Courtesy Photo
WITH exceptional determination, perseverance and commitment from all riders, the Motocross Cranes flew high to pick a silver wear at the 2024 FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations (MXOAN)Championship in Marrakech, Morocco.
Uganda emerged second overall after amassing a total of 479 points behind victors South Africa who scored 586 points, as hosts Morocco managed a third overall finish with 447points.
It all started from home when riders promised to race their hearts out at the 2024 African Championship, as they were being flagged off at the National Council of Sports headquarters, Lugogo, on 23rd October 2024.
Led by their team captain, Stav Asiimwe Orland, who roared that they would beat the said powerhouses in Motocross and big glory back home, a thing he proved when he beat all Nations hands down in all three heats in his MX2 class to pick a gold.
“We are a prepared army ready to beat the said big Motocross Nations in Africa,” were the promising words from Stav ahead of the team flying out to Morocco.
Racing in the footsteps of their captain, the little Cranes in MX65 restlessly rode in all three heats, consistently having two riders on the podium that pushed Uganda to the overall victory in the MX65 class.
There was an outstanding performance from Haruna Ramathan Mubiru, Isaac Kabera Mitima and Isaiah Larry Sekamwa in heat3, which had a 2-3-4 position score for Uganda to ably beat off other Nations for the overall lead.
To cement their performance, Isaac Kabera posted the best lap time of one minute and 04.100 seconds in heat3.
Hellena Ainomugisha Birungi outclassed other female riders, backed by Abigail Muwanguzi, to see her through as the first-ever Junior female MX50 Champion at Africa’s Motocross top tier.
The efforts of the Ugandan lady riders did not go to waste, as they rode to victory for the WMX Nations overall with a score of 70 points.
Uganda who last won the African in 2012 and were fifth overall in 2023, had the top overall country score in MX65(88points), and WMX with 70 points.
Uganda had exceptional individual performances in MX2 by Stav Orland who won and defended his MX2 title, Fortune Emmanuel Ssentamu had two podiums in MX1, Gift Tabula Ssebuguzi for the final heat win in MX Lite and posted the best lap time in the same heat, Jude Kyle Musede who scored podiums in heat2&3, and Isaac Mitima in MX65.
“Despite the numerous challenges, the team did very well,” praised Federation of Motorsports Clubs of Uganda (FMU) deputy Vice president Arthur Blick Junior, who doubled as team manager at the event.
Blick added that Uganda’s performance at 2024 Mxoan is a testament to the team’s hard work and dedication.
Champions South Africa outclassed other Nations to take the overall title for yet another back-to-back win, backed up by high scores in the MX50 with 109 points, MX Lite(100points), and MX vets & masters where they collected 111 points.
Hosts Morocco, were able to scoop the third overall position with lead scores in MX1(101 points), MX125(76), MX2(84) and second best in MX Vets & Masters, as they didn’t field riders in some classes.
Fellow East Africans Kenya finished fifth overall, Tanzania seventh, Islanders Madagascar made it to fourth overall, and West African Ivory Coast tailed last with only seven points in the 12-Nations participated Championship.
AFRICA’S TOP 5 NATIONS SCORE:
1. South Africa 586
2. Uganda 479
3. Morocco 447
4. Madagascar 223
5. Kenya 212
