NATIONAL Super Bike champion Stephen ‘Valentino Rossi’ Vieira wishes to express heartfelt thanks and gratitude to his mechanic Maurice Menezes and tuner of his Sunburst Orange Juice-sponsored 2008 Suzuki GSX R600 Marcel Profitt, following his double win in the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s meeting which was held at the South Dakota Circuit two weeks ago. The soft-spoken and always smiling Vieira was also high in praise for his sponsor Sunburst Orange Juice, while he talked about going to Barbados to contest the second round of the Caribbean Champion of Champions meeting to be held in that island’s Bushy Park Circuit.
“First of all, let me say thanks to God for taking me through the meet successfully and injury-free, for as you know, the weather was not conducive to racing as the track was slippery from the rain that fell the night before and even on the morning of the race.
My mechanic Maurice did an excellent job with the bike, while Marcel’s input as the tuner was immeasurable. Also plenty of thanks to Sunburst Orange Juice, who have been behind me and supporting me for the past two years,” said Vieira.
He added, “Having said that, I would like to say that my eyes are set on returning to Bushy Park in Barbados, for the second round of racing in the Caribbean Champion of Champions meeting on August 28 of this year.
“Not only am I interested in going back there just to ride and represent Guyana, but when I was there last year, I set a lap record even though I lost the race to Kevin Graham and this time around, my aim is not only to represent Guyana proudly, but also at the same time, to lower my time.”
Vieira was referring to his 44.003 which he set while placing second to the Canada-based Graham, but expressed uncertainty of his participation this month end, due to insufficient funding, even though he returned from the Dover Raceway in Jamaica earlier this year as the points leader in the Super Bike category,.
His two wins and one second place came from the three races he contested in Jamaica and should he get the opportunity to go to Barbados, certainly, he can return home with a strong chance of finishing as the Caribbean’s Super Bike champion for 2011.