Uganda Motocross

Jamie came back with a newspaper clipping from the paper in Kampala one day. The clipping was small with a picture of a dirt bike flying in the air saying that the East African Motocross Championships were going to be coming to Uganda on March 22nd. She said I should go. I didn’t argue. Motorsports in Uganda? I was more excited than I could describe.

A good portion of my later life has had me breathing noxious fumes from some sort of engine and me covering my ears (or not) from the sounds of motorsport. I’ve loved being surrounded by fumes and smoke, flame and fuel, metal and oil, the sights and smells and sounds of machinery being torn apart in the pursuit of victory by masked-men - fighting for the right to declare themselves and their machine the best of the day. I can’t quite get it across, but for me, the smells and sounds give me actual physical joy.

So I made the journey from Kibaale to Kampala to check it out and had some great times that day. I arrived just in time to see the first open-class race (the big bikes) lining up at the starting gate, having just read the current season’s big battle for first between Arthur Blick of Uganda and Assaf Natan of Israel. Fantastic racing all day long and Uganda got things right – I paid 5,000 shillings (~$2.50) for an entry fee to watch and got to see a whole day of racing, received a free bottle of mountain dew, and was also given this huge sausage-thing on a stick. So I left full and happy. What a fantastic day.

From Uganda Motocross

The start of the first Open Class race

From Uganda Motocross

Assaf Natan ripping by

From Uganda Motocross

Assaf Natan again - always put on a show for the crowd over this tabletop

From Uganda Motocross

Holeshot in the 65/85cc class

From Uganda Motocross

MX2 (125cc)

From Uganda Motocross

Arthur Blick and Assaf Natan battling for the lead in MX1

From Uganda Motocross

Arthur Blick ended up winning the main event

From Uganda Motocross

The crowd was unreal and a hoot to watch the event with. Everyone was just loving what was going on and the roar was fantastic in the big moments

From Uganda Motocross

An NSR250 which has been defiled

From Uganda Motocross

One of the world's fastest production bikes, the Yamaha R1, bumping and weaving its way out from the track at the end of the day on a windy village dirt-road. I couldn't stop laughing - my truck was getting absolutely pummelled and here comes this supersport bike trying to pass me

Great day!