The Sunday News
Sisa Sihwa, Sunday Life Correspondent
SOUTH AFRICA-BASED Morongoa Mahope will be the first black woman to participate at this year’s Toyota, Castrol Three-Hour Endurance Race that will be held at the Bulawayo Motorsport Park, formerly known as Victoria Falls road next month.
The race that is pencilled for 9 December has attracted participants from South Africa, Botswana and UK. Mahope, who rides a Kawasaki ZX6 prepared by Adrenalin Power sport, registered to participate in the One Hour Motorcycle Endurance race. The Bulawayo Motoring Club said they were elated to have their new amazing competitor.
Leonora Young, one of the organisers of the biggest race in the calendar for motor sport in the land said this year’s event is special as they are welcoming their first female bike rider in the event.
“She has placed her registration for the One-Hour Endurance Race on the same day and she is very thrilled to try out her new found passion and skill on the circuit. As the Bulawayo Motoring Club we are very excited to have our new extraordinary competitor,” she told Sunday Life Sport.
Young said the rider is set to make history by becoming the first black woman superbike rider to represent her country at the event.
“Mahope is set to make history by becoming the first black woman superbike rider to represent South Africa outside her national borders with her upcoming debut in Zimbabwe.”
Mahope first rode a motorbike at the age of 30 before joining the Eagles Bikers Club Limpopo and making her first two-wheel machine purchase. She revealed that her path to professional racing has not been similar to other rides but she remained undeterred.
“Growing up in Ga-Mokopane in the Limpopo province of South Africa, I never thought I would end up racing. I have always had a passion for speed and excitement though. At 30 years is the age when some other riders start to think about retiring, I am however, thinking of taking this further,” she said.
