The fifth round of the National Motocross Championship went down on Sunday, 03 July, 2022 at the Victoria Raceway Park at Garuga-Entebbe. This fifth round on the sporting calendar served as the determinant of the riders that will represent Uganda in the prestigious FIM Africa championship that are coming up mid August.
The riders did not hold back and gave a really entertaining event to the motocross fans. After scoring that Shell Vivo Energy sponsorship, fans were looking forward to seeing their favorites battle it out on the track. Other sponsors of the event were Lato Milk, Mountain Dew, Uganda Lodges, Fire and Safety Appliances, the MX school among others. In one of the most entertaining classes of the day, the MX 85cc, Jerome Mubiru battled it out with Mubarak Ssenoga Mayanja and they had the fans cheering and betting on who would come out lead. As the day closed, Jerome Mubiru came out winner of this class with 57points after winning two of the heats and being second in one. Mayanja was close second with 54points being second in two heats and winning one. Keith Deedan Aine closed out the top three with 45points after placing third in all heats. There were only four riders in this category and Eddy Oboko was the fourth but he did not start in the second and third heat.
The class that fielded the most riders of the day, MX 65cc, also had fans cheering loudly as fan-favorite and current leader in the class-Miguel Katende put on a show. He won the class with 57points, winning the first and second heat and coming in second in the last heat after a fall. His younger brother Jonathan Katende came in second place after battling it out and winning the last heat but second in the first and second heats. Liam Ntale came in third place also putting on a good performance throughout the event, placing third in all heats. Hayden Kaliisa was fourth, and Jayden Blick closed out the top five in the class.
Team captain Alestair Blick also had fans on their feet as he keeps adding to his skill by event. He won all three heats after giving his team mates a head start in two of the heats! He is shaping up to be a force to be reckoned with in the motor sporting world as a whole. Sserwada Ashim came in second place and Robert Jjingo in third. In the MX 125cc, shining bright was Apollo Milton Obote Akena coming out as the lead. He won two of the heats and placed third in one after suffering some mechanical difficulties in the second heat. Tony Benders placed second after winning one heat and coming second in two heats. Adam Owori closed the top three with 47points. The MX 2 class winner was Joshua Mwangala.
Filbert Muwonge pulled no punches as he won all three of the heats in the MX 50cc seniors’ class, collecting a full 60points. He had the most colorful support fan base of the day, drumming and dancing as he weaved through the track flawlessly. Ethan James Blick came in second place with 47points and the inspiring Jamaira Makumbi came in third. She had been feeling under the weather so this was a good performance by the young lady. Abdul Malik Wagaba came in fourth place and Faith Deedan Angel in fifth. In the MX 50cc junior class, Hellena Birungi has been holding her own and she won the class in all heats. Abigail Katende came in second place, and Abigail Muwanguzi came in third place. It is really inspiring seeing these young ladies hold their own on the track along the boys and serves to show that women are as talented as men. In the master’s class, Honorable James Michael Akena still holds the top spot. In the Veterans class, Abdul Damba came out on top, Rose Deedan Turinawe in second place and newcomer Nakiwala Arithear in third. Fans cheered on the ladies as they took their podium places. There was also a boda boda race that was sponsored by Honorable James Michael Akena who is the only rider in the masters class. The winner was to receive UGX 200,000/= shillings, the second UGX 150,000/= and the third UGX 100,000/=
The next round on the calendar is the FIM MXOAN championship slated for mid-August and as different African countries get ready to compete, team Uganda will be looking to put on a show.
