Barak Orland speaks out on motorcycling

The former deputy vice-president in charge of motorcycling in the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU) Barak Orland has said the federation does not have the structures for the development of the sport in the country.

The proprietor of Uganda Motorsport Arena Busiika said it is for that reason that he took up the mantle to lead the revolution that is intended to hand motorcycling independence from motor rallying.

"A lot of complaints had been raised by motorcycling parents, riders, and some officials before, but I could not lead the revolution before finding out the truth," Barak said.

"So, when I became DVP motorcycling, it took me 10 months to find out that there are no plans to develop the sport and that is when I resigned," he added.

Last December, Barak together with most of the parents started the Motorcycling Association (MAU) to manage the sport.

According to Barak, lack of development plans explains why the federation has no facilities for all the years it has existed and has not invested even in the safety of the sport.

He added that all efforts should be channeled towards the future of the children because 90 percent of the riders are minors who want a bright future.

He also explained that out of the 15 FMU clubs, the three purported motorcycling clubs cannot liberate motorcycling when individuals in the federation look at the sport as their business.

"Events are designed on the calendar and given to clubs which in turn sell them to event promoters like Balaam and Chopper Chopper. These promoters want maximum profits and will not bother about the safety of the rider," Barak noted.

He added that whereas motorcycling is an expensive sport that parents dig deep in their pockets, it is time to ride bikes for a purpose and not just leisure as many think.

"We are not telling them to hand the federation to us, but we are saying that motorcycling is a different sport from rallying the world over and managed by different international bodies at continental and world level and that is what we have to correct in Uganda," He stressed.

The veteran rider concluded by saying that they have big plans of building a strong national team that will tour the world flying Uganda high.