Hilma Nalupe
The sixth round of the Namibian Motocross Championship roared to life at Gallina Motocross Park in Windhoek over the weekend, once again proving that the sport is one of the most far-reaching in the country.
Unlike many sporting codes that remain centralised in the capital, motocross makes a deliberate effort to share the action across Namibia.
The championship season runs over eight rounds, hosted at venues in Windhoek, Gobabis, Omaruru and Swakopmund.
This rotation ensures that no competitor enjoys a home advantage, while also giving different communities the chance to host a national event.
“We basically race at Gallina, Gobabis, Omaruru and Swakopmund so that everybody has a fair chance. That way, riders from all sides of Namibia get involved, and no one track becomes dominant,” said Gallina Motocross Committee chairman Ingo Waldschmidt.
The Gallina track, stretching over 1 400 metres, saw fierce competition across the classes, with a healthy turnout of riders despite the long weekend drawing many Namibians to the coast. Organisers also faced the ongoing challenge of watering the circuit to reduce dust, with up to 80 000 litres of semi-purified water needed to keep racing safe and spectator friendly.
While motocross is known for its risks, Saturday’s highlight was the absence of serious injuries.
For the organisers, safe racing is always the biggest victory.
The day concluded with a lively prize-giving, where both competitors and supporters celebrated another successful round. The championship now shifts to Omaruru in September before returning to Gallina for the season finale in October when Namibia’s national champions will be crowned.