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Collin Matiza Sports Editor
WHEN the cat’s away, mice play and that’s exactly what promising young female motocross rider Tadiwanashe Nyamupfukudza will be doing when she takes part in tomorrow’s final round of the 2018 Bogwheelers Club National Championship series at Donnybrook in Harare.

With the country’s top female rider Tanya Muzinda away in the United States where she is competing in the 2018 Thor Winter Olympics Supercross and Motocross Championships, the spotlight on the track at Donnybrook tomorrow will fall on 11-year-old Nyamupfukudza as she races with boys in the 65cc Class.

In the penulmate round of this year’s Nationals, which was held at the same venue on November 4, Nyamupfukudza was part of a strong field of 13 young riders who took part in the 65cc Class and she did well to finish in ninth place overall after three heats and she will be looking to climb up the ladder and possibly claim a place on the podium in tomorrow’s race meeting.

But she will once again have her hands full as she will be coming up against talented young rider Emmanuel Bako (13) who this year has monopolised the 65cc Class in both the Club and National Championship series at Donnybrook.

Bako’s father and manager, Brighton, confirmed yesterday that his son will be back on the track at Donnybrook tomorrow where he will be out to wrap up the 65cc Class title “in style” after having dominated this division from the beginning of the season.

“Emmanuel will be back on the track at Donnybrook on Sunday and is raring to go as he wants to win the 65cc Class crown in style and wants to dedicate it to his grandfather who has not been feeling well of late. So, fireworks will be the order of the day when he (Emmanuel) takes to the track on Sunday,” Brighton Bako said.

Apart from Nyamupfukudza, other young riders such as Jordan Dewdney, Munyaradzi Bako, Josh Halkier, Declan Barrett, Ross Stewart, Hunter Moore and Blake Prinsloo will be out to out race Emmanuel Bako in the 65cc Class and snatch the top step on the podium from under his nose tomorrow.

Meanwhile, motocross fans should look no further than Daiyaan Manuel and Cameron Thixton for winning the 85cc Class and the main MX1 Class respectively at tomorrow’s race meeting at Donnybrook.

Manuel has just been “a class act” in the 85cc Class this year, winning almost all of his races while Thixton is also untouchable in the MX1 Class.

Thixton’s elder brother, Ashley, is also a safe bet to walk away with the MX2 title tomorrow but he should expect to be pushed all the way by Josh Goby, Tristan Grainger, Jacques du Plessis and Luke Wheeler.

The battle for the top honours in the 125cc Class tomorrow is likely to be between “the usual suspects” Grainger, Manuel, David Evans and Liam le Roux while young Emile Croisette is unlikely to face any problems in walking away with the 50cc Class title.

And there’s no prize for guessing who will win the Ladies Class which has been a preserve for Leigh-Anne Young this season.

By the way, a number of aspiring young riders will be on show in the PeeWee Class for kids under the age of seven and among them will be Emmanuel Bako’s younger brother Junior, Benji Doran, Sebastian Wright, Kudzwai Chitsurura, George Ziemann, Victor Nyamupfukudza, Cameron Ziemann and Jayden Kerwin.

Racing tomorrow starts at 10am and entry fee for spectators has been pegged at $5 per person while children under the age of 12 will get in for free. There will be full bar and catering.