ROSS MESMERISES RIDERS, SPECTATORS

16 September, 2005 

JWANENG - Ross Branch, 19, of the Jwaneng Motor Sports Club was the talk of the town at weekend as he won all his three races during the Southern African Motorcycle Union (AMU) championship held in Jwaneng.

Ross, who raced in the 125cc category, managed to collect 60 points and Vincent Conlon of Gaborone came second with 49 points while the third spot went to Frank Klosta of Namibia with 47 points.

This motorcycle championship attracted hundreds of spectators among them the Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Kitso Mokaila, Ngwaketse West MP Mephato Reatile, councillors and various companies.

Ross was the fastest and most cheered rider as he mesmerised both the riders and audience with his riding skills.

Ross told BOPA that injuries, which he sustained early this year, negatively affected his performance.

My fitness was not up to the expected level but I am glad that I managed to stand my ground in the track, he said.

Ross, who started racing at four, said he left some races in Germany in June to come home and prepare for this weekends races. I just wanted to race before the home crowd, he said. He said he was ranked among the top 10 during the German races. Ronnie Adams of Namibia, who came second in the open class, said Ross was just too fast for everybody. He said the Namibians would train hard in order to beat Ross during the November championships to be held in Namibia.

Adams concurred that they would need to work hard in order to match Ross speed. Adams said the weekend championship was a marvel even though the Botswana track was much different from the one they use in Namibia.

He applauded Batswana for being friendly and supportive.

Winners in other categories were Martin Paterson (Jwaneng), Christopher Cloete (Jwaneng), Wade Den (Gauteng), Bjorn Bierbrauer (Windhoek) and Geoff Den (Gauteng). The media liaison officer for the Jwaneng Motor Sports Club, Innocent Molatlhwe, said all went well during the championship.

He said hundreds of spectators, who attended the event, showed that motorcycle racing had the potential to attract a huge crowd and consequently attract more sponsors. Molatlhwe said it was such sporting activities that could help boost Jwanengs economy. According to Molatlhwe, this is a three round motorcycle championship.

The first round was held in Zambia in August, Botswana hosted the second and the third round would be in Namibia in November.

He said hosting such event in Jwaneng, was the realisation of one of his clubs aims to promote the sport of motor-cross in Botswana. BOPA