| Fadhil Yunus |
BRUNEI’S female motocross rider Liyana Zakaria has expressed her intent to see the progress of the sport scale new heights in the country.
The 25-year old said that the Brunei Motocross Team is prepared to share their experience and practice safety by using full and complete safety features.
The motocross rider added that the door will be open for the youth interested to be involved in the sport.
Liyana listed the reasons behind her decision to take up the sport as it is full of adrenaline, being able to learn new techniques continuously as there is the constant need for improvements both in terms of physical and mental fitness, full of challenges and is competitive.
Motocross, she said, also serves a platform which helps foster close ties between local and international riders.
The motocross rider made the switch from cub prix to motocross after the sport was no longer contested on the domestic front.
“One day I found out about motocross racing which is being held here and I had a renewed interest to try it after cub prix was stopped,” said Liyana.
The sport of cub prix was stopped in the country due to the absence of a circuit.
Liyana also dedicates her time to technical training. – FADHIL YUNUS
In preparing for a race, Liyana typically attends technical and physical fitness training including four of five times a week of improving her fitness such as jogging and boot camp which focuses on upper and lower body workout.
Liyana also dedicates her time to technical training at a motocross track two or three times per week mainly during the weekend whereby she will learn the correct way of gearing, raceline, cornering, the method of jumping and landing.
“Each sport carries its own risk. Motocross carries a high injury risk but if a participant have a basic technique and wears complete safety features this will likely to reduce the risk,” said Liyana.
In a sport dominated by male, Liyana made her motocross debut in October 2015 and at that time was the only female singles rider in the field.
Liyana boasts considerable overseas experience with races in Miri and Labuan and recently competed in Johor Bahru.
Liyana also enjoyed minor success with a podium finish competing against riders from Singapore and Malaysia.
Though Liyana admits that she is content with treating it as a hobby, she refuses to rule out the possibility of expanding her progress and moving forward in the sport if given the opportunities.
Mohd Shahnizam Haji Tamit was announced as the overall winner of the Brunei Motocross Fun Race which was held at the Katok Track last Sunday.
“In my opinion, the races that I always join in Brunei is not as challenging or difficult compared to overseas,” Mohd Shahnizam said.
“For me, it is more difficult to race against pro riders mainly from Indonesia and Peninsular Malaysia.
“Therefore, what separates the field from easy and hard is actually down to experience. I am also new to this event,” he continued.
The motocross rider, who hoped to retain his title in the next tournament, expressed his hopes for youths and youngsters to be involved in the challenging sport one day.
He also advised youths who are interested to join the sport to comply with the regulations and be disciplined whilst on the track, not shy to learn, be brave as well as to demonstrate a strong desire and inculcate high spirits.
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