Burden on Summerbell, Rae

Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

With technicalities barring Doug Gore from representing the nation at this year's Caribbean Motor Racing Championship, the burden now rests on the shoulders of David Summerbell and Peter Rae, who are charged with the responsibility of lifting Jamaica from the jaws of defeat.

The contingent which includes team manager Hilary Jardine, along with fellow competitors Andrew Anderson, George Bayley, Dean Shaw, Summerbell and Rae, plus their mechanics; and motorcyclists Stefan Chin, Harlequin Rodney and Dwight Smart, leaves the island today for Barbados, where they will contest the second leg of the championship.

Jamaica is trailing Barbados by a mere point in their battle for the regional title, while Summerbell leads the race for the regional driver's title.

Going for the points

"We are taking five drivers and three motorcyclists because we want to amass enough points, hoping by the time we leave Barbados we are leading," said Jardine," president of the Jamaica Race Drivers' Club.

The event is scheduled to get under way on Sunday and the Jamaican drivers/riders must come away with a podium finish if they are to improve their chances of victory.

"It is going to be a challenging task for us," says Summerbell, in an interview with The Gleaner yesterday.

He believes that, based on the condition of the Barbados track, Shaw has a grand opportunity to upset the apple cart.

The battle for supremacy will be between Guyana's Andrew King and Mark Veier, Barbados' Mark Maloney and Stuart Williams, and Jamaica's Summerbell.

"Stuart has been producing some very fast times on the Barbados track since January. He is the man to beat. Endurance is going to be the key. I am hopeful and just want at least a podium finish," admitted Summerbell.

Rae says he has corrected the problems he had with his RX7 Mazda at the last Dover race meet on August 7.