Malawi: Chitipa District Council has announced the 2024 edition of Misuku Forests and Hills Motorbike Racing competition. The competition is scheduled to be hosted in the district on October 26.
Fifteen international motorbike racers will be participating in the competition in addition to local riders. The race is hosted in the district every year and promotes the tourist spots and beauty of the district.
The race is the part of the district council’s reform agenda and aims to contribute to the realization of the Malawi 2063. The race was launched in 2023 under the theme ‘Conserving natural forests in order to create wealth through tourism in hard to reach areas’.
In the second edition of the motorbike race, the district officials want to take the initiative further and make it bigger. Director of Planning and Development for Chitipa District Council, Jossen Tembo, said preparations have started.
The preparations for the event include maintenance works on the earth road to suit international standards.
The 2024 edition of the racing competition is sponsored by Motorhino Electric Motorcycles. They have pledged a contribution of K20 million towards the initiative annually for three consecutive years.
“The council will train local racers so that they also compete at international level.
“Fifteen international motorbike racers will take part in the competition and we will train our local racers to compete with these international racers who have vast experience,” Tembo said.
He said, as one way of attracting more international competitors, the council has attracted investors to construct an ecotourism lodge at Misuku.
Country Director for Motorhino Electric Motorcycles, Barros Atupele Mweso, said his company has spread the word amongst the Danish racers that compete internationally in Dakar Rally and Scandinavian and Global Moto Cross grand prix to participate in the race.
“We will invite and maybe sponsor some international racers to participate in the rally to help elevate the global attention to the event,” Mweso said.
He added that the company intends to create public awareness of its existence and its vision of introducing electric motorcycles to Malawi and innovation which, he said, matches Misuku quest for ecotourism to the fullest.
34 motorbike racers from all over Malawi participated in the competition in 2023. At the time, the racers covered the 48-kilometre-hilly-terrain of Misuku during the race.
Participants kicked off from Mughese Forest through Sokola to Kalenge Bridge winding roads of Chatu and Chisi up to the finishing line, Misuku Trading Centre. The majority reached the finishing line in less than 55 minutes.