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Collin Matiza Sports Editor
TWO of the country’s most exciting junior motocross riders Daiyaan “D” Manuel and Emmanuel Bako had another good day at the office during the opening round of the 2018 Bogwheelers Club National Championship series at Donnybrook in Harare on Sunday.

When when you combine the best junior riders in the country with one of the best venues in the world being Donnybrook you are guaranteed to set the 2018 National Championship season alight with bar-to-bar racing action.

And all the classes looked ready to put on an incredible show and as expected, Manuel and Bako did not disappoint as they won the 85cc and 65cc classes respectively. Bako (12), fresh from winning the 65cc Class in the opening round of the 2018 South African Nationals at Rover in Port Elizabeth a couple of weeks ago, once again came with all guns blazing as he blasted out of the gates first in Heat 1 and 2 of the 65cc Class on Sunday and made it clear that the battle for the season was only just beginning.

The Heritage Primary School’s Grade Six pupil put on a solid performance to win the 65cc Class ahead of another talented young rider Jordan Dewdney who did well to finish second overall ahead of promising junior biker Emile Croisette.

Bako’s cousin, Munyaradzi, came fourth in the 65cc Class while Hunter Moore and Dillan Faasen settled for fifth and sixth place. Manuel (13), a Form One pupil at St John’s College in Harare, was also on fire on Sunday as he wagged his tail vigorously in the 85cc Class to take the first step on the podium ahead of Emmanuel Bako and the country’s top female rider Tanya Muzinda.

Muzinda (13) was riding on the big wheel for the second time this year and she fought with Manuel and Emmanuel Bako every step of the way in both heats to finish third overall in the 85cc Class.

Ricky Whyte, son of former South African Superbikes national champion Shaun Whyte, came fourth in the 85cc Class ahead of Dillan Faasen, Cameron Mellor, Jamie Doran, Luke Doran and Tristan Versfeld.

Young Tristan Grainger was just too good for the opposition in the 125cc Class in which he relegated David Evans, Reagan Evans, Liam LeRoux and Mark Webb into second, third, fourth and fifth places at the end of business on Sunday.

Former Zimbabwe’s champion rider Ashley Thixton, who is back from a leg injury, was the top dog in the MX2 Class although he was pushed all the way by Tafadzwa Mawarire who, unfortunately, had to settle for second place.  Third place went to Jacques du Plessis while Josh Goby finished the day in fourth place.

Top honours in the junior 50cc Class went to promising young rider Emile Croisette who beat Karl van As and Callum Moore into second and third place.

It was also good to see young Mufaro Kabasa making her debut in the National Championship series in which she took part in the 50cc Class and came seventh overall. Not a bad start for a rookie rider.

Kabasa has now joined the likes of Manuel, Emmanuel and Munyaradzi Bako, Tanya Muzinda, Mawarire, Kuda Mhene (Jnr), Ryan Masimo, and the Chigumba brothers, Lee and Mudiwa, in the tough world of motocross riding in this country