Sentamu's food for thought to Van Pee

Maxim Van Pee will attempt to come back stronger and bring the challenge to Fortune Ssentamu who beat him during the MX event in Kalisizo | Courtesy photo

MOTORSPORT Sentamu's food for thought to Van Pee

Shafic Kiyaga 20:40 - 07.03.2023

Red-hot Ssentamu, on the back of a strong race in South Africa, finished first in the combined race for the MX2 and MX1 classes, leaving former national team captain Maxime van Pee in his wake.

Fortune Sentamu was the standout performer in the second round of the National Motocross Championship, held on Sunday in Kalisizo, Uganda.

Red-hot Ssentamu, on the back of a strong race in South Africa, finished first in the combined race for the MX2 and MX1 classes, leaving former national team captain Maxime van Pee in his wake.

Van Pee was returning to the track since his cameo appearance at the FIM Africa Motorcross Championship in August last year, admitted that he had not been training and was not fit.

But he reserved special praise for Sentamu's speed and dominance on the track as well as the overall improvement in pace across the field in different categories.

However, he also vowed to come back stronger in the next event, determined to regain his position at the top of the leaderboard.

"I must admit, I am not fit,” Van Pee said after the race, before adding; “I have been not training, but what I see, Fortune (Ssentamu) is faster.”

“From what I have seen, Uganda now has a strong team because many riders have improved so much.”

The Kalisizo track proved to be a challenging course for the close to 85 riders who took on the challenge.

The track, situated on sloping terrain with narrow bends and corners, presented a unique challenge with races featuring several notable crashes.

Several racers suffered injuries, including Jeremiah Mawanda, Sharifah Kateete, and Rose Deedan, who required medical attention.

Despite the difficulties of the track, several other riders put in strong performances, including Gift Sebuguzi, Waleed Omar, Milton Akaki, Jonathan Katende, and Jude

Musede. Musede won the 50cc class, while Katende, Sebuguzi, Waleed, and Maxime won in their respective categories.

The next round of the National Motocross Championship to be held over the Easter Weekend promises to be a thrilling event, with Sentamu and van Pee set to battle it out for the top spot.