By Stephan Sookram

GRASS TRACK racing fans will be in for a treat this year when Sheik Yassen Promotions teams up with Top Brandz, through their Corona Beer brand, for the 2016 championship, which was officially launched yesterday.The seven-leg event will see riders compete in the traditional event over single days of action, commencing with the first leg on February 28 at the Ogle Community Centre ground.
Round one will feature 11 races on the day with two special races titled ‘Newcomers’, which will see street bikes, that have been properly stripped of lights, fenders and other hazardous parts, compete.
During Thursday’s launch Sheik Yassen, contended that the re-emergence of structured grass track racing has been on the cards for a while.
“The revitalisation of grass track in Guyana I think is very important, being a former rider. We’ve realised that grass track has been dormant for a while and as such, we have decided to restart grass track in its proper way in Guyana,” said Yassen.
He noted that the prerequisite medical and other features will be installed to ensure that riders and marshals alike are safe, adding, that events will follow in Berbice, Essequibo, Linden and along the East Coast of Demerara before the final leg at Ogle.
President of the Ogle Community Centre ground, Alim Mohamed, stated that Ogle is pleased to be re-associated with grass track, especially knowing of its long history with the sport and the events that were held there.
Representative of Top Brandz, Bobby Vieira, added that the company is always pleased to be on-board with sport initiative.
“Over the years, Corona Beer has been a stalwart in the marketplace and we look forward to remaining that way. While we do so, we hope to indulge in helping and promoting sporting activities in particular and the indigenous sports that have had a lull for a while,” contended Vieira.
Veteran rider Brian McIntosh commented that the resurgence of the sport and the inclusion of the newcomers’ race mean that all persons with a bike fit for the event can participate.
Cash prizes and trophies will be awarded for the first-, second- and third-place finishers, while fourth through sixth will receive cash prizes only.
Meanwhile Sheik Yassen Promotions has committed to inducting some of the past legends into a Hall-of-Fame, starting with seven persons in captain Mazar Mazaharally, McIntosh, Kevin Jeffrey, Victor Pires, Stanley Ming, Terrance Clarke and Mahesh Premsukh.