Reggae Racers determined to finish strong

Lack of sponsorship has been one of the main obstacles to Jamaica's chances of winning any of the major titles in this year's Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC), which climaxes today at the South Dakota track in Guyana.

Peter Rae and Natasha Chang, along with motorcyclist Kyle Reynolds, who have been dubbed the Reggae Racers, will be representing Jamaica at the meet. Sponsored by Seaboard Marine and Fly Jamaica, the team left the island on Thursday, giving the assurance that they will be making their presence felt in Guyana.

They did not have the chance to compete at the preceding leg in Barbados.

"At the end of the first leg in Jamaica we had a huge lead, but by the second leg in Barbados a lack of sponsorship prevented the team from taking part. So now we are way behind on points in the respective classes," said Silburn Clarke, one of the directors of Jamaica Race Drivers' Club (JRDC), with responsibility for CMRC events.

Currently Jamaica occupies fourth position on 369 points, behind first place Trinidad and Tobago 658 points, second place Barbados (533 points) and Guyana (511 points). The Cayman Islands, whose sole competitor, Gary Barrett, is a Jamaican by birth, trails the field in fifth position on 138 points.

Had Jamaica contested the Barbados leg, the team would have been in a strong position today to win one of the major titles.

Today's event promises to be a crowd thriller. Reigning group 4 champion, Guyana's Kristian Jeffrey, is already champion-elect for a second consecutive year. Bennett, the group 3 leader, is hot on the heels of Trinidad's Paul Vieira. Group 2 champion, Mark Thompson of Barbados, is chasing current leader, Marc Gill of T&T.

Guyanese cousins Stephen and Elliot Vieira will continue their showdown on two wheels for the superstock title. Jamaica's Kyle Reynolds is hoping to upset the apple cart.

Further reports are that Guyana's Jeffrey, with 11 wins in 18 appearances since his CMRC debut at Bushy Park, Barbados, last July, has an unrivalled record in the series. It is a record he will be keen to maintain on his home turf.

Points standings:

Champion Country

1. Trinidad - 658 points

2. Barbados - 533

3. Guyana - 511

4. Jamaica - 369

5. Cayman Islands - 138

Group 4 Class:

1. Kristian Jeffrey - 183 points

2. Kristian Boodoosingh - 101

3. Gerard Carrington (T&T)

4. George Bayley (JAM)

Group 3 Class:

1. Gary Barrett - 138 points

2. Paul Vieira - 108

3. Danny Persaud - 70

4. Natasha Chang (Jam) and Kurt Thompson (B'dos) - 62

6. Kenrick Husbands (B'dos) 51

Group 2 Class:

1. Marc Gill - 150 points

2. Mark Thompson - 90

3. Jordan Powell (Jam) - 75

4. Shairaz Roshandin (Guy) - 61

5. Mark Williams (T&T) - 55

* CMRC Superstock:

1. Stephen Vieira - 133 points

2. Elliot Vieira - 119

3. Robert McDonald (Jam) - 45

4. David Bell (Jam) and Joel Neblette (Guy) - 36

6. Matthew Vieira (Guy) - 28