24 Jul 2023

Following his performance at the recent Toyota Botswana 1000km Kalahari Desert Race, which marked a personal improvement for the young rider, Kosmas Mamaloukos is setting his eyes on the 2023 Motocross of African Nations (MXOAN) in Cape Town.

Scheduled for August 11-13 in Cape Town, the MXOAN will see Botswana face several African nations in a dirt-riddled terrain hemmed by motocross enthusiasts.

In an interview with BOPA, Mamaloukos disclosed that he has been appointed captain of the Botswana national team that will be at this year’s MXOAN.

“I am super excited by this race,” he said. “This is one of the races that I am really looking forward to. I am trying to be prepared so I can do my level best.”  

He said since the MXOAN was a familiar race to him, he hopes for a finish better than his previous appearances, cementing his desire for a podium finish.

“I have come third before for the country in Kenya, so it’s possible. I just need to pull up my socks.

I am looking forward to bringing something good. In the past, I was in a different class, now I am in a bigger class, where everyone is faster, and more experienced, so I am just going to have to give it my best and not give up,” the team captain said.

Mamaloukos will represent Botswana in the MX2 or 250 Cc category alongside Tabona Tafa. In the MX50 class, Levi Kruger and Zibo Moabi will raise the country’s flag.

In the MX65 class, Adam Joshua Meyer, Lourens Erasmus and Tommy Jayden will carry the nation’s hopes.

Evan Harmse, Seth Meyer and Zameer Bodhanya will feature in the MX125/High school class and in the MX1 class, all eyes will be on Kitso Malebo, Victor Du Toit and Boineelo Rantao.

Giving his memorable highlights of the Toyota Botswana 1000km Kalahari Desert race, Mamaloukos said he managed to finish the race intact, a feat worth noting given his historic crashes.

“Friday, I started 8th on the time trial and I became the 6th fastest so on Saturday I started as 6th.

As I was coming to finish my first 250km of the, my fuel injector died and I lost fuel supply. I was 4th at the time,” he said.

The rider, who emerged victorious at the Gabz July Dirt Bikers Challenge on Saturday, said he started last on Sunday.

“I started 30th and I had to make my way up. I enjoyed the trail, it was nice.

We were on the route that the cars used the day before so the track was dug up, smooth and made the whole race fun and it kept me on my feet, plus I was coming from all the way in the back, so I had to push so I could at least come home with something,” he said.

Fast forward to the end, Mamaloukos said when the bikes came in, he came out fourth.

“In the results, in overall full distance for the bikes, I came third overall, and second in OR1/450 cc class,” he said.

The national team he leads will also be the Orapa National Off-road this weekend. ENDS