THE experience of Andrew Rajkarran paid off well for him last Sunday at the Hampton Court ground in Essequibo. It enabled him to lead the professional points standing at the end of the first meet of the Titan Entertainment (TE) organised/Banks DIH-sponsored grass track competition.

Rajkarran accumulated 32 points having recorded three victories, one second and a third place, to take a jump start over Charles Henry who has accumulated 28 points from one victory and four second-place finishes.

Hometown hero, 21-year-old Andrew Wong, who is currently leading the Red Earth Club of Bartica motor cross championships and of whom much was expected, only managed to record one victory, and with his two third-place finishes, has 14 points, trailing Rajkarran by 18.

Novices rider Junior Da Silva emulated Rajkarran to lead that division with 32 points from four convincing victories, as grass track fans in the Cinderella County were treated to an action-packed day of racing by the motorcyclists on show.

Vickash Rajkumar trails Da Silva, who suffered a spill during the sixth lap in one of the professional races, by eight points, having accumulated 24 points from one first, two seconds and two third-place finishes while Andrew’s younger brother Raj lies third in the Novices category with 11 points, one ahead of Peter Tulsie.

The day’s events got under way 15 minutes late, as some of the riders encountered mechanical problems and with the non-appearance of Vassy Barry and Stephen ‘Valentino Rossi’ Vieira, the fans were very appreciative of what little the riders on show had to offer and at the end of the meet, many were heard talking about same all the way to the speed boat stelling at Supenaam.

The day’s activities had its usual spills and thrills, with Wong being the first casualty when he tasted the dirt during the second lap of the first professional category race which was won by Andrew Rajkarran, by over six bike lengths.

Da Silva followed in the shoes of Andrew Rajkarran, when he won the first Novices race by the same margin and after the first three races in both the Professional and Novices category, of which Wong was made an innocent bystander by Rajkarran in the former due to mechanical problems, both category leaders had formalised their positions at the top of their respective groups.

The sixth race of the day set the tone for what was to come later, as Andrew Rajkarran and Henry had a tight tussle for supremacy throughout the 12 laps around the Hampton Court ground, even leaving fans on their feet.

From the time Events Coordinator of TE, Sheik Yassen, sent the riders on their way, Andrew Rajkarran opened a three-bike length lead on Henry and Wong, as both riders were bent on preventing him from chalking up victory number three.

To the delight of the hundreds of Essequibians gathered at the venue, Wong passed Henry during the fifth lap and was set to do the same to Rajkarran whose Yamaha-powered 125cc handled the turns well while operating bullet-like on the straights.

Henry regained the second place position from Wong with four laps to go, but it was not enough to guarantee him overtaking Rajkarran who must have breathed a sigh of relief when he claimed the chequered flag, half a bike length away from Henry with Wong in the third position.

Da Silva’s competitors, who also included his younger brother Jerry, who, at age 13 was making his Novices debut, proved to be no match for him and it took a spill in one of the Professional races to close him off for the day.

His absence in the final Novices race of the day enabled Raj Rajkarran to claim his first victory, even though he had the opportunity to do so two races earlier, but chose to turn wide of the mark and lost his space.

Rajkumar took the second position with Jose Jardine who, like Wong, had also encountered mechanical problems during the day’s proceedings, occupying the third position.

Wong turned the tables on both Henry and Andrew Rajkarran, when he won the feature race of the day which was sponsored by Banks DIH Limited, but had to stave off a strong challenge from Henry who also had a job to do to ensure Rajkarran did not pass him.

At the end of the day’s proceedings, both the organisers and spectators left the venue with their appetites whetted and its now on to Port Mourant Community Centre ground for the next meet which takes place on the 20th of this month.