GMR&SC ‘National Race of Champions’ Meet...Jeffrey, Vieira, Tjin Liep Shie thrill fans

GMR&SC ‘National Race of Champions’ Meet…Jeffrey, Vieira, Tjin Liep Shie thrill fans

Aug 10, 2015 Sports

– Singh, Mohamed also in winners row

By Rawle Welch
Not even a persistent shower could have dampened the outstanding performances of Guyana’s Kristian Jeffrey, Matthew Vieira and Suriname’s Oliver Tjin Liep Shie yesterday when the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) held its ‘National Race of Champions’ Meet, at the South Dakota Circuit.
Before a fair-sized crowd that included Director of Sport Christopher Jones, Minister of Tourism Cathy Hughes and President of the GMR&SC John Carpenter, reigning Caribbean champion Jeffrey showcased his immense skill to fend off challenges from his father Kevin and Mark Vieira en route to two impressive victories.
On both occasions his father Kevin finished second, while Vieira ended third in the opening Group 4 race, but did not take to the starting grid in the second.
Young rising Superbike star Matthew Vieira was also in dominant form as he displayed why he is the new kid on the block in the division when he staved off repeated attacks by his more illustrious relative Stephen ‘Valentino Rossi’ Vieira and Carlos Rodrigues to grab two first places.
Equally impressive was Suriname’s Tjin Liep Shie, who hammered a strong field in the Group 3 category including Danny Persaud and Trinidad and Tobago’s Ravi Singh to register three victories.
Jeffrey driving his Mitsubishi Evolution VIII repelled an early attack at the clubhouse turn in the opening Group 4 race with Vieira just ahead of his father Kevin and that order stayed that way until the fourth lap when the young Jeffrey lengthened his advantage, while Kevin had pulled ahead of Vieira and in hot pursuit of his son.
However, the Caribbean champ held his nerve and drove a matured race to parade the chequered flag after his win.
In the second stanza, the quest for the lead was even more frenetic at the first turn as father and son battled at the corner, but once again the Caribbean king showed his skill and dexterity and came out of the turn slightly ahead of his father, who again attacked at the second turn only to suffer the same result as the young Jeffrey came out in the lead and held on for the duration of the 15 laps to stay unbeaten throughout the day and build on his confidence ahead of the Barbados leg of the Caribbean Series next month.
What more could be said about Matthew Vieira, whose rising status and maturity in the Superbike division is causing a stir among the fans.
He raced to two comfortable wins and at one stage seemed to be toying with the opposition.
Tjin Liep Shie resisted attacks after attacks against a strong field and at one stage was in a heated battle with Persaud whose Miata seemed to match the speed of the Dutch Toyota Starlet.
However, Tjin Liep Shie was outstanding in preserving his position and caused Persaud to spin on the sixth lap as they passed the starting line to approach the first turn to commence lap seven.
Though Persaud regained his composure and managed to pick off car after car he just could not catch the Surinamese to the line.
Also in winners row were Chet Singh, who recorded a first and second in Group 2, while Shameer Mohamed copped a first in Group 1 and Ryan Rahaman, also a first in Group 2.
The day’s full results will be issued in a subsequent edition.