Latest update April 7th, 2025 6:08 AM
Stephen Vieira races the clock to regain full fitness ahead of Sunday’s Race Meet
Still somewhat in the recovery phase following a motor accident, Guyana’s No#1 Superbike racer Stephen ‘Valentino Rossi’ Vieira has been working assiduously to regain peek fitness under the watchful eyes of fitness guru Kezqweyah Yisrael at the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports (GMR&SC) Club gym.
Guyana’s Superbike champion Stephen Vieira (front left) seen undergoing a fitness exercise under the watchful eyes of Personal Trainer Kezqweyah Yisrael (back left row) recently at the GMR&SC.
Vieira, who will be leading Guyana’s quest to attain top honours against Canadian Kevin Graham when the GMR&SC stages its ‘race of Champions’ Meet, at the South Dakota Circuit on April 1, has been working hard to prepare physically after suffering injuries to his hip and knees following the accident which nearly ruled him out of competition.
Speaking with Kaieteur Sport recently, Vieira and his trainer spoke of some of the work they are doing currently to ensure that all systems are in place for him to be ready to endure the anticipated keen rivalry that Graham usually provides.
The easy going speed merchant praised Yisrael for his remarkable and speedy recovery, adding that all tributes must go to the trainer, who has put him through a regimen that he has never before undergone.
“My knees and hip were seriously hurt following the accident and he (Yisrael) was able to implement a programme that really enhanced my speedy recovery and for this I’m extremely grateful,” Vieira told this newspaper.
Yisrael, who was also present at the interview, was also glowing in his tribute to Vieira, who he described as being very receptive to the exercises that he implemented and seems well on the way to a total recovery and ready for Sunday’s Meet.
“We had to focus on the knees, because he was experiencing a lot of pain in the knees from the accident, while we also did a lot of work on the upper body since he injured his hip as well as doing a lot of exercises to improve his reflexes,” Yisrael said.
According to the trainer, who operates the Top End Performance Training Systems, a rider needs to have quick reflexes so they are doing the kind of exercises that will enhance those.
Asked if Vieira will be fit enough to head back to the circuit and compete at the level his fans and opponents are accustomed to, Yisrael said “I believe he will be in the best possible shape, better than before for that day because at the rate he is coming, two sessions per day and stuff like that, I’m optimistic that he will be ready.”
Yisrael said that in bringing the talented Vieira back, he has planned a robust rehabilitation programme that includes a stint of swimming and using a lot of strengthening exercises that utilizes a number of equipment in the gym.
Vieira, in the interview spoke of his new awareness of needing to be more fit since it helps with his reflexes and mental preparation.
“I came to Yisrael explaining to him what I wanted and with his knowledge I listened to him and we did it,” he stated.
Apart from Vieira and Graham, the Superbike category is loaded with talent and the likes of Maurice Menezes, Carlos Rodrigues and Joel Neblett will be aiming to upstage their more established counterparts.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Anticipation without preparation
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- The Vice President of Guyana, ever the sagacious observer of the inevitable, has reassured... more
The U.S. “Joining” the Commonwealth: an unreasonable expectation
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- Recent media stories have suggested that King Charles III could “invite” the United... more
Weekend Cartoon
