CMRC in Barbados...Strong Superbike contingent gearing to entertain Bushy Park

CMRC in Barbados…Strong Superbike contingent gearing to entertain Bushy Park

Aug 29, 2012 Sports

By Rawle Welch
It is definitely the largest and strongest contingent of SuperBike riders that this country has ever sent to a Caribbean Meet and motor racing fans across who will be at Bushy Park in Barbados for this weekend’s second leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) has been promised a riveting spectacle of daredevilry from the Guyanese riders.

Joel Neblett

The six Guyanese riders will be led by defending regional champion Stephen ‘Valentino Rossi’ Vieira and he is anticipated to receive support from the likes of Carlos Rodrigues, Joel Neblett, Ricardo Fagundes, Carey Griffith and Maurice Menezes, all riders in the prime of their respective careers and itching to carve a name for themselves.
Kaieteur Sport caught up with a few of them yesterday at West End Car Wash, West Ruimveldt to ask their readiness for the task ahead of this weekend’s showdown against the Barbadians and the Jamaicans and how importance it is for Guyana to triumph and gain valuable points in the championship.
Vieira, the Captain of the team was first to speak to this newspaper and he immediately cleared up the concern about his health following an motor accident in neighbouring Suriname, stating that he is recovering and not 100%, but found it imperative to represent his country against the regional competition.
“I’m still not 100% and I haven’t had any seat time since the accident, but is still confident of doing well even though I will not predict a totally dominant performance,” Vieira said.
He disclosed that for the first time Guyana will be having 6 of its top riders at one Meet and for this reason alone he expects them to dominate the championship.
“Even though I expect that many will feel that I’m the rider to beat competitors such as Carlos (Rodrigues), Joel (Neblett) and Maurice (Menezes) are all extremely skilled riders and they are not going to just hand me victories, but instead I anticipate them to be right there battling for top honours.”
He said he expects Guyana to dominate the podium, but cautioned that over confidence do not get the better of them.
He extended special thanks to his main sponsor Continental Agencies through its Sunburst Orange Juice product, West Side Managing Director Ydoh Kanu and Roots Racing for their support as well.
Rodrigues, who much is expected from, was also upbeat about his chances, informing that he is pretty confident and physically in shape to thrill the Bajan fans despite the fact that it is the first time he will be competing at the Circuit.
Quizzed about his Yamaha R6 machine, Rodrigues said it was about 80% ready, and is optimistic of it being ready for the anticipated rivalry among the Caribbean best riders.

(From left) Superbikers Carlos Rodrigues, Maurice Menezes and Stephen Vieira pose with Team Manager Ydoh Kanu (right) yesterday at West Side Car Wash.

“We had some suspension issues, but that has been rectified and it is now a question of fitting it on to the bike which will be done when we arrive in Barbados today and perhaps get some valuable seat time before race day,” he told this newspaper.
Rodrigues informed that he had to send the suspension to California to be repaired and is confident that it will perform as expected.
The reticent Super biker said he is hoping to do well on his first attempt at the Circuit and is aiming for a top three finish.
He thanked Ricks & Sari, E-Networks Inc, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Two Brothers Gas Station and Kanu for their respective support.
“I know that we have a strong team and it is now just about going out there and finishing the job.”
Menezes , who rides a ZX6R just like Vieira is returning after a surgery and he too indicated that seat time was minimal, but his confidence is still high and rates Guyana’s chances of dominating the Meet as excellent.
“I recently tested the bike’s reliability and I’m happy to report that everything is fine and now just a matter of getting in some valuable time on the track,” Menezes said.
He added that he would be happy to be in the top three positions and expressed confidence of doing so.
Menezes extended thanks to his sponsor Dixie Lee for its much needed assistance.
Neblett, who arrived just in time to be interviewed said he like the other members of the team are all confident of doing well and expects Guyana to dominate the Super bike category over the weekend.
The team leaves today for Barbados.