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Battle for spots on CMRC Team for Jamaica takes place March 20; Mark Vieira set to make return
GMR&SC ‘National Race of Champions’ Meet…
By Rawle Welch
Following the successful staging of the Endurance Meet a few weeks ago, motor racing fans can now turn their
Mahendra Boodhoo
attention to the ‘National Race of Champions’ Meet which is scheduled to be staged on March 20, at the South Dakota Circuit.
Hosted by the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC), the upcoming Meet marks the opening of traditional racing for 2016 and immediately fans will get to see most if not all of the country’s best racers on show as they battle for supremacy and more importantly places on the Guyana contingent set to compete in the opening leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) scheduled for May in Jamaica.
Speaking with newly-elected President of the Club Raj Boodhoo at his spanking new Salt & Pepper Restaurant on Robb Street yesterday, the top race official said that he expects keen rivalry among the competitors as they battle for spots on the Guyana team for Jamaica.
“This Meet will see the re-emergence of former champion Mark Vieira, who no doubt will be vying for a place on the team, while Irfaan Kalamadeen, Kevin Jeffrey, Andrew King, Danny Persaud and others are anticipated to take to the grid in what I expect to be a riveting showdown for top honours,” Boodhoo told this newspaper.
He said with the emphasis being placed on sending the strongest team to open the defence of the Caribbean crown which Guyana retained last year, he envisages that most of the competitors both in the cars and Superbikes categories will be aiming to produce outstanding performances to gain the nod on the team to compete in the Caribbean Series.
Flashback! Mark Vieira with chequered flag following one of his victories at the South Dakota Circuit.
Boodhoo, who is serving his second stint as President, disclosed that the expectation of a similar kind of rivalry in the Superbike segment is real with the likes of reigning local champion Matthew Vieira, former champion Stephen ‘Valentino Rossi’ Vieira and another cousin, the reigning Caribbean champion Elliott Vieira, all signaling their intentions to be on the starting grid on race day.
They, however, could face stiff competition from Joel Neblett, Kevin Persaud and a host of upcoming riders. Boodhoo informed this newspaper that the Club is currently pulling out all the stops to get reigning Guyana and Caribbean champion driver Kristian Jeffrey, who currently resides in Canada, to be present to participate in the Meet.
The motor racing Head, a former racer himself when questioned about his vision for the sport responded by saying that his wish is to make it the biggest sport locally and urged all stakeholders to come together and help it remain on the high platform it is on right now. He added that all the categories are expected to be fully subscribed and competitive.
Motor racing is responsible for a sizeable chunk of the sports tourism pie and according to the Boss for motorsport here, there is where he wants it to stay. Among the sponsors on board to date are GTT and Fly Jamaica.
Meanwhile, admission to the races is $1000 for adults and $500 for children under the age of 12 years. Starting time is 09:30hrs.
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