Kenyans will field the biggest team when the cream of Africa’s best comes calling for the 2011 FIM Africa Cross Country Bike & Quad Championship. The event will be run on a picturesque 48kilometer circuit on Delamere Estate’s Soysambu Conservancy on the weekend of October 15-16.

Motorcycle Commission Chairman, Anthony Nielsen said Kenya has 43 confirmed riders including Shivam Vinayak (Kawasaki 450), Andrew Pleasance (KTM), David Lawrence Brown, the Mugos-Charles (Honda 450) and Moses (KTM 525) as well as Team Captain Sean Pelling who is working round the clock to ensure the Kenyan brigade is ready for the continental battle.

In the quads class, the bulk of Ganatra Cross Country Challenge riders will be on the charge. They include Murage Waigwa (Ranger Polaris 300cc), Champion Shazar Anwar (Bombardier 650cc), Michael Rose and Zane Young. According to Nielsen who is also the Organizing Committee Chairman, South Africa has entered eight riders, Zambia 7, Uganda 6, Tanzania 9 and Kenya 43. “We are still waiting for Zimbabwe to confirm,” said Nielsen. This will be the second time in eight years that Kenya will be hosting this prestigious Championship with which Kenya fielded the likes of the late Dave Rose (Michael’s brother), Franco Chechhni and Otto Ulyatte.

And as the clock ticks away, organizers East African Motor Sports Club are happy that the event has gotten massive boost and sponsors both in cash and in kind. Bush Rovers, Denise Walimohamed, Taita Estates, Shazco, Wilken Group, Sports Motorcycle, Comply, Virtualsat, Cimbria East Africa, Rob’s Magic, Kampala Coach, Security Group, Autodrome Services, ALS, Kpmg, Kenya Shell, Rongai Transporters and Chancerywright Insurance Brokers have come on board to support the event.

“A couple of weeks ago, I was worried that we would not be able to meet some of the expenses to organize this event, but I must admit the hard work and effort from the Organizing Committee has paid off. We are receiving sponsorship each day and have a lot of interest. I would like to encourage many Kenyan fans to come and support the Kenyan riders in large numbers at Soysambu,” said Nielsen. Nielsen added that the route has been finalized adding that “Organizers are burning the midnight oil to ensure smooth running of the event and to also comply all FIM requirements.”