The Trinidadian daredevils have invaded our shores on a quest to leave the competition in their rear view mirrors when they put pedal to the metal during this weekend in the finale of the Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC).
A 12-member unit of checkered flag chasing speedsters touched down in Guyana to preserve their lead by doing what they do best. Push their built-for-speed machines to the limit. The sum of 11 drivers and a rider are fully geared up and ready to set the South Dakota Circuit ablaze.
Trinidad has a firm grip already on the country title this weekend and the visitors will be keen to pick up several individual honours.
One such championship is the group four, two-wheel drive category, in which Franklyn Boodram has a prime shot at carrying home.
Speaking to the media yesterday, Boodram indicated that he is more than willing to carry on the fight, saying, “The car is here in Guyana, we should have access to the car today. We look forward to completing the Caribbean Championships.”
“We look forward to competing in Guyana here at South Dakota, one of my personal favourite tracks in the Caribbean. It’s a track that I know, It’s a track that I’ve won here in group two in the past with (the late) Gavin Narine. Boodram also noted that he is itching for some testing time, which should commence today.
In an unfortunate twist of events, Zachary Boodram, who was also scheduled to be a part of this weekend’s activity had to pull out after suffering a wrist injury, though that will see the return of one of the sport’s older heads in Frankie Boodram stepping in to fill the gap.
“I’ve won champion driver here for many many times, I’ve been racing here from since the 70’s so that track is like my backyard and I know it very well,” he said.
Meanwhile, Paul Vieira and Ronald Wortman will compete in the Group 3 CMRC while six drivers, Bridget Singh, Luke Bhola, Che Carrington, Yazid Ali, Damien Nesbit, Haresh Nanan and Marc Gill, will steer their vehicles in the Group 2 races.
Two-wheeled speed demon Timothy Joseph, intimating that his plan is to do nothing else but go full throttle.
“I will perform to my best, we will get in some laps tomorrow and I know that the track is fast, so we are ready and good to go.”
The Trinis lead the country championships with 1151 points. Barbados are on 504 followed by Jamaica on 465. Team Guyana has tallied 358 points while the Cayman Islands have racked up a paltry 60 points.
This year’s final leg line-up is nothing short of impressive, attracting drivers like Jamaica’s Doug Gore and Peter Rae, Barbados’ Stuart and Mark Maloney and Trinidad and Tobago’s Franklin Boodram along with Guyana’s ‘Big Three’ Kevin and Kristian Jeffrey and Mark Vieira.
Super bikers like 2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship winner Bryce Prince, British super bike specialist, Mike Truelove, Stephen, Elliott and Matthew Vieira will also take centre stage.
Organizers are promising that this weekend’s event will have all the colour and pomp we have come to expect over the years with plenty of entertainment for the whole family. See you there.
