Summerbell

Jamaica's David Summerbell proved why he has been rated among the top contenders for the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) title, when he gave a scintillating performance at the Bushy Park race track in Barbados to maintain his lead in the regional competition.

After a mishap during the warm-up lap for the first of his three races on Sunday, Summerbell bounced back to register a win, then placed second to push his lead to 48 points, eight more than Barbados' Mark Maloney.

"My heart dropped after the accident in the first race, knowing all that we had put in. Thanks to my mechanical team, which worked feverishly so that the car could be ready for the other two races. I felt really great," commented Summerbell, who returned to the island yesterday.

Without his new sponsor, Total, Summerbell would not have been able to make the trip, following his excellent performance in the first meet at Dover, where he won all three races.

"We are truly proud of him and committed to stand by him through the championship and future events. We are fully supporting him," said a jubilant Andrea Morgan, who is the head of Team Summerbell at sponsors Total.

According to a report published in Starbroek News yesterday, Sunday's CMRC races were marked by grudges and old grievances, a gesture which was evident from the first race which saw two drivers - defending champion Stuart Maloney of Barbados, and Summer-bell - being sent back to the pit for damage on their cars which occurred during their lap behind the pace car.

The report further stated that with the crowd on its feet, none of the Caribbean's top drivers failed to deliver in the first race, which saw Maloney of Barbados claiming the chequered flag and the Guyanese pair of Kevin Jeffrey and Andrew King finishing second and third, respectively.

The same thing followed in the other races and in one instance, King's car was literally torn into pieces due to the strain placed upon it by the other cars.

With the defending champion, Stuart Maloney, already out of the championships, Summerbell, who arrived in Barbados leading on points, was able to build on it well, with Mark Maloney gaining as well.

The championship is scheduled to conclude in Guyana in November.