Ace Natan leaves veteran Blick yearning for more
Dec 31, 2008
THE 2008 season saw four-time national motocross champion Arthur Blick Junior rescind his retirement as he had secretly planned to call it a day on a winning note.
MOTOCROSS 2008
By Frank Sserugo
THE 2008 season saw four-time national motocross champion Arthur Blick Junior rescind his retirement as he had secretly planned to call it a day on a winning note.
Having missed the target, he is going back to the drawing board to have his dream come true. Born in a sports family (the Blicks), Arthur still feels his target is attainable.
Struggling with a foot injury that he picked in second calendar event that also doubled as the first round of the Cairo International Easter Motocross challenge, Blick managed to help Uganda dethrone three-time winners Kenya for top honours in the East African Motocross Challenge, the last event in Garuga.
However this couldn't change the national championship charts as now two-time national champion (2006 and 2008) and 2006 USPA Motocyclist of the Year Assaf Natan kept his position at the top.
Natan, who had a bad outing in the previous season (2007) showed his determination to lift the 2008 title when beat his rivals hands down in the calendar opener in Lubiri.
Keeping among the top two positions in three events, on top of a podium finish at the East African Motocross Challenge in Nairobi, Kenya, Natan proved he was the best Ugandan open class rider.
Though Kenyans proved strong on their home track, Uganda who had also used the home advantage by winning 875 points in the first round, managed to finish second in Kenya with a total of 1353 points.
With a third place finish in Kenya in the second round, Natan capitalised on it and won the third round at Garuga to beat the Kenyans who were without their star Tom Porter to lift the top honours in the East and Central Africa Motocross Challenge as the best East African motocross rider.
Natan sealed the 2008 championship with 289 points, followed by upcoming youngster Maxime Van Pee with 216 points. Blick only managed third place with 202 points.
Commendation also goes to riders like four-year old Alestair Blick (he is a son of Arthur Blick) and winner of 50cc category. Other riders like Unisan Bakunda (125cc), the Kiggundu brothers (Talha –– 85cc and Fatuh –– 65cc) and Tony Allan for lifting the over 40 senior class.
However there is likely to be tough competition in the 2009 season for all riders. Like Blick (Arthur) has indicated, a number of others will also want to win honours come the new season.
By Frank Sserugo
THE 2008 season saw four-time national motocross champion Arthur Blick Junior rescind his retirement as he had secretly planned to call it a day on a winning note.
Having missed the target, he is going back to the drawing board to have his dream come true. Born in a sports family (the Blicks), Arthur still feels his target is attainable.
Struggling with a foot injury that he picked in second calendar event that also doubled as the first round of the Cairo International Easter Motocross challenge, Blick managed to help Uganda dethrone three-time winners Kenya for top honours in the East African Motocross Challenge, the last event in Garuga.
However this couldn't change the national championship charts as now two-time national champion (2006 and 2008) and 2006 USPA Motocyclist of the Year Assaf Natan kept his position at the top.
Natan, who had a bad outing in the previous season (2007) showed his determination to lift the 2008 title when beat his rivals hands down in the calendar opener in Lubiri.
Keeping among the top two positions in three events, on top of a podium finish at the East African Motocross Challenge in Nairobi, Kenya, Natan proved he was the best Ugandan open class rider.
Though Kenyans proved strong on their home track, Uganda who had also used the home advantage by winning 875 points in the first round, managed to finish second in Kenya with a total of 1353 points.
With a third place finish in Kenya in the second round, Natan capitalised on it and won the third round at Garuga to beat the Kenyans who were without their star Tom Porter to lift the top honours in the East and Central Africa Motocross Challenge as the best East African motocross rider.
Natan sealed the 2008 championship with 289 points, followed by upcoming youngster Maxime Van Pee with 216 points. Blick only managed third place with 202 points.
Commendation also goes to riders like four-year old Alestair Blick (he is a son of Arthur Blick) and winner of 50cc category. Other riders like Unisan Bakunda (125cc), the Kiggundu brothers (Talha –– 85cc and Fatuh –– 65cc) and Tony Allan for lifting the over 40 senior class.
However there is likely to be tough competition in the 2009 season for all riders. Like Blick (Arthur) has indicated, a number of others will also want to win honours come the new season.