Brewing anticipation for MXoAN in August
As entries for the Motocross of African Nations (MXoAN) close today, roughly 150 riders from nine confirmed competitors in Africa are expected to line up at Gallina Motocross Park outside Windhoek during the last weekend in August.
This event will also hold a unique challenge for 50cc riders, shared MXoAN Namibia’s training lead and team captain, Tommy Gous, in an interview with Lights Out Africa.
“I can’t even put myself in their shoes. I think that must be really, really nerve-wracking, but we had to do it as a team. We stepped our game up, we took them for training, got them used to the big track, we even scraped the track in between just to make it an easier step for them, but if you can imagine a little 50cc is between five and nine years old, driving on 40 meter tables with ruts that are 10, 20 centimeters deep and whoops and stuff, that must be nerve-wracking. But they got it under control, we got it under control, they're going to rock it,” Gous said.
These riders will be tasked with taking on a fast, technical circuit 1 320m in length with a sandy surface across most of the circuit.
Technical approach from riders
While Gallina does not pose an elevation challenge, it will require a fast, flowing and technical approach from riders.
Gous shared in a recent interview with Lights Out Africa that planning and preparation for this event has been ongoing for months. “We found out last year that we will be hosting and we started planning almost immediately,” Gous shared.
"I'm actually very excited to see what the standard is going to be, especially from the South African side. South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, they have all got very, very good guys," Gous shared.
Participating riders will also face an internal challenge, Gous says: "I think the biggest challenge is just to keep calm. It's the top riders all over Africa. You have to relax. It's going to be long races, the track is going to get rough, we're not used to that number of riders on the track.”
For spectators catching the action in person on 29 and 30 August, the organising team advises comfortable shoes, sun protection measures and cash on hand to enjoy the refreshments from on-site food and drinks vendors.
