Frederiksen, Shane and Blaize Thomas, and Trevor Thixton.

All these top junior and senior riders are once again expected to be part of Team Zimbabwe for this year’s event in Kitwe where they will face the same opposition from Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and South Africa.