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Collin Matiza Sports Editor
THE third round of the 2018 hp lubes/Castrol Drag Racing Series, which was scheduled for Donnybrook Raceway in Harare yesterday, was postponed at the eleventh hour due to the inauguration of President Mnangagwa. President Mnangagwa was sworn in as the new Head-of-State of Zimbabwe at the National Sports Stadium yesterday and the Sables Dragpro Club, who run the motorsport of drag racing in this country, said they couldn’t go ahead in staging the third round of their national series as it clashed with this important national event.

“After some consultation with a number of stakeholders in the drag racing family, including our sponsors and competitors, we decided to postpone the third round of the 2018 hp lubes/Castrol Drag Racing Series, which was scheduled for Sunday, August 26 at Donnybrook Raceway in Harare, as it clashed with the inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“We have, therefore, decided to reschedule our event to Sunday, September 9 at the same venue and any inconvenience caused to the drag racing competitors and fans alike is sincerely regretted,” said Mano Zevgolis of the Sables Dragpro Club in a brief statement.

Meanwhile, the country’s top female motocross rider Tanya Muzinda has received another big morale booster ahead of her proposed tour of the UK and United States in the next couple of weeks when an Italy-based company — Alpinestars — came on board and announced that it will be one of her main sponsors this year.

Muzinda (13) is first expected to compete in the UK Girls Nationals at Brookthorpe in Gloucestershire, England, on September 29 and 30 before she flies out to the United States for the annual Thor Winter Olympics which are scheduled to run from November 19 to 24 in Florida.

And Muzinda at the weekend revealed that she has found another big international sponsor ahead of her trip to UK and the United States.

“Another big endorsement by one of the biggest and powerful gear companies in the World,” Muzinda posted on her Facebook wall on Saturday.

“I am glad to announce to you our great fans and family that we now have a new gear/uniform sponsor — Alpinestars of Italy.

“We have received a couple of pants, jerseys, neck braces, gloves, kit bag and the latest riding boots the Tech version. It has come right on time as l prepare for the biggest races in my career ahead in a few weeks time.

“I would like to thank my mentor and International Manager, Stefy Bau, a former three-times World Women’s Motocross Champion, for working so hard despite her busy schedule in San Francisco, United States.

“I’m thankful to our Italian family to make this happen and l promise l will make you proud by working hard to achieve my goal of becoming the first (female rider) from Africa to be a World Champion wearing the signature gear of Champions.”

Alpinestars is the world-leading manufacturer of professional racing products, motorcycling airbag protection, high-performance apparel and technical footwear. It is also the manufacturer of clothing and protective gear for motorsports and action sports.

Founded in 1963 and located in Asolo, Italy, its line include specialised products for MotoGP, motocross, motorcycling, Formula 1, NASCA, mountain biking and surfing.

Some top riders sponsored and who wear Alpinestars products are MotoGP World Champions Marc Maquez, Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo.

They also sponsor Formula 1 teams Renault sport F1, Williams and several other teams.
“I hope that we will have more partners in my journey. It’s a lonely road and with your support we will get to the top on one fine day,” Muzinda added.

She is now part of the new all-female motocross racing team – T61 Racing Team — which was recently formed in Harare. T61 Racing Team will be the home of all young aspiring female riders who would like to venture into the tough world of motocross riding in this country.