SHIVAM PLEASANCE SHOWDOWN

Having already learnt to take it all in his stride, Shivam Vinayak is targeting his next best. And having shifted focus on off-road racing this season, the Yamaha 450 four-stroke go-getter will be out to consolidate his lead during the second round of the Kenya National Motorcycle Enduro 2 which heads to the expansive Delamere Estates in Soysambu.

According to Additional Supplementary Regulations (ASRs), the race will be organized by East African Motor Sports Club (EAMSC) featuring a 13km circuit which will be repeated.

Signing on and scrutineering shall take place on Saturday from 1pm onwards followed by official practice at 2pm.

The race begins on Sunday at 9am with posting of results programmed for midday and prize giving at 1pm.

Mike Borissow has been appointed Clerk of the Course, Linda Hughes the KMSF steward, Ann Troughton the time keeper and Keith Henrie the scrutineer.

Shivam, a first year dentistry student at the University of Nairobi, has vowed to fight every inch of the way in his bid to eclipse the likes of Andrew Pleasance, Wangai Kimeria, Anthony Nielsen, Tom Cholmondeley, Salim Walimohammed, Markus Takkunen, Jorgen Nielsen and Tej Sehmi who has acquired a new KTM 250 bike.

Besides, spectators in Soysambu will be handed a bonus as they bare witness to some volatile family battle pitting Charles Mugo (Honda 450) against his father Moses Mugo (KTM450).

Shivam took the Enduro lead during the first round of the Ganatra/Garmin Cross-Country Challenge which doubled up as the Enduro season-opener in Selenkay.

Asked what his biggest challenge would be this weekend, Shivam was categorical: “I think navigation is the greatest challenge. Having started so well this year, I’m going to try and win everything I can on two-wheels which is the National MX Championship, October’s FIM Central Africa MX Championship in Nairobi, the Cross Country Rally Challenge and Enduro Championship. Those are my goals for the year, so I am going to work towards them, “said Shivam.

Shivam is in the meantime going to look into possibilities of a new enduro bike “and it’s definitely going to be a Kawasaki 450cc.”

“Having spoken to some good riders in South Africa, I feel this would be the ideal make for October’s FIM Africa Enduro Championships. The FIM event comes towards end of the year so we’ll get in our bike by July or August and during my holidays I can put in enough practice,” continued Shivam.

ENDURO STANDINGS AS AT RD 1

1.Shivam Vinayak 20

2. Wangai Kimemia 17

3. Shaun Miller 15

4. Aadil Vaiani 13

5. Andrew Pleasance 11

6. Sean Wilcock 10

7. Jorgen Nielsen 9

8. Sean Pelling 8

9. Robbie Calder 7

10. Danilo Calder 7