09 Mar 2025

Kalahari Cross Country Club’s sensational rider Kosmas Mamaloukos started the 2025 season on a high by coming first ahead of his closest rivals in the elite seniors’ category of the Botswana Motorsport (BMS) Off-road championship yesterday.

Dudie, as Mamaloukos is fondly called in motorsport circles clocked an impressive 2hrs 16 minutes and 45 seconds in the entire 10 loops of the 200 kilometres of the first round of the BMS national championships held at the picturesque Mmopane cross country track.

Close on his pedals was his closest competitor Anton Henrikson on his two wheeler who clocked 2:22:17 while South African biker Geof Dan could only complete nine of the ten laps and arrived after 2:20:46.

Speaking after the race, Mamaloukos said the route offered some technical maneuvers with tight spaces along the way. He said since it was a season opener he was always expecting to experience something new and challenging and it was indeed something he was looking forward to working for.

Although he suffered a lot with his brakes, Mamaloukos held on to his impressive start and managed to overcome Henrikson who was pushing for pole position. Mamaloukos was all charged up for the championship as he had previously warmed up his bike in a regional off-road championship in South Africa.

In the juniors’ class, 12 year-old Lourens Erasmus came first in his 85cc two wheeler after 1:40:37 while Aiden Webber scooped second spot with 1:41:17. In the OR 3 category, Gabriel Rhyn came first on 2:21:30 ahead of Moatisi Tidi and Pako Tsholofelo on the second and third spot respectively. In the high school class Bushe Moalosi in his OR 7 bike came first, followed by Cyle Pretorius and Radikolo Linchwe on the second and third positions.

Race organiser and chairperson of the host Kalahari motocross team Kagiso Stephens said they were impressed by the overall performance and attendance of the youth in the championship. He said the championship in the next round will move to Sarona Kalahari 1000, the largest of the eight rounds to be held in Jwaneng.

Stephens said Botswana offered some exciting terrain which in the past attracted international riders and were hopeful for good numbers in the next round. Orapa and Paje will follow for the fourth and fifth rounds in July and August respectively. ENDS