German rider Olivier Fietzler claimed his third enduro motorbike title at the Huye Rally, held from October 16 to 18, after winning the 100-kilometre race. Riding a KTM 450, Fietzler clocked 32 minutes and 45.50 seconds to finish ahead of Belgian competitors Sébastien and Shaida Houben, who rode a Ducati and recorded 38:36.31. Another Belgian rider, Mathiew, finished third on a KTM 890 in 38:45.10, while Rwanda's Augustin Bizimana placed fourth on a KTM 450 with a time of 44:45.00. Randy, riding a KTM 250, finished fifth, while Belgian rider Alicia Geuens completed the top six on a Yamaha T7 in 47:47.80. ALSO READ: Robin Hobbies wins maiden Sprint Enduro racing in Shyorongi Speaking after his victory, Fietzler said the event reflected progress in efforts to raise the profile of motorcycle sport in Rwanda. “We’ve come a long way with the sport. We’ve tried to raise awareness and improve the sport in the country,” he said. He credited the Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC) for promoting the competition and expressed hope that more events would be organised to sustain the sport's growth. “I’m very happy that the sport is improving and getting the recognition it deserves,” Fietzler said. The German rider also called on more spectators to attend future competitions, saying greater public engagement was essential to increasing awareness and attracting support for motorcycle racing. “What I would say to the fans is that next time there’s an event, it would be great if more people came. That’s the only way to bring awareness to the sport,” he said. ALSO READ: Umuko Enduro Challenge brings local, international riders Fietzler said slippery conditions following heavy rainfall presented one of the biggest challenges during the competition, making the course particularly demanding and increasing the risk of crashes. He also highlighted tax exemptions for motorcycles imported into Rwanda for competition as an important measure in attracting riders from abroad. Looking ahead, he expressed hope that organisers would expand the competition's international reach by inviting more riders from neighbouring countries, including Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Such participation, he said, would help raise the profile of motorcycle sport in Rwanda, improve competition and encourage further growth in the discipline.
