The debut event of the Central Africa Motocross Championship (CAC) was a victory for team Uganda at the Victoria race way park at Garuga over the Easter holiday. The fans came out in extremely huge numbers to support and cheer on their favorite riders and the Ugandan team did not disappoint. This also served as the third round in the national motocross. Uganda completed with 1245points in total and Kenya with 566.
By the end of the first day-16 April, after all the scrutineering and official duties, the first heat was held and the battle started between Uganda and the Kenyan team. The team from Tanzania did not compete in the first heat because they were still in transit after crossing the border late. In the MX 50 cc class, Jamairah Makumbi came out swinging, representing the females and putting on a really competitive show. She won the first heat and Filbert Muwonge came in second place, scoring two podium wins for Uganda in that class. Kenya’s Uhrie Yongo came in close third place. Miguel Katende came to defend his tittle and finished first in the first heat in a class that had the most competitors-65cc, thirteen riders competed in this class. His brother, Jonathan Katende came in second place and Kenya’s Kigeni Mutuma came in third. In the MX 125cc, Kenya came in first place, with Alex Kandie pulling all the stops to score team Kenya’s first place win. Milton Obote Akena came in second for team Uganda, and Kenya’s Peter Magwa was third. Ryan Tiren from Kenya dominated the 85cc finishing first, Jerome Mubiru coming in second and Mubarak Mayanja Senoga coming in third. The MX 2 class had only Ugandans and three competitors, Kylan Wekesa finished first, Sharifah Kateete finished second, and Joshua Mwangala came in third. Alestair Blick Jr. finished in first place and Maxime Van Pee placed second in the MX 1. Arthur Blick Jr. finished first in the Vets.
As the last day of competition carried along on Easter Sunday, Jamairah Makumbi managed to win the MX 50cc class, she came in second in the second and third heats but had points enough to have her lead that class. She represented women riders proudly and this was a great achievement for the young lady. Coming in second place for this class was Kenya’s Dylan Hatanga, he came through and owned the track in the second and third heats finishing first though was held back from first place because he finished ninth in the first heat. The youngster put a fight and carried the Kenyan flag high. Filbert Muwonge completed the podium in third place and Uhrie Yongo in fourth place.
Miguel Katende carried his class, dominating his counterparts, placing first in all heats collecting a full 60 points for Uganda, Jonathan Katende in second, and Kenya’s Kigeni Mutuma in third place. Other Kenyans that took part in this class were Lewis Ogonyi who finished fourth, and Ngegi Kamau in sixth. In the most intense battle of the day, Jerome Mubiru edged out Kenya’s Ryan Tiren to win the 85cc class, finishing first in the second and third heats. They went after each other but Mubiru held his ground and scored another first place win for Uganda. Tiren came in second place, and third place was Mubarak Senoga Mayanja, securing two podiums for the country.
It was all team Kenya as Alex Kandie won the MX 125 class, finishing first in two of the heats. He suffered a fall in the last heat but managed to finish strong in second place. Kenya scored two podium wins in this class, as Peter Magwa finished third. Milton Obote Akena finished overall second place putting on a good performance on the track and holding his own for the Ugandan team. Also from Kenya were Alexander Njoroge who placed fifth, Adam Leonard Owori who finished sixth, and Ivanca Yongo in ninth. In the MX2, Kylan Wekesa dominated all heats, Sharifah Kateete in second, and Joshua Mwangala in third. The Tanzanian crew took part in the MX1 but did only two heats, however it was two-time champion Maxime Van Pee that came out on top in the class, he won the second heat as they closely battled it out with Uganda’s team captain Alestair. In the last heat, Maxime suffered two falls but still fought his way to first place securing him two first place wins. He had not raced this season and this was a triumphant return for him. Alestair had an unfortunate incident as he ran out of fuel in the last heat but finished overall second. From Tanzania, in third place was Massoud Seif Khamis and in fourth place was Nassor Mbarouk. In the Vets class, Arthur Blick Jr. carried it with the sweat at all, proving he still is one of the greatest showmen in the motor sporting world, keeping Uganda on the map. From Kenya, Fred Yongo came in second, and Fredrick Aoko in third also from Kenya. Rose Deedan came in fourth, representing the ladies in this class.
The day closed with a race from women in motocross, a boda boda competition, and sprint from a few of the Ugandan drivers in preparations for the Pearl of Africa rally slated for May. Natalie Kandie from Kenya won the women’s race, Ivanca Yongo in second, and from Uganda Abigail Mwangala in third. The boda boda rider that won their race was gifted a new Yuvraj TVS bike. Among the drivers doing the sprint were Duncan Mubiru who showed off his Ford Fiesta proto, Mike Mukula Jr. whose speed on the track is something to watch out for, Ronald Ssebuguzi, who announced that he will be selling off his car after the sprint, and Arthur Blick Jr. Coming up on the motor sporting calendar is the second round of Enduro later in the month and the very anticipated Pearl of Africa rally in Lugazi in May. The second round of the CAC will be held in Kenya later in the year.
