Ja takes on region at Jamwest

Jamaica will make another attempt to take back the regional circuit racing title, when they host Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and the Cayman Islands in the first leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC). It gets under way next weekend at the Jamwest Speedway, Little London, Westmoreland.

"We are expecting at least 19 overseas competitors and

this include a number of motorcyclists," head of the Jamaica Race Drivers' Club (JDRC) Monique Gibbs, told Automotive on Friday.

Exciting showdown

Gibbs anticipates an exciting showdown in the Group 4 Class. Jamaica's top brass, which includes Kyle Gregg, Doug Gore, Chris Campbell, Peter 'Bull' Thompson, David Summerbell, Charles Chen, Peter Rae and George Bayley, will be up against the best crop of drivers/riders from the region. The list include Guyana's Stephen Vieira and Kevin Jeffery, as well as Barbados' Mark Maloney.

"We will be trying to amass enough points as possible. We always get off to a good start each time we host a CMRC meet. Based on the line-up, it promises to be another action packed crowd thriller," said Gibbs. She further stressed that there have been some changes to the Jamwest track, enhancing the rivalry and competitiveness.

After assuming the lead in round one of the CMRC last year Jamaica slipped to fourth place by the latter stages of the championship, ending up behind Trinidad, Barbados and Guyana.

The JRDC president described Jamwest as a sports tourism destination.

"The facility is ready for the patrons. The hotels are there, everything is looking good," said Gibbs.

The Caribbean Motor Racing Association (CMRA) committee which met in Guyana recently has scheduled the 2016 season, which will continue from July

2224 at the Frankie Boodram Raceway in Arima, Trinidad and Tobago. Round three will be held in Bushy Park, St Phillips, Barbados, from September 24. The season will culminate with the final leg and presentation ceremony from November 11-14 at the South Dakota Circuit, Guyana.

Apart from the CMRC contest next weekend, the battle for the Jamaican class championships will continue. A lot of attention will be paid to the Thundersport II Class, which will feature Doug Gore, David Summerbell, Kyle Gregg and Peter Rae. Based on what transpired at the last race meet, the TSII battle will be among Gore, Summerbell and Gregg.