REPORT BY SAMSON ATEKA (KMSF Media Liaison)

Shivam Vinayak, Tutu Maina, Alan De Boer and Ross Field are among the top riders Kenya will field in Saturday's FIM Africa Cross Country of African Nations to be held at Kisima Farm in Meru County.

South Africa will be represented by two riders, Uganda one, Botswana one and Tanzania 10.

Tanzania has in its outfit the likes of Per Bjerre, Alpha Malimda, Pieter Van, A. Koster and Lane Simonson among others. Bjerre has previously starred for Tanzania at the regional FIM Africa CAC Motocross championship.

Others big names making the Kenya team include Ben Spinks, Shaun Miller and Andrew Pleasance among others.

Tutu, who has since quit motocross and gone off-road, will be carrying the Kenya flag flying in a new Beta 250 two -Stroke Enduro bike.

Preparations to stage the event according to East African Motor Sports Club Chairman Chris Wahome "are at an advanced stage".

Wahome who is also the event's is the FMNR Jury Member said a total of 52 riders have been entered for the continental extravaganza.

The FIM Africa Cross Country is one of the major highlights of the 2015 Kenya Motorsport season which revved-off in February with the Kenya National Motocross Championship round 1. This will be the second time that Kenya will be staging this prestigious championships. The first time Kenya hosted the event was in 2011 when the cream of Africa's best converged on the expansive Soysambu Conservancy bringing together top African riding nations including South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The event is not only restricted to two wheels- Kenyan quads bike riders Shazar Anwar, Vincent Boulanger and Zane Young are sure to treat spectators to some exhilarating displays of racing artistry.

Meanwhile, the organising team for the weekend event has been confirmed.

The Jury President is Anne Troughton who has played a pivotal role in the development of virtually all forms of motor sports in Kenya including the rally-sport Motocross, Enduros and Raids. The Foreign Jury Member is Gillian Dykes while Chris Wahome is the FMNR Jury Member. The Clerk of Course for the event is Renzo Bernardi assisted by multiple motocross open class champion Anthony Nielsen. The Chief Technical Steward is Mbabu Muturi who has also ridden in various Kenya National Enduros and Raids. Chief Scorers are Chris Eden and Raju Chaggar while Assistant Technical Stewards are Maina Muturi and Rolf Davey. The Secretariat will be handled by Anita Eden, her namesake Anita Nielsen and Lindsay Takkunen. Anita Nielsen will also double up as the Jury Secretary. The Chief Medical Officer is Dr Ben Ochieng from Mombasa Motor Club (MMC).

Chief Environmental Officer is Sari Sherman while the Chief Safety Officer is Sheryl Kibaki. The Service Area/ pits will be handled by Jenny Davey. The Chief Marshall is Rolf Davey.

VERBATIM:::-What Kenyan team riders have said about the FIM Africa Cross Country::-

Sean Wilcock (based in Houston, USA).

"I do miss the racing a lot. What I really miss are the good friends and camaraderie within the Enduro and Rally Raid Championships. This will be a great year for the Enduro as we hold the Africa FIM Enduro. Last year we were lucky to get confirmation and secure the event for 2015. Kudos to the team organising and putting this event together. I wish our Kenya riders all the very best, there are some great riders and great Motorsport spirits that will excel - no doubt about it!!"-Sean.

Shivam Vinayak::

"The cross-country is a 5 hour race. It is almost double the riding time of the National Enduros. I have tried to prepare my body, bike and mind for this event and i am relaxed and looking forward to the challenge. The key will be getting into a rhythm and not getting stuck anywhere. I am riding a Kawasaki 250 4 -stroke bike."-Shivam Vinayak

Joost Zuurbier ::

"I used to do the enduro untill 5 years ago. Last year I organised the last Kenyan Enduro. Wiebe convinced me to try again so I entered last minute. I have not riden a lot recently so I just take it easy. My bike is my old but stong KTM 525."-Joost.

Zane Young

"I am going in with a max attack but also don't want to do damage to the quad as Chris Wahome has kindly lent it to me. Will be riding a Yamaha 700 R and will be hopping to take it to the top spot on the podium."-Zane

Shaun Miller

"Its an endurance race for sure so I want to pace myself, it is also quite technical which I will take care with. I am riding a Husqvarna FE 350 2014. "-Shaun.

Chantal Louis Young:-

"Looking forward to competing in the FIM Cross Country this weekend! Representing Kenya and ladies as one of two competing.. Lets hope I can finish hehe"-Chantal.

Jenny Duncan Davey on her experience as a parent and sister of top motor sport personalities in Kenya and also as an organiser:-

"Part of a normal day - many different expressions depending on the situation, from concern, to pride, to frustration and disappointment, but having grown up with parents who had both competed and were officials and then competed myself on motorbikes in Trials and Scrambles, and then in cars in Autocross, Rallycross and Embakasi Track its been a fantastic experience !"-Jenny (in charge of the Service Area/ pits)

THE ENTRY LIST:::-

Class B1

1. Shivam Vinayak

2. TUTU MAINA

3. KARAN SEHMI

4. LORIAN DOUGLAS DUFRESNE

Class A1

5. LLOYD DESTRO

Class B2

6. ALAN DE BOER

7. Ben Spinks

8. Shaun Miller

9. ANDREW PLEASANCE

10. Ross Field

Class B3

11. VINCENT BOLANGER

12. Shazar Anwar

13. Zane Young

Class B8

14. DANIELLE SPINKS

Class B9

15. Chantal Louise Young

INDIVIDUALS

16. FRANCO CHECCHINI

17. ROBBIE CALDER

18. MARK GLEN

19. IAN DUNCAN

20. DAVID LAWRENCE BROWN

21. DANILO PUCCI

22. WANGAI KIMERIA

23. GERALD TAYLOR

24. MILAN SHAH

25. OTHMAN RADDADI

26. MARKUS TAKKUNEN

27. RALF SPINKS

28. CALEB SWART (TZ)

29. CALEB SIMONSON (TZ)

30. PER BJERRE (TZ)

31. ALPHA MALINDA (TZ)

32. HANSI B. (TZ)

33. ALEX VAN DER VOOR (TZ)

34. PIETER VAN (TZ)

35. A. KOSTER (TZ)

36. LANE SIMONSON (TZ)

37. NATE HILTON (TZ)

38. Jørgen T. Nielsen

39. ALAN W.

40. TOM TAYLOR

41. MALCOM DESTRO

42. VINCENT C (BOTSWANA)

43. TED (RSA)

44. ASHI YOUNG (UG)

45. EDCAN BESTER (RSA)

NATIONAL ENDURO

46. W. BERKHOUT

47. ADAM MILLER

48. JOOST H.

49. Joost Zuurbier

50. BEN PONTIER

51. GAVIN M.

52. Gurraj Singh