GT&T/Friends Inc. grass track meeting hailed a success

Apr 30, 2009 Sports

Oliver Younge

Approximately 3,000 persons attended the second annual GT&T/Friends Inc Grass Track for Charity Race Meeting which was held recently at the Ogle Community Centre ground.

According to a release from the organisers, the event was blessed with good weather and excellent track conditions for grass track racing, and the competitors did not disappoint as they thrilled the large audience with some daredevil riding and breathtaking displays.
Among the winners were Stephen Vieira, Carlos Rodrigues, Andrew Wong, Oliver Younge, Zalim Mohamed and Jose Jardine.

The day’s full results are as follows:
Race1 (50-80 cc Chappys)
Zalim Mohamed repeated his win from last year at Better Hope, around 3 chicanes, while negotiating the 3 and 2 ft jumps with some difficulty.

Race 2 (125/250 Novice)
Jose Jardine, a Bartica rider, capitalised on his handicapped start position and led throughout, even opening up his lead aboard his smaller 85 cc kawasaki.

Race 3 (125/250 Expert)
Vieira led easily from the start and showed his mettle and experience in eclipsing Wong from Bartica who has been dominating the class. But he was no match for Rodrigues’ fitness over 15 laps and gave into his unrelenting pressure in second position.
Wong also could not match Rodrigues’ experience on the jumps, his fitness and bike savvy and therefore settled for third place. This race was a favourite as fans watched Rodrigues close the gap on Vieira and wear him down over a long and hard 15 lap format.

Race 4 (Chappys)
Ravi Singh edged out Mark Menezes and Narindra Jainarine in a race which went around the jumps given that the Chappys experienced difficulties with the height of the jumps in

Race 5 (Quads Open)
Chris McLean led from the line and tried to open up from a good start against Bartica and National Champ Oliver Younge, but Younge waited for his chance and then held on despite intense pressure from McLean. The race was a clear favourite as fans watched their airborne feats off the jumps and mud slinging turns. Wayne Kanhai came third in his first quad race.

Race 6 (125/250 Expert)
Vieira won this exciting race over 10 laps, which could easily be the race of the day, again holding off Bartica Champ Andrew Wong and managed to win against Rodrigues in their second encounter. Stephen, a seasoned rider, who seemed to be most comfortable with the jumps and the 9 turns on the serpentine track, showed that experience is the best weapon against the aggression of Wong and Rodrigues who placed second and third respectively.

Race 7 (Quads Novice)
Both Younge and McLean stayed out of this race to give the novices a chance. Young Jeorgeno Tevreden, the son of expert quad rider Dave Younge, showed that talent runs in the family and got an easy win over Randy Jagdeo, on his maiden quad race, and Dillon Sugrim, the little master of stunts.

Race 8 (125/250 handicapped)
Wong etched a win in a race dominated by Barticians Gordon Da Silva, second place, and Jose Jardine, third place, as Experts Vieira and Rodrigues pulled out with injury and bike trouble in the race.