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The MXOAN, the continent's premier motocross event, saw participation from nine countries, including heavyweights like Kenya, Tanzania, and last year's champions, South Africa.
It was a day of highs and lows for Team Uganda at the 2023 FIM Motocross of Africa Nations (MXOAN) championship.
The MXOAN, the continent's premier motocross event, saw participation from nine countries, including heavyweights like Kenya, Tanzania, and last year's champions, South Africa.
But Stav Orland firmly etched his name into the limelight with an awe-inspiring performance in the MX2 category. Leading from the gates and finishing 12 seconds ahead of South African Dalton Venter.
Orland dominated the track, completing the 12 laps around the Zone 7 race track in Cape Town, South Africa in a blistering 20:04.460.
Not content with just the win, he also set the best lap time of 1:43.330, showcasing his calibre.
Hints of Orland's supremacy were evident earlier during morning practice, where he settled for second, hinting at the spectacle that was to come.
While Orland reigned supreme, it wasn’t smooth sailing for all Ugandan riders. Johnathan Muhindo, another contender from Uganda, managed to secure the 17th position.
Drama unfolded when Fortune Ssentamu, after a commendable start and maintaining a position within the top four for the initial laps, had a harrowing crash into the barricades during the seventh lap.
This unfortunate event occurred right in front of his teammates, who immediately rallied around him, displaying the unity and camaraderie that defines Team Uganda.
There was also a dash of familial pride when Aron Orland, Stav's brother, exhibited his racing prowess in the MX 125, marking a respectable seventh-place finish.
Others in the category, such as Milton Obote Akiiki, the grandson of former Ugandan President Milton Obote, finished 13th, while Ali Waleed Omar, Kreidah Nsubuga, and Daryl Muhindo finished 16th, 18th, and 25th, respectively.
In the MX 65 category, the Katende siblings, Miguel and Jonathan, captured the crowd's attention with their impeccable skills.
Having exhibited their potential during practice, the brothers found themselves in strong positions when the race commenced.
However, while Miguel retained his momentum to finish sixth, a mishap stalled Jonathan's progress midway, derailing what looked like a promising race for him.
Ashiraf Mbabazi rounded off the category for Team Uganda, finishing 15th.
The MX 50 category saw another ray of hope for Uganda, with Jude Musede pulling off a podium finish against tough local competitors.
Noel Ssekamwa's race, however, was marred by a mishap in a tricky sandy section. Despite this setback, she rallied to finish 15th.
The MX1 category proved challenging for Isma Mukiibi, who finished 17th out of 18 riders, trailing class winner Jesse Wright from Zambia by three laps.
Beyond the racetrack, a significant logistical hiccup threatened the team's participation. As race time loomed, 19 of the 34 bikes designated for Team Uganda's riders were held at the South African Revenue Customs in Cape Town.
Despite attempts to expedite the clearance process and a bond fee payment of Ninety-one thousand rands (Shs20million) to release the Ugandan bike cargo, the bikes remained inaccessible late on Friday evening.
The genesis of this challenge began on Wednesday, a public holiday, which was initially set for bike clearance.
The subsequent day saw Ugandan officials facing a series of bureaucratic challenges and inconsistencies from clearing agents.
Reynold Kibira, leading the team, advocated tirelessly for the release, even seeking assistance from Motorsport South Africa (MSA).
Despite these concerted efforts, by the time scrutineering and clearance processes were underway for other participating nations, Team Uganda's dilemma remained unresolved.
The unfortunate turn of events left Team Uganda significantly underrepresented, with only 15 of the 34 registered riders available for the race.
The remaining riders adapted swiftly: some hiring bikes locally, others purchasing, and a few fortunate ones having shipped theirs in advance.
In all, while individual brilliance like Orland's shone bright, it was a day of mixed fortunes for Team Uganda. But as always, the nation's racers exhibited heart, determination, and the never-say-die spirit that has come to define them.
Fans eagerly await Sunday's climax, with heats two and three determining the overall winners based on points accumulated over the trio of races.
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