ROSS BRANCH GOES INTO HISTORY BOOKS AT DAKAR RALLY

BY:Kabelo Seleka

Have you ever went to the bank and they tell you that they can not give you the amount of the loan you desire,but half.Few years later after working so hard you knock again and again at the bank’s door steps,this time around it seems like there is some hope,so is Botswana’s most celebrated going into biker Ross Branch at the ongoing 2020 Dakar off-road treat being the first African to win the race in stage 2.

Branch won the 393 km drive in Saudi Arabia with a timing of 3′ 39′ 10”, 1′ 24″ ahead of Britian’s and new general standings leader Sam Sunderland and 2’21 in front of Pablo Quintanilla yesterday.

Southern Africa’s most dominant biker for the past 3 years Branch had in stage 1 got position 14 in a 752 km dusty route before claiming victory in the second stage signalling hope at the 12 stage cross country moving machines marathon.

ROSS BRANCH FINISHED AS BEST NEW COMER IN 2019

Following his 13th finish and as the best newcomer last year,Ross Branch has today will go in the history books of the bike category, he is the first winner from Africa since the last in the series from South African Alfie Cox in 2003.

One sports fanatic Rock Al Fame Seribe has opined that Ross Branch needs Batswana’s full support.

“It’s high time we invest our energy and time in Ross Branch,he is doing well and needs the support that we have misdirected at the ever loosing football,commented Seribe.”

BAS DAR KTM RACING TEAM IS PROUD OF ROSS BRANCH

For his part,the Bas Dar KTM Racing Team star lamented that he is happy to have won the stage and will soldier on for the stages ahead.

“Really excited to get the Stage Win today! Been a dream come true to win a Stage at the Dakar Rally! Felt really good on the bike today and looking forward to the rest of the rally,said Branch.”

This year’s race marks Ross Branch’s second appearance,the soft-spoken national champion remains the second Motswana to partake at the highly rated Dakar Rally after his compatriot Vincent Crosbie who settled for 36th overall position at the 2017 Dakar Rally.