Kenyan superbike ace Reeve denied travel for SA tourney

Mina Reeve, the Supersport 300 championship second runner-up will not be part of the contingent to South Africa where Kenya has been invited for a racing event after her employer turned down her travel request.

Reeve had been selected as one of two females in a 10-person superbike racing team that is set to represent the country at the RedStar South Africa Superbike championships but has been forced to sit out of the tournament.

The High School Biology teacher has enjoyed remarkable success in the sport she only took up a year ago thanks some inspiration from her friend Harmony Kibunja who has also been selected for the double header race.

The Kenyan Superbike Association described Reeve’s potential absence from the event as a ‘big loss’ for the team and for the racer who was awarded this year by the Women Bikers Association (WBA) for her contribution in growth of the sport.

“The financial loss is actually not the biggest disappointment for her and the club, but the thought of losing the opportunity to represent Kenya. FOR WOMEN&COUNTRY! A big loss.

“We really hope that the decision can be reconsidered, its not too late for her to travel. Ms Harmony Kibunja will be travelling with the team along with the gentle who will put the best foot forward,” the TSA said in a statement.

Kenya received a formal invitation from RedStar Race Way to tour and participate in a club race in Delmas, South Africa in April 2019. Without any sort of sponsorship, the TSA pulled all stops to ensure it honoured the invite and Kenya went on to win under extra-ordinary circumstances.

The Kenyans competed for the first time on a standard sized race track, a step up from the small Go-Karting tracks they were used to and had to master the track in only two track days.

Further, the team was forced to use rental bikes. A bike you had to master and gel with in again just two days yet Team Kenya did not disappoint.

The racers did remarkably well, clinching two podiums and much to the amazement of the hosts who were left dumbfounded by this display of passion, resilience and performance against all odds.

It earned them another invite to return to South Africa this month for a double header race where the TSA says they are ‘excited to return and repeat the brilliant performance of April’.