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Orland, riding the KTM 2023 model bike, finished second behind the winner Cameron Durrow, while Fortune Sentamu finished eighth in his first appearance in the professional ranks in the MX2 class.
Fortune Sentamu and Stav Orland made an impressive showing in the opening round of the South Africa Nationals Motocross Championship at Phakisa Elkom, Free State track over the weekend.
Orland, riding the KTM 2023 model bike, finished second behind the winner Cameron Durrow, while Fortune Sentamu finished eighth in his first appearance in the professional ranks in the MX2 class.
Durrow is South Africa’s top racer in the MX2 class, riding for the Red Bull team, and earlier this year won both the MX2 and MX1 pre-national championships.
The performance of the Ugandan racers in the opening round is a sign of a bright future for them as they get more exposure ahead of continental and world championships.
Sentamu’s mother, Darbela Apolot, expressed her pride in her son's efforts, saying, “I’m short of words. It is unbelievable to hear that he was in the top eight.”
“I am told if he did not crash in the first lap, he would be in the top five,” she added while speaking to the New Vision.
“But we thank God for that and we wait for next time,” Apolot also thanked team Orland for making it possible for her son to obtain a license to race in South Africa.
Hassan Waswa, the Team Orland chief mechanic and trainer, also expressed his satisfaction with the boys' performance.
He said, “Yes, as a mechanic, I had pressure, but our boys made us proud. It was Fortune’s first time on foreign land, but I'm confident he will perform better in the next race.”
Only Charl Van Eeden failed to finish the race from the fifteen races that competed in the class.
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