FIM - Federation of International Motorcycling – is the
global governing/sanctioning body of motorcycle racing.
The 30th
August – 1st September 2013
saw the FIM Africa MX of African Nations Championships happen in Gauteng, South
Africa, where racers from all over the continent came to compete for the title
of African MX Champion in their respectable classes.
Every year, this is a highly anticipated event, but this year’s
event was more special. Why? Because for the first time in the history of these
championships, a Ladies Class was included. The class was made up of 3 Zambians
and 7 South African independent racers. So this FIM event wasn’t just a first
for me but a first for all the ladies of Africa.
Personally, this was a legendary experience for me. I
finished 5th overall, a result I am happy with considering the
little time I’ve had to practice while being away working on my travel show. My
only practice has been all the Gauteng Regional MX Championship races I’ve been
a part of, of which I have maintained my 3rd position in the
Championships thus far. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to
participate in this FIM Africa event. I look forward to being at the next one
in Zambia more prepared to produce better results.
In South Africa, at any given time, when one goes to a
regional race, one will find 2 boys of color and one girl (me). Unfortunately,
this amazing continental event brought no change for the Ladies class; I was
the only black girl there. I truly believed things would be different but now
realize that I was being naïve.
For reasons unknown to me, Motorsport South Africa failed to
include any of the South African female racers in the official South African
team, hence, all the ladies –brought together by FIM Africa’s Beaulah Schoeman
and MXSA’s Diamonds & Dirt initiative- were classified as independent
racers, which also meant we were not invited to attend the Prize Giving
ceremony after the days racing was done. Ladies MX in SA needs all the support
it can get; support from the governing body of Motorsport in South Africa would
be a great start or even something as small as recognition…else, the sport will
continue to suffer.
Negatives aside, the ladies raced awesome and South Africans
dominated overall by winning most of the titles. We can be very proud of the talent
we have in South Africa, other African countries celebrate it.
