Barbados up to second in Seaboard Marine CMRC

 While heavy showers frequently disrupted the Williams Industries Digicel International Race Meet at Bushy Park Barbados on Sunday (September 13), competitors in round three of the 2015 Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championship battled the elements in a hard-fought and action-packed programme on two and four wheels.

  Guyana's Stephen Vieira was crowned Champion Rider and fellow-countryman Kristian Jeffrey the Group 4 Champion, but Team Barbados was the big winner. Not only was Adrian Bailey crowned Champion Driver, but the host country hauled itself from fifth to second in the Country Championship title chase, with one round to go.

  With no representation for the first time since the competition began, Jamaica has slipped to fourth, having led the Country standings after round one in March; Trinidad & Tobago, which hosted the second round in June, remains at the head of the table with 658 points, but a huge score of 441 over the weekend has promoted Barbados (533) to second place, ahead of Guyana (511), Jamaica (369) and the Cayman Islands (138).

  CMRC Champion in 2011, Roger Mayers kicked off the weekend in fine style in 'De Focus', claiming pole position on his home track in a time of 60.472 seconds, seventh-tenths quicker than last year, with Reigning Champion Kristian Jeffrey of Guyana (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) less than two-tenths adrift. Fastest two-wheel-drive runner Mark Maloney (Mazda RX-3) and T&T's Kristian Boodoosingh (Evo 6.5) were on row two, Kevin Jeffrey (Evo IX) and Doug Maloney (Audi A4 quattro) on row three.

  When the first Group 4 race got under way after weather delays, Mayers took the lead into the Hammer off the rolling start, chased by a determined Jeffrey, these two edging away; initially, they were chased by Boodoosingh, until a transfer box issue caused his retirement, then by multiple local Champion Stuart Williams (Lotus Elise). After an enthralling battle, 'De Focus' began to look rather wayward - front diff failure later confirmed - and Jeffrey snatched victory on the last lap. Williams was third, with Barry Mayers (WR Starlet), Jeffrey Snr and Mark Maloney the only remaining runners.

  A depleted field of five assembled for the second encounter, as mechanical issues had sidelined Roger Mayers, Doug and Mark Maloney for the rest of the day. Track conditions were less than ideal, the 4wd Evos of Kristians Jeffrey and Boodoosingh easing away in the early laps, as Williams and Jeffrey Snr enjoyed a battle for third. Boodoosingh dropped back towards the end of the race, Williams and Barry Mayers both moving ahead of Jeffrey Snr, who was very nearly lapped by his son.

  As there had also been attrition in CMRC Gp3, a merged race completed the day's action (the two Hilti Handicaps were abandoned, to allow the Barbados Association of Dragsters & Drifters to start their Drag Warz 3 event at the agreed time). With some Bushy Park Motor Sports Inc (BPMSI) classes already combined with Gp3, the 16-strong grid promised to thrill the sizeable and hardy crowd, which had remained on The Hill, despite the appalling weather.

  With track conditions now back to some degree of normality, Kristian Jeffrey led away, chased by Williams and Boodoosingh, the order constant until half-distance in what had been shortened to a six-lap race; Jeffrey retired with a rear differential failure, leaving Williams ahead of Boodoosingh. Hundreds of fans stood to cheer as Williams, winner of more than 80 races at Bushy Park in the past, kept the 4wd Evo at bay . . . until the last lap, when he touched the gear selector a split-second early, allowing the Evo through, crossing the line just feet behind. It was a spectacular end to a spectacular day.

  Neil Thompson (Barbados, Honda Civic) set the pace in Qualifying for Gp2, four-tenths ahead of the rest, led by the Civic of T&T's Marc Gill, with locals Edward Corbin (Starlet) and Tremaine Forde-Catwell (Daihatsu Charmant) next up. The first start of what was the day's opening was red-flagged when the Mazda Miata of Guyana's Nizam Gafoor was stranded on the grid . . . and then there was a second red flag, following a multi-car incident just after the re-start, which eliminated Corbin, pole-sitter Thompson and his brother Mark (Civic), who was forging through from the back of the grid.

  At the second restart, with a depleted field, Gill led for one lap before Kenrick Husbands of Barbados (Starlet) forged past, easing away to a 3secs gap at the flag; locals Simon Gillmore and Bailey (both in Peugeot 205s) followed them home, with Saleem Deen (T&T) in his new Honda Integra the only other finisher. After the first-race accident, Reigning Champion Mark Thompson returned to win the remaining races, Gill finishing second twice to maintain a solid cushion in the points.

  In Gp3, former Gp2 Champion Kurt Thompson (Honda CRX) of Barbados and his brother Mark (Civic) sandwiched Paul Vieira (Maxda-7) on the grid; in race one, Kurt T led Vieira home by 6secs, with local BMW M3 drivers Sammy Cumberbatch and Justin Campbell third and fourth - series leader, Cayman Islander Gary Barrett (Civic) finished eighth but, like Gill, he arrived with a comfortable advantage. Vieira headed Campbell and Kenrick Husbands (Starlet) home in race two, with Barrett fourth and Thompson fifth, then Kurt T reasserted himself in the final encounter, merged with Group 4, with Vieira and Mark T completing the podium.

  Guyana presented a strong team in the CMRC Superstock Championship; combined with a growing number of bikers in Barbados, a grid of 19 was the largest ever seen at Bushy Park. Regular visitor - lap record holder on Old Bushy Park and the redeveloped facility - Stephen Vieira (Kawasaki) continued his winning ways, taking the chequered flag in all three encounters, although the third win was lost to a 5secs penalty for a jump start. Cousins Elliott (Kawasaki) and Matthew (Triumph) and fellow-countryman Joel Neblette (Suzuki) were the other podium finishers, Elliott claiming a new bike lap record at 64.269s.

  The Championship concludes at South Dakota in Guyana on November 14/15.

Photo compliments: JustBajan.com
For further information, e-mail: cmramotorsports@gmail.com 

Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championship September 12/13, 2015 - round 3, Bushy Park Barbados - results

Seaboard Marine CMRC Group 4 - race 1: 1st Kristian Jeffrey (GUY), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX; 2nd Roger Mayers (BAR), 'De' Focus; 3rd Stuart Williams (BAR), Lotus Elise; 4th Barry Mayers (BAR), WR Starlet; 5th Kevin Jeffrey (GUY), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX; 6th Mark Maloney (BAR), Mazda RX-3 Race 2: 1st Kristian Jeffrey; 2nd Kristian Boodoosingh (T&T), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.5; 3rd Williams; 4th B Mayers; 5th Kevin Jeffrey; no other finishers Race 3: 1st Boodoosingh; 2nd Williams; 3rd Kevin Jeffrey; 4th Justin Campbell (BAR), BMW M3; no other finishers Championship - Driver: 1st Jeffrey 183 points; 2nd Boodoosingh 101pts; 3rd Gerard Carrington (T&T), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI 58pts; 4th George Bayley (JAM), Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII 51pts; 5th Williams 48pts; 6th Franklyn Boodram (T&T), Renault Megane Trophy 45pts; etc Seaboard Marine CMRC Group 3 - race 1: 1st Kurt Thompson (BAR), Honda CRX; 2nd Paul Vieira (T&T), Mazda RX-7; 3rd Kenrick Husbands (BAR), Toyota Starlet; 4th Danny Persaud (GUY), Mazda Miata; 5th Gary Barrett (CAY), Honda Civic; no other finishers Race 2: 1st Paul Vieira (T&T), Mazda RX-7; 2nd Husbands; 3rd Barrett; 4th Thompson; 5th Shawn Eversley (BAR), Suzuki Swift; no other finishers Race 3: 1st K Thompson; 2nd Husbands; 3rd Vieira; 4th Mark Thompson (BAR), Honda Civic; 5th Neil Thompson (BAR), Honda Civic; 6th Barrett Championship - Driver: 1st Barrett 138 points; 2nd Vieira 108pts; 3rd Persaud 70pts; equal 4th Natasha Chang (JAM), Honda S2000 & K Thompson 62pts; 6th Husbands 51pts; etc Seaboard Marine CMRC Group 2 - race 1: 1st Kenrick Husbands (BAR), Toyota Starlet; 2nd Marc Gill (T&T), Honda Civic; 3rd Simon Gillmore (BAR), Peugeot 205; 4th Adrian Bailey (BAR), Peugeot 205; 5th Saleem Deen (T&T), Honda Integra; no other finishers Race 2: 1st Mark Thompson (BAR), Honda Civic; 2nd Gill; 3rd Neil Thompson (BAR), Honda Civic; 4th Tremaine Forde-Catwell (BAR), Daihatsu Charmant; 5th Gillmore; 6th Bailey Race 3: 1st M Thompson; 2nd Gill; 3rd Husbands; 4th N Thompson; 5th Bailey; no other finishers Championship - Driver: 1st Gill 150 points; 2nd M Thompson 90pts; 3rd Jordan Powell (JAM), Honda Civic 75pts; 4th Shiaraz Roshandin (GUY), Honda Civic 61pts; 5th Mark Williams (T&T), Honda Civic 55pts; 6th Damien Nesbit (T&T), Nissan Sentra 52pts; etc Championship - Country: 1st Trinidad & Tobago 658 points; 2nd Barbados 533pts; 3rd Guyana 511pts; 4th Jamaica 369pts; 5th Cayman Islands 138pts Seaboard Marine CMRC Superstock - race 1: 1st Stephen Vieira (GUY), Kawasaki ZX6-R; 2nd Elliot Vieira (GUY), Kawasaki ZX6-R); 3rd Matthew Vieira (GUY), Triumph Daytona; 4th Kris Brathwaite (BAR), Suzuki GSX-R600; 5th Devan McCartney (BAR), Suzuki GSX-R600; 6th Terrance Olliviere (BAR), Suzuki GSX-R60; etc Race 2: 1st S Vieira; 2nd Joel Neblette (GUY), Suzuki GSX-R600; 3rd E Vieira; 4th Brook Miller (BAR), Suzuki GSX-R600; 5th Shirley Scantlebury (BAR), Suzuki GSX-R600; 6th Ryan Beckles (BAR), Suzuki GSX-R600; etc Race 3: 1st E Vieira; 2nd Neblette; 3rd S Vieira; 4th Luke De Nobriga (T&T), Yamaha R6; 5th M Vieira; 6th Scantelbury; etc Championship - Rider: 1st S Vieira 133 points; 2nd E Vieira 119pts; 3rd Robert McDonald (JAM), Yamaha YZF-R6 45pts; equal 4th David Bell (JAM), Honda CBR RR600 & Neblette 36pts; 6th M Vieira 28pts; etc

For further information, e-mail: cmramotorsports@gmail.com