The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
THERE was a time when Zimbabwe’s junior motocross champion rider Emmanuel Bako thought of quitting the sport, especially after a disastrous start to the 2021 season.
He lost the early races in South Africa, and in some instances, his bike simply broke down.
The 15-year-old Bako simply couldn’t take the disappointment and told his father to sell all the bikes because he felt he couldn’t continue anymore.
But thanks to his father Brighton’s insistence and the consistent support he got from a local company Better Brands Jewellery, Bako revived his interest in the sport and ended 2021 on a high.
He was crowned the 85 cc Pro Mini Champion of the 2021 Northern Regions Motocross Championship series at the Legends track in Pretoria in November.
The St John’s College student is now set to move a notch higher.
He is moving to France where he will race and train with some of the top junior riders in Europe.
The development was revealed at a function hosted by his official sponsors, Better Brands, in Harare on Thursday.
“I had a few ups and downs (in 2021) and lost in one of my favourite tracks,” said Bako.
“In round two, I won the second heat, but in the first heat, I lost. Then from there, I kept on training harder and harder, trying to find where I was lacking.
“Round Six at Maritzburg, I got off to a good start, but then my bike just stopped at the second corner.
“There was water in the carburetor.
“From there, I lost all the confidence, feeling like I don’t want to race anymore.
“I told my dad to sell all the bikes, but he was like let’s try, let’s keep pushing.
“And then, I started winning every race.
“From then I didn’t lose any race,” he said.
The teenage rider is expecting a different level of competition in France, where he is going to race under the EMX Motocross Academy.
Vimbai Shoko of Better Brands pledged to continue supporting the champion rider.
“We, as Better Brands, chose to assist Bako because of his potential.
“We also want him to be an example of how a young sportsperson can be groomed into becoming a star.
“His performances will also encourage other young Zimbabweans to take up Motocross. As Better Brands, we will continue assisting Bako because we want him to do well,” said Shoko.
Bako’s uncle Nesbert chronicled the rider’s history and how he is balancing school and sport.
“Bako last year was training and racing in South Africa, thanks to Better Brands who have given us the full sponsorship.
“They have taken care of all his needs in South Africa and in this country.
“So, last year, Emmanuel Bako raced the whole year and he is the first in the history of South African championship to have a triple and also the first foreigner to take all the three championships in South Africa.
“So, basically this year Emmanuel is going to be moving across to France where he is going to be racing under the EMX Motocross Academy which is based in France.
“He is going to be under the guidance of his usual South African coach Joel Tavares, and has been started preparing for the move abroad,” he said.
He is expected to the south of France late next month and then race in Spain during winter.
“He is going to have an opportunity to train with some top riders, where he will be introduced to the latest techniques and mental preparation required to race at the highest level,” he said.
As it pertains to his studies, Bako’s uncle added: “Emmanuel is going to be attending lessons online, and we actually going to have a full-time tutor for him.
“We want to balance Emmanuel’s career in Motocross as well as education.
“Emmanuel is now fully licensed and engaged to race in France in the national series and the higher 24 elite Championships.”
