Reigning Kenyan Enduro champion Anthony Nielsen leads astrong team of four riders to the 2014 FIM AFRICA Cross Country Championshipslated to run in Zambia on the first weekend of next month.

Team Kenya will also enjoy the services of fast-pacedoff-road stalwart Ross Field, 2013 Rally Raid's most improved rider ShaunMiller and Alan De Boer who is no stranger to FIM Africa sanctioned events.  

Basically, Shaun, Ross and Nielsen used to race togetherback in the days in the 65cc class and representing the country at the Zambiaextravaganza rekindles old memories of the days the trio fought out forpositions on Kenyan motocross tracks with zest and vigor.

"We have maintained our friendship over the yearsand still enjoy racing against each other to date. Now with Alan de Boer onboard, we are more than just happy to fly Kenya's higher in the FIM AfricaCross country championship in Siouvonga. Team Kenya can no longer be takenlightly at the Championships this time round," said Nielsen who believesthey are good to go after all the heavy training over the past few months.

Legendary Nielsen, who became the first Kenyan to scorepoints at the South African round of the World Motocross Championship in SunCity a few years back, has been the captain for Kenya over the years, butprodded to explain, Nielsen admits candidly that this is the strongest team thecountry has ever lined up for the FIM  Cross Country AfricanChampionship.

"The team is composed of very experienced andtalented riders," quipped Anthony. Last year, Alan de Boer and Nielsen   represented the country in Namibia for the FIM Africa Cross Country event. Allan and Nielsen are using several off-road eventsacross the African continent as a dress rehearsal for their "fairy tale"participation in the 2015 Dakar Rally.

"Standards have been set and only the sky's thelimit for Team Kenya in Zambia," said Nielsen who currently leads theKenya National Enduro series after round One in Limuru. 

Allan, who is the youngest member of the Kenyan team at26, sounded quite febrile about the forthcoming championship and Kenya'sparticipation.

"The essence is to make lots of noise, create lotsof dust, burn lots of fuel, shred lots of rubber, push our machines to thelimits and get across the finish line with the rest of Team Kenya in onepiece," said De Boer. 

Shaun has been riding bikes for many years and admits hehas not only come of age, but had the bug from the day he stopped crawling.

"I did my first motocross race in 1983 at 3 yearsold on an Italjet 50. I Could hardly hold my head up as my helmet was far toobig. I still have the bike," said Shaun who rode his heart out in the 2013Kenya Rally Raid championship only to lose to eventual champ Sean Wilcock by amere three points!

Team Kenya will be managed by longstanding motorsportadministrator Anne Troughton and Abigail Gustafson.

The FIM Africa event has attracted 85 riders so far fromZambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Congo.

The FIM Africa Cross Country Continental Championshipwhich will also incorporate the first round of the Southern Off RoadChampionship will take place from 4-5 April 2014 at Siavonga in Zambia.

The event  is opento all riders and teams from FIM AFRICA member countries and who are eligibleto score points in the FIM AFRICA Cross Country Team Championship.

Entries for the event opened on the 13th of March andclosed 21 days before the event. Kenya remains one of the strongest supportersof the FIM Africa organized events, according to the Motorcycle Commissionchairman of Kenya Motor Sports Federation (KMSF) Mr. Maina Muturi. 

Maina who is also the Vice-President of FIM Africa (incharge of environment) disclosed that Kenya will also send a strongteam of riders to first round of the FIM Africa Central Africa Challenge (CAC)that will be held in Kampala, Uganda on the weekend of  April 19-20.

"Kenya will also be entering a team to the FIMAfrica Continental Motocross Championship that will take place in Zambia inAugust," said Maina. 

TEAM KENYA PROFILES FOR FIM AFRICA ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP::-

NAME: ANTHONY NIELSEN

• AGE; 34
• BIKE:HUSABERG
• CC;450
• WHEN DID YOU START RIDING (BIKES): STARTED RIDING WHEN IWAS 8 ANY CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORIES: KENYA NATIONAL ENDURO AND MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONNUMIROUS TIME INTERNATIONAL EVENTS: FIM EVENTS KENYA/UGANDA/ZAMBIA/NAMBIA/SOUTH AFRICA
• EXPECTATIONS: TOP 3

NAME: AlAN DE BOER

• AGE; 26
• BIKE: KTM
• CC: 450
• WHEN DID YOU START RIDING (BIKES): At the age of 12 ANYCHAMPIONSHIP VICTORIES: Motocross and Enduro championship victories some yearsback INTERNATIONAL EVENTS: FIM Motocross Namibia 2006, FIM Motocross Kenya2007, Fim Enduro Kenya 2008, FIM Enduro Namibia 2013, FIM Enduro Thailand 2012.
• EXPECTATIONS: To perform well and help Kenya gain astrong position in the teams' trophy

MENTOR: Anto.

NAME: SHAUN MILLER

• AGE; 34
• BIKE: Husaberg
• CC;250 2 stroke
• WHEN DID YOU START RIDING (BIKES): Did my first MX in1983 aged 3 years old on an Italjet 50. 
• ANY CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORIES: 2nd overall Rally Raid 2013;Rally Raid's most improved competitor in 2013 INTERNATIONAL EVENTS: FIM CrossCountry event in 2011
• EXPECTATIONS: podium position in Zambia

NAME: ROSS FIELD

• AGE;32
• BIKE: Husqvarna
• CC; 350
• WHEN DID YOU START RIDING (BIKES): Age 3 ANY CHAMPIONSHIPVICTORIES: NONE INTERNATIONAL EVENTS: FIM motor X in Kenya
• 1997
• EXPECTATIONS: Help the Kenyan Team to a Top threefinish!!
• HERO:- Anto "ANTO IS THE BEST"