SUPERBIKE RACING IN KENYA – A GEM IN THE KENYAN SPORTS ARENA.

Seventeen months ago, I was a non-believer. Like most of you, I loathed motorcycles. This superficial hatred was based on motorcycle accidents statistics and horror stories of deaths and hospital wards filled with motorcycle accident victims. That notwithstanding, every time I saw a proper motorcycle, I couldn’t help but admire it. Deep inside I knew that I would have loved to own a proper bike and experience that which comes forbidden by many yet seems worth every bit of it by the few who dare to live their dream on those fast machines. 

I was privileged to get my first ride on a motorcycle in the early 90s. There was this man, let’s call him Mugambi, who rode a government issued dual sport bike…the likes of those bike currently associated with the “Kenya Power” guys. Mugambi was a nice gentleman. He rode the only motorcycle in my home area at the time and one day, he chose to give me a brief ride. I remember being thrilled and scared stiff in equal measure.  

For the first 29 years of my life, I hated speed. I drove a taxi for two years covering over 100,000kms but I never once surpassed the 120km per hour mark. Like most non- believers, I just didn’t know anything. Fast forward to this day, the 9th of December, 2018 and here I am, a staunch believer in safe motorcycling, writing to you about riding and racing motorcycles in Kenya. 

First things first: ARE MOTORCYCLES SAFE? 
The truth is that motorcycles are predisposed to a wide range of hazards which render riding dangerous. But there are numerous solutions available that make it possible for motorcyclists to enjoy safe riding on our roads. A proper, well maintained motorcycle under the control of a disciplined, duly trained and licensed rider wearing proper protective gear is highly unlikely to get involved in an accident. I am a living testimony to this statement. And I speak as part of thousands safety oriented Kenyan motorcycle riders.

Safety Gear Includes Full Body Leather Suit, A Proper Helmet, High Quality Riding Boots and A Proper Pair of Gloves.

I started riding in the month of August 2017. I was a complete newbie at the time with my only prior riding experience being my rider training. In the last 16 months, I have covered approximately 51,000kms which have seen me visit 43 out of the 47 counties in Kenya and four countries. I have also participated in both track and close road races which saw me emerge the 2018 SBC Moto 3 Super-bike Champion and 5th overall in the Road Warriors Moto Champ under 400cc Category. I have had only one minor accident up to this day which left nothing but some superficial scratches on my bike.  

My First Road Warriors Race Podium Finish Award 

The 2018 SBC Moto 3 Champion's Trophy

How did I get here? 
I took time to go through proper training. I invested in a complete set of protective riding gear which I don religiously. I chose a bike with some really good safety features including ABS (ask Google) and I have never spared an expense towards the maintenance of my bike. Training continues after licensing with every day bringing in new tips and useful 
experiences. You can learn so much if you pay attention to the right experienced bikers. We have several well-established riding programs in Nairobi Kenya which can help any prospective biker acquire riding and or racing skills accordingly. The rest comes from experience, research and tips from your fellow riders. 

The Kuul Bikerz Kangaroo Leather Suits Racing Squad

MOTORCYCLE RACING AS A SPORT IN KENYA. 
Well…this is an easy discussion. It goes without saying that seeing one or a bunch of cool motorcycles at a parking lot is amusing enough. Hearing the roars of their engines even when at a standstill will make anyone pop a smile or give you a mini heart attack, or both. When a cool motorcycle zooms past you, you know that you have just witnessed something great. I have been riding a 296cc sport-bike and if the attention I have been receiving thus far from across East Africa is anything to go by, I simply don’t know what to say about the amount of attention which Super-bike Racing in Kenya deserves. 

The Crowd Always Speaks For Itself

Many years ago, some braye young Kenyans embraced motorcycles. The likes Stephen Kimani “Webman” Gathu started riding in the 1960’s and continue to ride having played a key role in unravelling the solutions to most safety issues which we benefit from today. We have other generations who joined the riding bandwagon in the 80’s, the 90’s and the 2000’s at which point bikers embraced the spirit of togetherness which has seen the private families in major towns grow into groups of the safest road users in Kenya today.  

Webman (front left) and the Blade Doctor

Over the years, Motocross and Enduro which are off-road factions of motorcycle racing received all the government and media attention. This was until group of superbike riders who include Allan “DJ Style” Muigai, Dr David “Blade Doc” Karuri, Altamont “Tafu” Tnomatla, Livingstone “El Capitan” Katingima, Charles “Charlie” Owino, Bill “Mad Max” Kasanda, Kenneth “Chuck Norris” Oyaya, Charles Kimenyi, Shaiman “Gogo” Mughal Ciku Kiereini, Arune Ngara and Tim Wachira among others started investing their efforts and resources to establish a proper platform for safe superbike racing in Kenya. And their efforts have been materializing. 

We currently have two growing Super-bike racing bodies in Kenya Namely: The Super-bike Association (TSA) and the Road Warriors Motorcycle Community. The TSA team currently led by Blade Doc and Tim Wachira concentrates on organizing track-based races on two go-cart racing tracks in Maai Mahiu and Athi River respectively. They insist on track racing citing safety concerns on racing elsewhere. The Road Warriors led by DJ Styles and Tafu on the other hand identity suitable secluded road sections, arrange to formally have them closed for a few hours and hold some of the most captivating races in the region.

A TSA Race at the Whistling Morans Track

  

Road Warriors race at Kiganjo

Racing under both bodies is quite technical and can go a long way in improving a rider’s skills and survival index on the road. In the year 2018, each body organized and held four successful racing events, in which I was privileged to participate. Thousands of fans traveled from various parts of the country to grace the said events. These fans don’t travel in vain. We have got some remarkably talented bikers racing under both factions from the 
160cc motorcycles all the way up to 1440cc two wheeler super-tankers. And if I was you, I wouldn’t be quick to disregard the prowess of the smaller cc racing team currently dominated by members of the “Kuul Bikerz Motorcycle Association”. On two of my last races, I literally had my “tushi” handed to me by some of these blossoming champions. 

The Fans At A Road Wariors Racing Event in September 2018

It seems like they love what they came to see

FORMAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUPER-BIKE RACING SPORT 
Each racing faction is taking measures to achieve professional accreditation which shall see the sports finally get to benefit from funding under the Ministry of Sports’ annual budget. The sport is currently funded through a collective effort by racers, sponsors and fans. There is so much more that can be done. The TSA team is at an advanced level of accreditation to enable them hold national and regional international events. They are driven by the pursuit of safety, structure and discipline in racing. They have developed National Competition Rules and Supplementary regulations to guide their team's pursuit of a brighter future in racing. They also have a minimoto category which opens doors for very young children to begin what could blossom into an international career in Super-bike racing from a tender age. Their progress is promising and is worthy of your future attention. They definitely have a lot to offer.

A TSA Racers & Paddock Girls Photo Moment

The Road Warriors team is known for having superb event organization skills with their team taking great care of their racers and crew and drawing very large crowds of paying spectators. Their good organization has paid off with accreditation to hold two International Motorcycle Federation (FIM) national events in the 2019 events calendar under the Kenya Motor Sports Federation. This is the first time that FIM and KMSF is venturing into Super-bike racing with them and their accreditation cannot be appreciated sufficiently. This has attracted interest in the Road Warriors’ upcoming event with participants from Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and the United States of America expected to compete therein. There is so much more to come of this. 

DJ Stylez (Holding MIC) at a recent Road Warriors Racing Event

There lies an untapped resource in this sport whereby the central and county governments in Kenya can at manageable budget allocation build race tracks ideal for motor vehicles and Super-bikes races which could explode into a huge tourist attraction, source of employment and regular events calendar generating much needed funds in form of a business. There is need for various stakeholders to converge and brainstorm over this idea which could see many Kenyans embrace Motorsport as a career path with numerous employment opportunities that go with the sport also remaining a distant dream until such a time. 

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR SUPER-BIKE RACING IN KENYA? 
The future is bright for this sport. There was a time when the sport was tainted by unfathomable losses but now I can confidently state that the safety concerns affiliated with the sport have since been addressed satisfactorily by both factions. The Super-bike racing calendar events of the year 2018 in both factions saw a few accidents happen but all racers walked away from the incidents with nothing but a few bruised egos. Only one racer had a noteworthy collarbone injury after an unprecedented collision at the Maai Mahiu Track on 6th April. These events play a key role in giving speed enthusiasts a platform to enjoy the thrill of their machines under a safer environment, a priceless and noble venture which is saving lives, limbs and property. 

The organizers of the events ought to continue seeking accreditation and funding to make the events bigger, better, safer, more frequent and to enable the fans have a better experience. The TSA team ought to cater for their racers and marshals better. They should consider borrowing from the organization skills of the Road Warriors team who have shown their prowess in putting an event together and taking good care of all parties involved including the local community. In the latest event by the Road Warriors team, the feedback was fantastic. I overheard various elderly locals searching for the organizers to thank them for including members of their community in the conduct of various tasks and for treating them well while at it. I wish the two factions could find a way to collaborate and work together as one. 

Corporate and other sponsors have come through significantly in the 2018 calendar events. The TSA team had their events sponsored by Safaricom PLC, Brookside, Car & General, Motul and Silverstone Air  among others while their Road Warriors counterparts were sponsored by Cocacola, Monster Energy, Silverstone Air and Car & General among others. There’s so much potential for various brands to market themselves by adopting racers and branding them accordingly throughout the year. This will help grow the sport and the various sponsors in equal measure. 

A track-side sponsor's banner 

A Branded Racing Bike at A TSA Event this Year

I was racing under the sponsorship of Blackrose Racing and several friends and well-wishers. I take pride in donning various branded T-shirts gifted to me at the events as I embrace the importance and impact of the sponsorship to this sport. When asked about it, I don’t hesitate to credit the various sponsors and their products. I consider this a good symbiotic relationship with the sponsors.

My Bike's Sponsorship Branding Courtesy of  Blackrose Racing

 The media was not left behind with some local and international media outlets covering the various events from the build up to their aftermath. This is an important contribution towards the growth of the sport that cannot be disregarded. We urge media houses to keep this up and feel free to invest more towards the growth of this sport.

Media Break

The future is bright for Super-bike racing in Kenya. I hope to continue being part of it. We shall pick up from here in the coming season. I can assure you that there will be tonnes of good things to discuss and highlight. I appreciate you for taking time to go through this article. Cheers. 

Warm Up Laps

The Day I Reigned Fire on the Track

First Time on the Track in April 2018

Is that a trophy or a joke?

We call this a Knee Down!

With the  2018 SBC <249 Champion Sammy "Goodluck" Ruguru ahead of me. 

I really had fun while at it

After Coming in Behind "Goodluck" the Guru - "Nitaambia nini watu?

A quick podium moment with a genuine Kenyan racing legend Shaiman "Gogo" Mughal



Photo Credits:
Ness " Ness Pixels" Mutiga
Eddie 'Edit Media" Okumu
The Superbike Association Media Team & Fans
The Road Warriors Community Media Team and Fans
The Kuul Bikers Motorcycle Association & Media Team
Joel Gacheru Photography

Special Thanks To:
Kenneth "Chuck Norris" Oyaya
Evans "Kahare" Mwiti
Kenneth "Boychild" Gitonga
Eric "Kabaaruku" Kimathi
Jacque "Jayjay" Wanjiku
Timothy "TT" Thuranira
Lucy Ndambuki
Lawrence "Baba Xolani" Kinjanjui
Stephen "Webman" Gathu
Eric "Prince" Mawira
Morris "MK Morris"
George "Gee" Mwaniki
Martin "Kifaranga" Ng'ang'a
The Kuul Bikers Racing Team
Shaiman "Gogo" Mughal
All my friends, fans and well wishers.

In Loving Memory of:
David 'Ti Dave" Kirira
Stephen Nyasani
Glen Bryson
Macharia Mukugi
Baby Nicole Muthoni