“We have tried to push them very hard but they had a lot more experience and home track advantage. It was so dusty and we were riding blindly at some points. The obstacles including the jumps were much bigger this time round and in the second heat when I crashed in the dust,” said Blick who was happy with third.  

Most scintillating was whiz kid Ivan Guya who returned from a long leg injury lay off and clinched MX85cc class with easy.

Guya was unchallenged and opened up a very big gap in all the three heats impressively with big jumps and intricate cornering with which Kenya series leader Adil Khan could only trail in his dust.

 Many had expected Guya to back off but not until he exploded and promised his comeback would be stronger than ever. “I trained well and was a bit ready for the race. I was concentrating much on the first laps to build a comfortable lead on all occasions,” said Guya.

Coming to grips with his Yamaha 250 bike, Tutu Maina eclipsed his cousin Cruze Miugai who apparently is the leader of the MX1 national series.

Cruze who won the East Africa AMU opener last April in Uganda said he decided to back off in a calculated move to accumulate as more points in the National series. “Today I was a bit relaxed but enjoyed the dusty track. At the end of the day I am happy we beat Tanzanians and Ugandans. I didn’t want any unnecessary risks since the national championship has reached a crucial stage,” Cruze noted.

Tutu was happy with the devastating form. “I am riding at my fullest. I thought Cruze would push me so hard but I am happy that we have beaten the Ugandans,” said Tutu.

Apollo Mbuki of Kenya and Murigu Njiiri dominated the MX65 and MX50 respectively what with their fearless and flat-out antics. A total of 61 riders enlisted in the event with Uganda entering 20 riders and Tanzania five.

Uganda skipper Blick was happy they also managed the podium. Maxime Van Pee took third overall at MX60 behind Tutu and Cruze with Tanzanian Rebecca Bjerre was 5th.

FULL E.A. AMU RESULTS:

MX50: 1. Murigu Njiiri (K) 57 2. Owen Ashley (K) 54, 3. Ryan Bailey (K) 39 4. David Murigi 38 5. Alistair Diniz (K) 35 6. Aletair Blick (UG) 32 7. Rolf Kihara (K) 26 8. Ali Omar (UG) 9. Uzeat Butt (UG) 15 10. Nikita Sehmi (K) 15 11. Benni Kahumbura (K) 10 12. Wazir Ali (UG) 13. Paddy Blick (UG) 14. Joshua Mwangala (UG) 5.

MX65: 1. Apollo Mbuki (K) 60 2. Smair Anwar (K) 51 3. Karan Sehmi (K) 40 4. Fatuh Kiggundu (UG) 39 5. Walter Kuria 35 (K) 6. Githuku Mungai (K) 32 7. Rafe Trundell (K) 27 8. Muthandi Mbui (K) 24 9. Ashley Njoroge (K) 21 10. Alvin Murigu (K) 19

MX85: 1. Ivan Guya (K) 60 2. Adil Khan (K) 51 3. Eugene Maina (K) 45 4. Masalule Kituyi (K) 39 5.Eddy Kahumbura (K) 31 6. Yannik Dyuck (UG) 27 7. Talha Kiggundu (UG) 25 8. Nathalie Van Pee (UG) 23 9. Ted Wanday (K) 19 10. Jimmy Dale (K) 15 11. Moses Mwangi (17) 12. Venesa Van Pee (UG) 14 13. Sarah Bjerre (TZ) 11

MX2: 1. Tutu Maina (K) 60 2. Cruze Muigai (K) 51 3. Maxime Van Pee (UG) 43 4. Rebecca Bjerre (TZ) 32 5. Unissan Bukunda (UG) 28 6. Rajab Timtim 28 7. Raj Hood Semogooma (UG) 26 8. Luios Dirnboeck (K) 24 Shafik Seki (UG) 16 9.  Chris Glaser (UG) 14

MX1: 1. Shivam Vinayak (K) 49 2. Per Bjerre (K) 45 3. Arthur Blick (K) 42 4. Anthony Nielsen (K) 38 5. Asaf Natan (UG) 31 6. Charles Mugo (K) 30 7. David Lawrence Brown (K) 28, 8. Ludan Volvo (TZ) 18, 9. Isaac Kuria (K) 17, 10. Patrick Van Pee (UG) 13