LOCAL Super Bike Champion Stephen ‘Valentino Rossi’ Vieira is more pessimistic than he is optimistic about his showing at the South Dakota Circuit on July 18 when the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) hosts round two of their national Race of Champions. Vieira, who has earned the right to be called one of the best Super Bike riders in the Caribbean with his showing at last year’s Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC), was in superb form during the first round of the National Championships winning all three of his races.
However, when contacted yesterday by Chronicle Sport a plain-spoken Vieira revealed that his normal bike, a Suzuki GSX 600, was not in fit condition to be ridden and he was not so keen on riding the Sunburst Orange Juice branded Yamaha 1000 which he rode recently.
He explained that he doesn’t “feel comfortable on the saddle because the bike was not built for me really, it was made for Kevin Graham.
I just ride it at the last meet because I had to race and I was given the bike, but everyone knows that’s not my bike. I’m taking a beating with my bike right now, but let’s see how things happen.”
The Canadian Graham and Vieira share a rich history on the track while they remain very close friends off the circuit.
Last November, during the final leg of the CMRC, Vieira rode like never before to produce some of his best races in his short but illustrious career, winning all of his races in emphatic fashion.
It is rumoured that Graham will be participating in Round Two of the national Championships, which leave the local Valentino Rossi in a bad position.
“Yea, well I heard he’s (Graham) coming but I don’t know how true it is, but if he does I’m not certain right now what will happen because like I said, everyone knows this bike is built for Kevin, even though there’s a 600 there.
I don’t feel comfortable riding a 1000, it’s too much power for me on such a short track, and also I’m already used to riding my bike. I want to ride my bike but I have some major things to do on it before,” Vieira explained.
Meanwhile, looking ahead to the second round of the 2010 CMRC coming up in Barbados in August, Vieira is hoping he can go to Bushy Park Circuit and emulate his 2009 performance.
“You see, actually, even though I want to race here this month, I don’t want to rush and force things,” Vieira said, adding that “I really want to go to Barbados this year and win like I did last year, so, right now honestly, that’s my focus; to get the bike back up and running well by then.
Even if I have to send to Miami for an “engine or whatever, I want to go to Barbados; I have business to take care of there.”