BY SAMSON ATEKA
Kenya dominated the second round of the FIM Central Africa Challenge in Nairobi on Sunday with MX1 rider Ivan Guya emerging star attraction.
Having already taken some impressive scalps in the national series, Guya upset Uganda’s best rider Maxime Van Pee as Kenyan Tutu Maina wrapped up his campaign in third place.
“It was a tough race but the bike rode really well without any hitches. Maxime is a really tough rider and it will be exciting to see how things go in the third and final round later this year,” said Guya.
Asked what to expect in the season’s closing race, Guya said it will be flat out every inch of the way.
Jet Takkunen led the Kenyans to an emphatic clean sweep in the MX50 class for the diminutives, winning all the three heats at stake. Second overall in MX50 was Tyler Huth.
Ugandans, however, dominated the MX65 category with Ssentamu Fortune emerging the winner. Fortune won all the three heats on a cumulative perfect score of 60points. Kigen Kiplagat of Kenya settled for second place with Ugandan Ben Nsumba completing the podium dash with zest and vigour. Both Nsumba and Kiplagat were tied on 45 but the latter clung to second place by virtue of winning the third and last heat.
Kenyans also dominated the MX2 class with foreign-based rider Masalule Kituyi emerging the victor. Masalule had his campaign effectively sewn-up after Rohan Gandhi suffered mechanical problems in the first hit.
Rohan’s bike ceased and he didn’t finish the opening heat; though he was able to return in subsequent heats with second positions to his credit. Masalule has since relocated to Geneva and had the gusto to steer Kenyans to desirable heights.
Former three-time open class champion Anthony Nielsen won the veterans/masters class, leading Mikhail Berman and Tim Jessop to a clean Kenyan sweep.
Nielsen, who is the reigning Kenyan Enduro champion returned to circuit racing and didn’t disappoint in any way.
MX85 was won by Elias Sherman of Kenya with Ugandan Ali Omar beating Ethan Nyachae to second place. Another clean sweep for the Kenyans was achieved by MX125 class champion Samir Anwar who garnered 60 points to restrict his compatriots Elunga Malungu and Githuku Mungai to a scintillating podium finish.
Round 2 Results- FIM Central Africa Challenge/Jamhuri racetrack
MX50
1. Jet Takkunen (KEN) 60
2. Tyler Huth (KEN) 51
3. J. Waiyaki (KEN) 45
MX65
1. Ssentamu Fortune (Ug) 60
2. Kigen Kiplagat (Ken) 45
3. Ben Nsumba (Ug) 45
MX85
1. Elias Sherman (Ken) 60
2. Ali Omar (Ug) 45
3. Ethan Nyachae (Ken) 45
MX125
1. Samir Anwar (Ken) 60
2. Elunga Malungu (Ken) 47
3. Githuku Mungai (Ken) 45
MX2
1. Masalule Kituyi (Ken) 60
2. Ahmed Tamale (Ug) 47
3. Nbikalwange Ashiraf (Ug) 39
MX1
1. Ivan Guya (Ken) 60
2. Maxime Van Pee (Ug) 49
3. Tutu Maina (Ken) 47
Veterans/Masters
1. Anthony Nielsen (Ken) 60
2. Mikhail Berman (Ken) 51
3. Tim Jessop (Ken) 45
Courtesy of the-star.co.ke