England-born Zim rider for Summer Series TAG TEAM . . . Artwell Mabika (right) instructs his son, Tyler, during a recent motocross event in England in preparation for competing in the Zimbabwe Summer Series

Collin Matiza Sports Editor

THE dates of the country’s premier motorcycling event — the Zimbabwe Summer Series — have been announced and the event is set to be graced by a young England-born Zimbabwean rider, Tyler Mabika. 

Jamie Kerwin, the secretary of the Bogwheelers Club, who run the motorcycling sport of motocross in this country, yesterday told The Herald this year’s Zimbabwe Summer Series will be held over three days on December 8, 10 and 12. 

It will be held at the home of motorsport in Zimbabwe — Donnybrook Park Raceway — and it will consist of two Supercross (night racing events) on December 8 and 10, and a full day of motocross action, on December 12. 

This year’s Zimbabwe Summer Series is once again expected to attract a number of top junior, and senior riders from South Africa and Zambia, who are most likely to be joined by 13-year-old Mabika, who is based in Birmingham. Mabika has been riding since he was four.

Speaking from their base, Tyler’s father and trainer, Artwell ‘’Artaz” Mabika, confirmed yesterday they were preparing compete in this year’s Zimbabwe Summer Series in December. 

“We are currently trying to get in touch with the Bogwheelers Club, who are the organisers of the Zimbabwe Summer Series, so that they can send us an official invitation for Tyler to come and race in this prestigious motocross event in Zimbabwe.

“I can safely say we are more than ready to come to Zimbabwe in December for this event and I think it will be an exciting experience for Tyler, who is now riding in the 85cc Class,” Artwell said. 

If his son manages to fly in for the Zimbabwe Summer Series, he will face some of the country’s top junior riders in the 85cc Class, led by 14-year-old Emmanuel Bako, who recently won this class during the fourth round of the 2021 National Championship series, at Donnybrook. 

Young Emile Croisette, who recently returned from a training stint in the United States under one of that country’s top motocross riders Shannon Niday, and Riley Rocher, are also looking forward to competing in the 85cc Class. 

Kerwin said apart from Mabika, they were also expecting other top junior, and senior foreign riders from South Africa and Zambia, to be part of this three-day motorcycling jamboree. 

She said they were still trying to get some clearance from the Sports Commission, for them to be allowed to let in the public, to watch this exciting event. 

Currently fans are banned from watching sporting events in this country due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. 

‘’We cannot get approval from the Sports Commission to have the public at any events as yet, (and) this is putting the club under pressure but we are going to stage the event with or without the spectators.

“But, we are just keeping our fingers crossed that spectators will soon be allowed back at the races,’’ Kerwin said. 

In South Africa, vaccinated spectators are now allowed to watch motocross races, starting with this Saturday’s sixth and penultimate round of the 2021 South African National Championship series in Bloemfontein, where Bako will be taking part.

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