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Collin Matiza  

AFTER having cancelled each other during last month’s opening round of the 2024 Bogwheelers Club National Motocross Championship, the country’s top junior and senior riders will once again be back in the trenches on Sunday for the second round of the six-part series. 

The Bogwheelers Club National Championship series recently got a big shot in the arm with the coming in of RK Fuel Zimbabwe as one of its major sponsors.  

The company joins Scott Sakupwanya’s Better Brands Petroleum in fuelling motocross in this country.  

This also raises the profile of the sport and makes it more competitive for the riders and exciting for the motocross fans. 

And with two big sponsors now secured, the Bogwheelers Club are looking forward to another exciting season, starting with this coming Sunday’s second round of the nationals.  

The gates are set to drop for the second time this season for Round Two of the series at Donnybrook Park Raceway in Harare.  

This is another opportunity for our top junior and senior riders to shine and leave their mark on the track.  

Spectators should get ready to witness the excitement firsthand.

Sunday’s race meeting promises spectators a raw, unfiltered, all-access look behind the scenes, revealing the mud, sweat and tears that are part and parcel of life in motocross racing.

An electrifying atmosphere is on the cards for both the riders and the fans if what we witnessed during the opening round of the Nationals at Donnybrook on February 25 is anything to go by.

All the riders were pumped up, especially the seniors and all eyes will be on the main MX1 Class where seasoned campaigner Doug Mellor will once again be jostling for the top step on the podium with Riley Rocher. 

Another exciting duel is expected in the MX2 Class in which the irresistible Daiyaan “D” Manuel will be out to fend off the challenge of Cameron Mellor. 

On his day, Manuel is just untouchable and it won’t be a big surprise if walks away with the top honours on Sunday. 

He usually takes no prisoners on the track at Donnybrook. 

Tariq Shelton is the firm favourite to claim the top step on the podium in the 125cc class but he should expect some stiff challenge from Riley Rocher.  

In the juniors, look no further than Kudzwai Chitsurura for winning the 85cc Class, a class which he dominated the last time out at Donnybrook on February 25.

Chitsurura is this year racing in the 85cc class after having moved a class up from the 65cc class and he has already settled down well in this class.

On Sunday, Chitsurura will once again go head to head with Seb Wright who also competes in the 65cc Class. 

Chris Mufanechiya is the dark horse in the 85cc class. 

There’s no prize for guessing who will emerge victorious in the 65cc class which has nine-year-old Victor Nyamupfukudza as the outright favourite to win it.

Nyamupfukudza has this year moved a class up from 50cc to 65cc and he was just in a class of his own during the opening series at Donnybrook on February 25.

Mounting a new KTM bike, Nyamupfukudza was just too good for the field which included two other talented young riders Seb Wright and Chris Mufanechiya. 

Nyamupfukudza was just on fire as he won the two heats with ease and he will be looking for a repeat performance on Sunday. 

The young rider’s father and manager, Simbarashe Nyamupfukudza, yesterday told Zimpapers Sport that his son has got a clean bill of health and he was itching to get on the track. 

“Victor has been training hard this week under his trainer Big Chitima who has moulded him into a tough and clever rider.

“Judging from what I’ve seen or observed over the past couple of weeks, Victor is now enjoying his riding and he won’t be bullied off the track anymore. 

“He is just waiting to get back on the track on Sunday and should face no problems in getting the top step on the podium in the 65cc class. He will come out with all his guns blazing on Sunday,” Simbarashe Nyamupfukudza said. 

Racing starts at 9am and there will be full bar and catering facilities for the spectators.