Muddy and Slippery Round Two of The National Motocross Championship Unfolds at the Victoria Raceway Track-Garuga

The second round of the Uganda national motocross championship went down at the Victoria Raceway Park, Garuga-Entebbe on Sunday, 03 March, 2024. The track was muddy, wet, and slippery as it had rained in the morning but the riders still put on a great show for the fans that came out to watch them. It is always a treat to see the youngest of the riders on a muddy track and in the MX 50 class, Jude Kyle Musede won all three heats and is one of the riders who is shining bright and showing confidence with each event; he is one-to-watch. Abigail Katende came in second place and won the ladies’ class as Noel Ssekamwa closed out the podium in third place. Hellena Birungi Ainomugisha and Faith Deedan Angel finished fourth and fifth respectively. This class had twelve riders taking part and it is always good to see an increase in the number of young children taking part in motorcross. There were five female riders in this class which was the highest compared to other classes.

The MX 65 class at the start gate. Photo Credit: Innocent Mutaawe.

In the MX 50 Junior class, Janan Makumbi came out on top of everyone, winning all three heats. The young lady also won the ladies’ class. Ariella Katende came in second and Israel Mpuga closed out the podium. The top two positions being won by females was an impressive feat and hopefully, it will keep going. Asa Mbabazi, a female, finished in fourth place overall. Avisha Ellis Laboke was fifth, Aiden Asiimwe was sixth, Fadinand Favour Sentamu was seventh, Nixon Bogere eighth, and Lessna Nyanzi was ninth.

There was stiff competition in the 65cc class (which is also the class with the most riders) and Ramathan Mubiru came out on top of everyone else, Mubiru had a total of forty-seven points and won heat three. The young lad celebrated the win with his musician father, Hajj Haruna Mubiru. Larry Ssekamwa finished in second place after coming second in two heats also with forty-seven points and Jonathan Katende closed out the podium in third. Upgrading from the 50cc class, Jamairah Makumbi won the ladies’ class and it will be interesting to see how she navigates this season. Joy Norah Akao was second and Rahmah Nakachwa Kimera was third in the 65cc ladies’ class. Jerome Mubiru won all heats in the 85cc class, Ethan Jassa Katek finished second, and Jason Burrows closed the podium in third. Ally Kimera was fourth, Ashram Makumbi fifth, and Madi Lukwago sixth.

Ron Young won the MX 125 class with fifty-four points, coming in first place in heat one and second in heats two and three. Ruhan Kalsi finished in second and Malcolm Gift Tabula in third after having a DNF (Did Not Finish) in the first heat. In the Veterans class, Geoffrey Kayiira took the top spot, winning two heats and coming in third in one. Ali Kigozi finished in second place as Ashi Young closed out the podium in third. There was one female rider, Arithea Nakiwala, but unfortunately, she did not finish the event. Andrea Marinnelli was the only rider in the Masters’ class.

Since the MX 1 & 2 class were joined, it made for a very entertaining spectacle for fans as they cheered on fan-favorite Fortune Ssentamu, who won all three heats in the MX 1 class. Many fans were happy to see him compete as he is rare for the majority of the motocross season. Not to ever be counted out, the Omar brothers were impressive on track as Wazir Ali Omar finished second behind Ssentamu and Waleed Ali Omar won the MX 2 class. In the MX 1 class, Isma Mukiibi finished third, Ashim Sserwadda fourth, Zaid Ssegawa fifth and Nagibuh Muttebe in sixth. The Obote brothers were second and third in the MX 2 class with Apollo Milton Obote Akaki second and Apollo Milton Obote Akena in third. Sharifah Kateete won the ladies’ class and finished fifth overall. Asia Kasirye, Shadia Kateete, and Swanswi Sambo were the other females to compete in the MX 2 class.

The third round of the national motocross championship will take place on 24^th March at the E-Villas track in Kalisizo hosted by the Southern Motor Club; it will also serve as the first round of the Central Africa Championship (CAC).

MX 65 Finishers;