British motocross champ visits Botswana
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday October 20, 2017 14:18
The programme, organised by Muddy Face Events, will give the local riders a chance to gain experience from the 2014 British 2 Stroke Champion.
The programme comes at a time when the local riders produced a below par performance at this year’s Motocross of African Nations (MxoAN) that was held in Gaborone in August.
The 23-year-old Strydom has been based in England for the past six years. Originally from Gweru, Zimbabwe Strydom has competed in the South African national championships before moving to England to pursue a career in motocross.
He is a three-time SA national champion; bagging his last in 2009 in the 125cc category.
Meanwhile, Lobelo Racing Club Francistown (LRCF) would host round three of the Botswana Motor Sport (BMS) national motocross championships at the Dumela Circuit.
In absence of some of the country’s renowned riders, Robert Pollock has emerged as surprise leader in the premier MX1 category.
Pollock would be looking to cement his place at the top of the charts. The 24-year-old will however face stiff competition from Brad Pieterse and James Morris who sits second and third after two rounds.
The duo was part of the team that competed in the 2017 MxoAN. The organisers of the event said they had to refurbish the Dumela Circuit after months of inactivity. Speaking to this publication LRFC chairperson, Lola Berrie said the hot and dry conditions in the region at this time of the year are some of the distressing issues that had the potential of affecting the event but her committee has made arrangements that the track would be up to the required standards for the event.
“The Lobelo Racing Club committee have worked very hard once again to put this event on, with days of track preparation, ensuring that the track is ready to race and safe for all our riders.
“One of our biggest challenges for hosting MX races this time of the year is water, however we have managed to make plans to ensure the track is watered well before and during the race,” Berrie said.
Some of the closely contested championships are those of the MX2, with Douglas Morris in first place, followed closely by Tyler January and Mark Carr-Hartley.
“This has always been a very exciting class, and normally provides the most amount of entertainment and close racing,” Berrie commented.
The other current leaders of the BMS National Championships are: PW50 - Tristan Berrie, MX50 - Nathan Berrie, MX65 - Seth Meyer, MX85 - Kosmas Mamaloukos, MX125 - Brady Armstrong, WMX - Berrie and Brad Pieterse in VMX.
LRCF had put on the ever-popular stunt show of a wheelie competition as well as an endo competition, to give a bit more to the spectators.
The event is sponsored by Skip Hire, Nashua Botswana, Afrimatrix, One Stop Hire and the main sponsor Muddy Face Events.