Akeem Wilkinson took his first win of the season in yesterday’s feature 35-lap event of the 3rd annual Malta Supreme 11-race programme, edging Team Roraima’s, Warren ‘40’ McKay in a thrilling photo finish.
The race, witnessed by a sprinkling of spectators at the National Park, was so close that the officials had to spend several minutes studying photos before announcing that the 20-year-old was indeed the winner albeit by millimetres.
Wilkinson, who clocked one hour, 17 minutes and 24 seconds in the event, rode in perfect conditions for racing.
His Flying Star teammate Alonzo Ambrose completed the podium, while Paul Choo-Wee-Nam (Team Alanis), Michael Anthony (Team Cocos) and Stephen Fernandes (Continental Cycle Club) filled out the top six paid positions.
Besides the winner’s trophy, Wilkinson also pocketed two sprint prizes as did the rest of the top four finishers.
The race pedalled off at a moderate pace, then Wilkinson and McKay changed gears from lap five and separated from the peloton.
Soon after Choo-Wee-Nam and Ambrose connected with the two leaders. The four wheelsmen then worked in tandem to stave off the rest of the 16 starters until the bell lap.
At this point, McKay and Wilkinson shifted gears again to set up the theatrics at the end.
Quick Results
Juveniles (10 laps)
Michael Anthony (1st), Alonzo Ambrose (2nd), Raphael Leung (3rd)
Mountain Bikes
Keon Thomas (1st), Emanuel Gayraul (2nd), Julio Melville (3rd)
BMX 12-14 Years (3 Laps)
Ammo Gomes (1st), Rashidi Ceres (2nd), Brighton John (3rd)
BMX Open (3 Laps)
Adrian Sharma (1st), Keon Rutherford (2nd), Kenroy McCoy (3rd)
BMX 12-14 Boys and Girls (3 Laps)
Jaleel Jackson (1st), Omesh Leonard (2nd), Ammo Gomes (3rd)
Veterans Under-50 Years (5 Laps)
Stephen Fernandes (1st), Kennard Lovell (2nd), Shameer Baksh (3rd)
Veterans Over-50 Years (5 Laps)
Linden Blackman (1st)
Veterans Over-60 Years
Monty Parris (1st), Anthony Farriah (2nd)
BMX Boys 6-9 Years (2 Laps)
Sherwin Sampson (1st), Shay Sue-Hang (2nd), Alex Leung (3rd)
BMX Boys 9-12 Years (3 Laps)
Sherwin Sampson (1st), Kristoff Austin (2nd), Thuran Garbarran (3rd)
Malta Supreme Trainee Manager Colin King pledged Banks DIH’s continued support for the annual July fixture. King, along with organizer of the event Hassan Mohamed, also congratulated the cyclists for making the programme a success.
The riders now take their talents to the open roads of West Demerara this morning to compete in the 5th annual Caricom Day 50-mile road race. (Emmerson Campbell)
