The records continue to tumble as drivers and riders get more in sync with the extended South Dakota Circuit, and Sunday was no different for round two of the South Dakota Grand Prix, powered by ENet.
New records were set by Mohamed Ashad Ali (Rookie Class), Shan Jeejatan (Group Two), Danny Persaud (Group Three), Heeranand Boodhram (Street Bike Class), and Matthew Vieira (Super Stock).
But over the weekend, all eyes were on Group Four, a new machine at the line, the KTM X-BOW, powered by the fastest network in Guyana, ENet, and driven by Vishok Persaud.
With some seasoned campaigners, such as Kevin Jeffrey and his son Kristian Jeffrey not participating due to mechanical issues and Andrew King understood to be in a rebuilding phase, all eyes were on the KTM.
It certainly did not disappoint by any means, and it took all the experience of Mark Vieira and his RX-8 to sweep all three of the Group Four races, while Vishok Persaud was a consistent second-place finisher in his first outing with his new car.
Both seasoned drivers kept the piercing eyes of fans on the track whenever a Group Four race was called, as more often than not, it was bumper to bumper, with each other searching for a narrow opening to take the lead.
With those absent, set to be ready for November, and reliable sources indicating others will join with improved cars, November could be one of the biggest in recent years for Group Four.
More wins for Seejatan
Yet again, Seejatan, and his Top Power Racing built and prepared Honda Civic, continues to have a love affair with the track, winning two out of three races.
The lone miss in the podium was due to mechanical issues, and Rameez Mohamed took the chequered flag, followed by Peter Morgan and Aaron Bethune.
However, the other two races, Rameez Mohamed and Morgan, followed Seejatan.
Good day for Anand Ramchand
Ramchand won the first Group Three race, ahead of Rameez Mohamed and Danny Persaud, but the other two went to Danny Persaud as he got the best out of his long-time Mazda Miata.
Ramchand got second to Danny Persaud in the third race, followed by Denzel Hopkinson in the Lotus.
However, in the Starlet Cup, Ramchand made it two wins and a fourth, with the other win going to Steven Nobrega, while Mohamed Shiraz Roshandin got two second-place, the other being for Nyron Maraj.
Azaad Hassan won two and got one second in the Sports Tuner, while Paul Jiwanram did the same for Street Tuner.
In the two-wheel thick of things, Matthew Vieira swept the Superstock class while Shem Cattersingh got two wins, and Heeranand Boodhram secured the other.
Attention now turns to the massive International Drag Racing Meet at the Circuit on July 30.
Full Results: https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Events/2294266
New Records:
- Rookie Class Lap Record: 1:33.416 – Mohamed Ashad Ali – Toyota Yaris GR – Sunday 9 July 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Round 2 – Rookie Class, Race 1. (Previous Record: 1:35.411 – Tarick Baijnauth – Toyota Starlet – Sunday, March 9, 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Rookie Class, Race 1)
- Group Two Lap Record: 1:25.519 – Shan Seejatan – Honda Civic – Sunday 9 July 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Round 2 – Group 2, Race 3. (Previous Record: 1:27.407 – Rameez Mohamed – Honda Civic – Sunday 9 July 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Round 2 – Group 2, Race 2)
- Group Three Lap Record: 1:24.655 – Danny Persaud – Mazda Miata – Sunday 9 July 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Round 2 – Group 3, Race 3. (Previous Records: 1:25.042 – Danny Persaud – Mazda Miata – Sunday 9 July 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Round 2 – Group 3, Race 2).
- Street Class Bikes Lap Record: 1:21.925 – Heeranand Boodhram – Yamaha R6 – Sunday 9 = July 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Round 2 – Street Class Bikes, Race 3. (Previous Record: 1:22.842 – Shem Chattersingh – Yamaha R6 – Sunday 9 July 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Round 2 – Street Class Bikes, Race 2)
- Super Stock Bike Lap Record: 1:18.796 – Matthew Vieira – Yamaha R6 – Sunday 9 July 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Round 2 – Super Stock Bikes, Race 1. (Previous Records: 1:19.306 – Matthew Vieira – Yamaha R6 – Sunday 19 March 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Super Stock Bikes, Race 2)
