The premiere round of the three leg FIM Africa, Central Africa Motocross Challenge takes off this Sunday at the Jamhuri Park circuit with riders from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania fighting for a share of championship points.

But the 24man Ugandan outfit will fight the battle minus three of their key MX1 riders namely Arthur Blick Jrn, Asaf Natan and Maxime Van Pee.

Arthur isn't racing because he has decided to drive rally cars this year.  Maxime is writing his exams in Europe while Asaf is in Israel on business tour.  All in all, Ugandans will field a sizable number of veteran riders and a only handful of newcomers.   

In the absence of their MX1 trio, Hood Semugoma in a 2004 model of Yamaha 250cc will carry the hopes of Ugandans.  Hood will be up against the Kenyan trio of Shivam Vinayak, Tutu Maina and UK based Cruze Muigai who is making a comeback after a long lay-off.

Cruze has been away at the University of Kent in Medway, UK where he is pursuing a degree in Music Technology. He has just completed his first year of University eductaion and is itching to ride yet again with two more two more years remaining to complete his course.

Kenyans will peg their hopes on Dekker Kihara, Jesse Waithaka and Ethan Nyachae in the MX 50 class. In the MX65 class, Kenya has the likes of Jeremy Waithaka and Rolf Kihara among others.

Ivan Guya and Apollo Mbuki will keep Kenya's flag lying in the MX2 class up against Ugandans Tamale Ahmed, Leon Semakula and Jahid Kiggundu.    The Round of FIM Africa, Central Africa Motocross Championship is open to riders from FIM Member countries in the Central Africa Region of the FIM Africa.

The Championship is organised in accordance with the rules of the FIM, FIM Africa and FMN National Competition Rules.  The event will be organised by East African Motor Sports Club in conjunction with the Kenya Motor Sports Federation (KMSF).

According to the regulations which have already been circulated participants, all Riders are eligible to score challenge points for their respective countries but, a Rider cannot score Challenge Points in more than one class.

A minimum of 3 Riders at registration will constitute a Class.

Meanwhile Antony Nielsen  and Allan de Boer represented Kenya in the FIM Africa Cross Country African Motocross Championship in Namibia where they came 11th and 8th respectively. The duo also secured Kenya 4th place with a Team of two and beat Zimbabwe incidentally.

THE UGANDAN TEAM

MX 50

• ASLAN FAROOQI (KTM/ 2013-50CC)
• WALEED OMAR ALI (KTM/ 2013-50CC)
• HABIB KIGGUNDU (KTM /2011-50CC
• BEN NSUMBA (KTM/ 2012-50CC)
• CHICAGO RAYVON (KTM /2004-50CC)
• IMRAN NKULUZIZA (KTM /2012-50CC)

MX65

• PADDY BLICK (KTM/2013-65CC)
• WAZIR OMAR ALI (KTM /2012-65CC)
• FORTUNE SENTAMU MX 65 (KTM 2012-65CC)
• SIMON PETER (MX 502000-65CC)
• SHARIFAH KATENTE (KTM/ 2007-65CC)

MX 85

• ALESTAR MX 85 BLICK (KTM/2013-85CC)
• ALI OMAR YASSER (KTM/2012-85CC)
• MX 125
• FATUH KIGUNDU (YZ/ 1999-125CC)

MX 2

• TAMALE AHMED (CR /1999-125CC)
• LEON SEMAKULA (YZ/1999-125CC)
• MUZAMIR SAJJABI (KX /1999-125CC)
• JAHID KIGUNDU (YZF /2004-250CC)
• MICHEAL NTAILO (CRF/2008-250CC)
• NDIKULWANGE ASHIRAF (CR/ 1998-125CC)
• MUWANGA (CRF /2007-250CC)

MX1

• NSUBUGA JOSEPH (CR /1999-250CC)
• MBABAZI ASHIRAF (KTM/ 2004-450CC)
• HOOD SEMUGOMA (YZF/ 2004-250cc)