Fans return as motorsport revs to life
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday February 19, 2021 14:58
The Botswana Motor Sport (BMS) will hold the first round of the national off-road championship, dubbed Kopong 200, on February 27, 2021. The event will be the first ever to allow fans since the 2019 season. However, there are regulations.
Speaking to Mmegi Sport, Gaborone Motor Club spokesperson, Kagiso Stephens said only 50 people will be allowed in the pit and the places are limited to the organisers and riders. “We are a 100% non-contact sport, it is just the rider and the machine, so as per government regulations fans will be allowed.
However, in the pit, we would have a restricted number of people to 50. So that we do not violate the permitted number of people gathering under COVID-19 regulations. Outside (along the terrain), where we may not have control we are going to be assisted by the police to make sure that the spectators adhere to the rules,” he said. Stephens added it has not been an easy task to prepare for the event due to financial demands.
“It is so expensive to run an event in this period. We rely on the generosity of the private companies and it is so hard to get sponsors.
The riders have also not been spared as they have to renew insurances, you can not compete without an insurance, also the membership renewal. That can go to around P10,000, which is a lot,” he said. The event will be first out of the BMS eight rounds championship. It should be a classic affair in the OR1 category as Ross Branch is set to return to the saddle for the first time since the Dakar Rally while Kawasaki Dart’gnan Lobjoit is fresh from the Gauteng Cross Championship season opener.
“This is Round 1 of BMS championship. The BMS will be running a full season of off-road racing this year.
We are expecting a number of local riders who race internationally, so we should expect the likes of Ross, Dart amongst others,” Stephens said.