Branch makes motocross return
Kabelo Boranabi | Tuesday August 12, 2025 15:31
Branch last got on the saddle for the motocross team in 2017 as he makes a seven-year return after a focus on a rally ride that includes a single world championship win alongside six stage wins.
He will move from the MX1 category and compete in the MX Veteran class in Zimbabwe this coming weekend. In the MX1, Team Botswana will field Anton Henriksen, while Kosmas Mamaloukos will Captain and compete in the MX2 class. Andile Mogorosi is to ride in the High School class while the trio of Lourens Erasmus, Adam Meyer, and Tommy Jayden Wotherspoon are in the MX Lites class as Team Botswana sends a seven-member squad.
The team was cut in half from an initial 14 due to financial constraints. The trip was put under scrutiny after the Botswana Motor Sport (BMS) failed to pay the annual affiliation fee to the FIM. The Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) footed the bill, and SportMonitor has been informed allowing the suspension can be lifted. The suspension had also led to a boycott of round three of the BMS National Championship and a national team selection competition.
Speaking at the send-off ceremony held on Thursday, Branch expressed joy and pride to represent the national team once more as he urged the junior riders to seize the occasion. He, however, had urged to local motorsport to halt internal bickering as he said it does more harm than good to the sport.
“I really hope we could get together, and there will be a lot of us coming to the race next year. To represent your nation is a dream come true, and to those at home, let us really try harder next year. There are many more opportunities, and we just all need to stick together. Take politics out of sport, and all we stick together, and we all go race on our bikes and have as much fun as we possibly can,” said Branch. For his part, team captain, Mamaloukos said he pleaded for support for the team as he appreciated the inclusion of Branch ahead of the continental competition.
“We got a set of riders, a good set of skill, and a good set of athleticism. We're going there to do our best and have a much fun as we possibly can. We are going out there, and we will do our best and make everyone proud,” he said. The BMS, meanwhile, sat for a Special General Meeting this Saturday. The gathering is to pave the way for an elective general assembly that is to, among others, reshape the federation’s constitution.