Superbikes in action at Digicel Williams International

The region's leading race car drivers will share centre stage at this month's Digicel Williams International Race Meet (August 28/29) with their two-wheeled counterparts, as the clubs behind the Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) work towards expanding the scope of the regional series to include a wider range of competitors.

BARL's pre-event build-up continues tomorrow (Friday) with the final weekly after-work lime opposite H & B Hardware at Warrens, St Michael; cars will be on display from around 4.00pm, refreshments will be on sale, and there will be a chance for fans to hear what Barry and Roger Mayers think about the upcoming International.

Heading the motorcycle entry multiple Superbike race and title-winner, Canada's Kevin Graham, one of the prime movers in developing the regional championship; winner of more than 40 races at South Dakota in Guyana – and the lap record holder – he made a big impression at the Dover Raceway in Jamaica, with two race wins on the Sunburst Orange Juice Yamaha R6, and a new lap record.

Graham, who first raced in Guyana in 1993, is keen to expand his knowledge of Caribbean circuits in his quest to help regional organisers build a sustainable Superbike Championship. Of his first visit to Barbados as a competitor, he says: "I am a true fan of Barbados, having visited the island twice before . . . but I have never raced at Bushy Park. It is something that I have wanted to do for a very long time and I plan to give 100 per cent when I am there, and hope to put the bike on the box at least a couple of times.

"Having said that, I have full respect for my fellow racers from Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean and I know my learning curve will need to be steep in order to get on the pace at Bushy Park. I have been friends with many of the Bajan drivers for a long time, especially the Maloneys, as we have met more than once in Guyana. I love Barbados and often consider relocating to the island when it comes to retirement time.

"I'm lucky enough to be part of a great Guyana-based team. We have a very strong and loyal relationship and, although I am Canadian by birth, I am very proud to represent Guyana in the Caribbean Championship."

And it is one of Guyana's best who currently leads the new Seaboard Marine Motorcycle Championship . . . Stephen Vieira will arrive at Bushy Park with a two-point advantage in the standings, after a win and two third places at Dover aboard his Suzuki GSX-R600; he won twice at Bushy Park last year on the same bike, adding to a brace of wins on a Honda in '08, so must be considered another potential winner.

Only 600cc bikes will qualify for CMRC points, although competitors from BARL's existing Unlimited Motorcycle Championship will race alongside; the only other regional entry confirmed is Jamaica's Halquin Rodney, making his second appearance at Bushy Park aboard the ‘Money Bike' Yamaha, while local entries are yet to be confirmed.

For Barbados, reigning BARL Champion Ryan Beckles and Frank Inniss – they won a race apiece at Bushy Park in July – look set to have suitable machinery available, while Brook Miller and Dexter Small (albeit on his non-scoring Yamaha R1) should also be in the mix.

Seaboard Marine Motorcycle Championship 2010 – positions after one round

Rider
1 Stephen Vieira (GUY) 22
2 Kevin Graham (GUY) 20
3 Steffan Chin (JAM) 16
4 Halquin Rodney (JAM) 8
5 Emil Janniere (JAM) 6

Country
1 Guyana 44
2 Jamaica 30

Digicel Williams International Race Meet timeline

Friday, August 20 – 4:00pm: Meet the Drivers promo, Warrens, St Michael
Sunday, August 29 – 2:00pm: Scrutineering (local), Bushy Park, St Philip
Saturday, August 28 – 2:00pm: Qualifying, Bushy Park, St Philip
Sunday, August 29 – 8.00am: Digicel Williams International Race Meet
Monday, August 30 – 7.00pm: Prizegiving