Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM
Neblett and Griffith aiming for consistency
They were among the group of riders that performed creditably at the recently
Joel Neblett
concluded Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club ‘Race of Champions’ Meet and they firmly believe that the Superbike segment of the sport is rapidly regaining the spotlight it once held in the 70’s when the likes of Frank Van Sertima, Johnny Thijs, Patrick Tong and Victor Pires battled each other for supremacy.
Joel Neblett and current rookie Superbike champion Carey Griffith expressed this view when they sat down to speak with this newspaper yesterday.
Neblett, who has been on and off the competitive scene produced an encouraging performance on Sunday against seasoned campaigners such as local champion Stephen ‘Valentino Rossi’ Vieira and Canadian Kevin Graham returning with a first and two third places to cap a solid day, while Griffith, though not as dominating as in previous Meets, was still consistent enough to gain a first and two seconds.
He pointed out that the positive results came after arduous preparations which evidently paid off and he called on his supporters to believe that he is back and looking forward to much more success in the future.
Neblett, who like Vieira have been instrumental in honing the skills of riders in the ‘B’ Class, mentioned Ricardo Fagundes as a possible future champion in the sport.
“I’ve been working with him for sometime now and I’ve seen steady improvement over the past four months I want to predict that he will be a champion in the future,” Neblett opined.
As for his own development, Neblett informed that his bike needs further development and he has already begun to act in that direction with the anticipated arrival of upgraded suspensions.
“My current bike was built for the road bike and that has been converted to a small extent to race on the track, but we are looking at modifying it to the level where we could compete with some comfort against the likes of Vieira and Graham,” Neblett told this newspaper.
He disclosed that that will only be possible through the support of corporate sponsorship and he is hoping that the ones who’ve supported him in the past remain on board and are encouraged by his recent exploits.
Carey Griffith
He extended thanks to Pomeroon Oil Mills, Platinum Mining, West Side Wash bay, Windjammer, Rocky’s Bar, Two Brothers Gas Station, Perreira Mining and Ori Obermuller Mining and his team on mechanics.
Meanwhile, Rookie champion Griffith in his remarks said he felt the Superbike segment in local racing is on the rise and called on the business community to see it as such and offer more tangible support.
He mentioned the cost of preparing for a Meet which could cost a rider without sponsorship quite a few dollars.
“There is no doubt there are a lot of other riders out there who’re willing to get involved in the sport, but because of the lack of adequate sponsorship, they are finding it difficult to procure the financing that will make them competitive,” he stated.
He, however, called on all prospective riders to join the sport since it provides all the necessary protective gears and you could ride fast in a controlled environment that is built for speed.
Summing up his own performance, Griffith blamed a recent fall before the Meet as a possible factor that might have affected his usually dominant display.
“I had a fall at the last Meet and that might have driven some amount of fear in me, but all is well right now and I’m looking forward to the next event in July,” he said.
He, too, extended thanks to the fans, his mechanics Jodi Douglas and Gregory Lopes and most of all his sponsors Nigel’s Supermarket, Windjammer, E.C Vieira Investments, Dixie Lee, Jackie, Ansa McAl and Golden Brook.
The champ closed by revealing his ambition to stay fit and healthy and develop his skills further which could improve his chances of moving into the ‘A’ Class at some point in his career.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Bureaucracy gone bananas!
…Peeping Tom kaieteur News- Every morning, the government wakes up, stretches its arms, and spends one billion dollars... more
Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – There is an alarming surge in gun-related violence, particularly among younger... more
Weekend Cartoon
