The MXGP Academy conducted its maiden “training for trainers” in Kenya with the objective to build a strong foundation of riders as well as develop a system that will develop them across the country.
The MXGP Academy is a worldwide project started in 2015 in them with the Motocross Training Club (MTC), the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), and the local FMNs national motorsport federations (FMNs) – including the Motorcycle Sports Federation of Kenya (MSFK).
The aim of this program is to attract and retain talented motocross riders, through various educational programs, MX skills training and training camps.
Martin van Genderen, one of the two instructors who conducted the training, revealed that Kenyan trainers were taught a different angle to look at the sport.
“If you look more at the past, we concentrate more on the technical part of the sport. We spent two days of the trainers workshop at the Federation office, to help the trainers learn different training for youngsters and also on the ethics side of the sport. We made our first visit in Kenya but the objective is to develop a long-term development program for young riders,” van Genderen
Van Genderen says the long term vision is to have more visits and work on the pyramid of success.
Julie Wahome, the Chairman of the Sporting Commission for MSFK said they invited the FIM MXGP Academy to Nairobi to run a specialized training of trainers and basic skill development for Kenyan riders.
“The idea is actually to have a pool of FIM qualified trainers. So that we can build a very strong foundation of riders and also develop a system where we can develop riders across the country,” Wahome who is also Chairman of ‘Beyond Sports’ for FIM Africa and a member of the FIM Women’s Commission, said.
Trainer and top MX1 category rider Apollo Mbuki is among those who attended the training and here’s what he had to say: “It feels good to be part of this program. It opens up a lot of opportunities. You can see a different way to work which is good. If I can reach out to a wider group of riders and teach them the right techniques so that we can have more competition and more riders, that’s my main goal instead of racing for myself now.”
Kenya Team captain Githuku Mungai says it was a very exciting experience learning new concepts and a new training system.
Mungai said: “It’s good to see e now that they are introducing a new standardized system across the globe. So internationally we will be competed to out counterparts from other countries in South Africa, Europe and America, For me I can say it was an eye opener.”
