Sentamu, Omar upgrade as riders gear for new season
Step up: 13-year-old Sentamu testing his new bike in Busika Photo by John Batanudde
What you need to know:
The 2019 season which was supposed to start on January 19 has been delayed for a week until 27th to allow riders more time to complete their warm ups.
Kampala. The motocross arena has been Arthur Blick’s playground. A mammoth 11 titles in 22 years is not a mean feat. But the crown has credible pursuers.
When the 42-year-old Blick threw in the towel at the end of last season, the preps to this season got fizzed up. The two biggest challengers, Fortune Sentamu, obviously the fans’ darling and the pimped up Omar team’s Ali, have opted to climb ladders to test deeper waters.
Sentamu, 13, will now ride in the fast and furious class of 125CC upgrading from the 85cc category. But he will be joined by his biggest career challenger, Stav Orland. Wazir Omar, Joshua Mwangala and Sam Foreman will also jump to the class.
It should be a class to enjoy as the Senior Two student of St Mary’s SS Kitende has been signed by the Orland Brothers Racing Team which offered him the new Husqvarna 2018 model bike. It was the bike 15-year-old Aviv Orland, used last season.
The 85cc class, which was the most competitive alongside the 125cc class, is now left with the Obote brothers - Milton Akaki and Akena as well as Jeremiah Mawanda. But the 125CC class has raised stakes Walid Omar, Kylan Wekesa, Arnold Nyanzi, Jonathan Muhindo, Shadia Kateete and Esther Mwangala are already there.
More upgrades
Gift Sebuguzi, who has dominated the 50cc class for the last two seasons has also upgraded to the 65cc category alongside Mubark Senoga. They are going to renew rivalry with Isabella Blick and Aron Orland.
Aviv will be racing in the MX1 class but will not earn points as he is considered too young for the class where Maxime Van Pee is king.
Fatuh Kiggundu has also left MX2 and now has joined the big boys in MX1 which has riders like Van Pee and Assaf Natan. In order to retain the championship he lost last year, Van Pee has brought in a new KTM 2019 model 350cc bike.
Season start delayed
The 2019 season which was supposed to start on January 19 has been delayed for a week until 27th to allow riders more time to complete their warm ups.
This season will however miss the legendary Arthur Blick Jnr who retired from the sport.
