The motorsport calendar for 2023 will soon wrap up, for Jonathan Katende, it has been his most accomplished and successful season. The 10-year-old recently scored a major victory in Kenya at the FIM East and Central African Championship (CAC) last round at Jamuhuri race track where he was crowned the champion in the 65cc class with a total of 102 points. Katende’s first-place finish added to the total points Uganda scored, 2653 for the two rounds. This meant that Uganda retained the FIM CAC championship title over Kenya and Tanzania. This was an outstanding achievement for Jonathan being his first time being crowned champion in the 65cc class solidifying his mark on the motocross scene and not being in his brother’s shadow. Miguel Katende, Jonathan’s bigger brother did not compete as he is recovering from an injury but was on the sidelines cheering his brother on. Jonathan has drive and is as competitive as his brother and that should not be taken away from him whether his brother is in the race with him or not.
Katende was also crowned the MX 65 winner on the national level with 418 points, through his consistency and growth, he came in first in three of the rounds (MX 2, MX 6 & MX 8). The youngster has stayed true to what makes him good, being consistent and avoiding mistakes during races; he also competed in all eight rounds of the national motocross level, something that a few riders did. Ssemakula George, a staple in the motorsport field, father, and coach to Jonathan and all his children, attributes Jonathan’s success this year to Jonathan’s consistency and for him wanting to keep the Katende name dominant even when Miguel is not racing. Ssemakula also says Jonathan credits his drive and motivation this season to his older brother Miguel and the injury that put him out of competition; he wanted to win for his brother.
Jonathan competed in the Enduro national championship challenge as well, and won the Junior One class this season; which gives him three championships in just one year, something that should make the young lad extremely proud. His position in Africa as a continent is tenth at just ten years old.
The young lad also got to compete on the international scene in Bucharest-Romania back in July for the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship that was surely an eye-opener for all that got to compete as well as a chance to get a feel of an international event with the world’s best riders.
In 2024, the youngster who will be in primary five at St Francis Junior School Buddo has a hectic schedule planned and one of his most important missions will be to qualify for the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship in the Netherlands that will be scheduled to take place in July 2024 as well defending the CAC championship. Jonathan will also be preparing to compete in the Motocross of African Nations (MXOAN) in Morocco and he will use the Uganda national motocross championship to gauge his performance and readiness to compete with international riders. George Ssemakula hopes that Jonathan can also compete in South Africa doing doubleheaders where he can do four races in two weekends in two different cities. South Africa is good for strengthening Jonathan on an international basis.
His brother Miguel however, will sit most of the season out as he will be preparing for his Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) as well as making a full recovery which might enable him to compete at the end of the year.
Jonathan is on his way to leaving a mark of his own on the motocross scene as he harnesses his growth and experience in years to come.
