Perfect day for Andrew King, Team Mohamed’s at ‘Clash of Champions’

Most of the big names in Caribbean and international racing lived up to the hype and delivered some exceptional driving and riding at the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMR&SC) ‘Clash of Champions’ at South Dakota Circuit on Sunday.

Veteran Andrew King continues to have a memorable time on home turf, dominating the Group Four races. He won all three via some tactically sound driving. In the first race, an accident just after the start between Kristian Jeffrey and Mark Maloney meant it was smooth sailing from there-on, with little to no pressure.

Maloney returned to the pits, and Jeffrey, King’s nephew, tried tirelessly to reduce the lead, but with differential having issues due to the accident, Jeffrey’s cherished Evolution had to press off the gas.

In the final race, King’s usually patient approached worked as himself and Kevin Jeffrey began distancing themselves from the pack. Just as they were approaching turn one in the close stages of the race, King pipped Jeffrey on the corner to make it a clean sweep.

Barbadian Mark Maloney and the ExxonMobil-sponsored Danny Persaud were also on the podium.

Likewise, Team Mohamed’s trio of British Riders totally dominated the Super Stock and Super Sport classes.

Daniel Linfoot on his first outing to Guyana won all three stock races, followed by countryman Harry Truelove, while Nikhil ‘MadMax’ Seereeram, on his return to the track, got two third places, beating out defending local Super Stock champion Matthew Vieira and Kevin Persaud.

In the final stock race, Stephen Vieira, who rode the 125cc over the weekend, took Persaud’s bike and gave the Brits a good run for the first two to three laps, and brought the crowd alive with risk-taking and pushing the bike to its max.

The fun was good until he had to retire from the race due to bike issues but by time then, Team Mohamed’s had regained control over the race. Persaud did not compete due to a hand injury.

Richard Cooper, the third Team Mohamed’s rider, was the lone competitor in the Super Sport class, and mostly had fascinating battles with stock rider Linfoot.

Over in the Radicals, Zane Maloney showed why he is the British F4 Champion, with an absolutely sublime day on the track. Any test given, Maloney passed with flying colours.

In race one, a bad start meant he was mid-pack, but he went hunting and made a meal of the competitors. Even in race two, starting at back of the pack due to the standard reverse grid, it was not long until the 16 year-old got to pole.

A highlight was his ability to break extremely late in turn one, nipping numerous competitors on the inside. Speaking to News Room Sport, he related it was great fun being in Guyana and he hopes to return for another meet.

He hopes to compete the entire Radical Series next year should time permits, as he revealed he will be moving to F3.

The Torginol-powered Kristian Jeffrey once again suffered mechanical problems and was unable to produce his usual best and was back the pack. He related it was a weekend where he was ready, but the machines were just not up to the task. He vows to comeback in 2020 and give it 100%.

Mark Maloney, Stuart Maloney, Kristian Boodoosingh, William Myers and Luke Bhola were the other podium finishers.

Group Three saw Barbadian Suleman Esuf dominate the three races, followed by Danny Persaud, while Vishok Persaud managed a third in his E-Networks branded machine.

In Group Two, Barbadian Ahmed Esuf got on the podium in the final race, followed by Shan Seejatan and Chet Singh.

The first Group Two race was a cracker, as Paul Vieira took the lead and seemed destined to win, but Seejatan drove like a man possessed and kept picking off competitors one by one until he reached Vieira and looked to take the lead after starting back of the pack.

However, the two had an impact and Rameez Mohamed, an unlikely winner at that point, took the lead and won the race. Ahmed finished second, while Chet Singh got third. Seejatan ended in fourth.

Raymond Seeberan, Roopnarine Dasrat, Azad Hasan were top performers in Street Tuner.

In the Starlet Cup, Motilall ‘Kevin’ Deodass  secured a podium finish along with Annand Ramchand and Shiraz Roshandin.