Bikers to be tested by endurance race

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30: Bermuda’s street bike riders are known for their speed, but how will they handle endurance?

That question will be answered in a first ever four-hour race.

Teams of riders will challenge each at the Bermuda Motor Sports Park in February for cash prizes.

Shannon Caisey, president of the Bermuda Motorcycle Racing Club, said the four-hour marathon race will test riders in a way they’ve never been tested before.

Caisey said: “A team will have to have a minimum of two riders and a maximum of four riders for a four-hour time frame.

“We are hoping this will drive up some more interest in the club and get the adrenaline pumping.

“Plus this will happen in our off-season so it will give everyone something to look forward to.

“This will help boost the interest in the club and keep it vibrant.”

Caisey said there would be a prize purse for first, second and third for the different classes and an overall winner from the entrance fees.

Flip-flopping

Caisey said it did not matter how long each rider on the team was on the bike as long as every rider had a turn.

He said one rider could be on the bike for an hour before deciding to rest a bit and the next rider would not have to do an hour stint.

“If the next guy wanted to do a half hour, he could do that and they could keep flip-flopping and switching back and forth.

“Obviously, the last man standing will receive all the glory by taking the chequered flag.”

The BMRC president added an exciting feature would be the bikes would have to make pit stops to refuel. He estimates some of them could have to stop up to eight times over the course of the four hours.

“There’s going to be a lot of strategy involved as to when to do the pit stops to refuel the bike and check the tyres.

“The fastest bike may not win overall so it will give everybody fair shake at taking the bike at the end of the day.”

Caisey said he expects his Pizza House team to compete as well as Team Tuned, Wilson Racing, and 911 Racing. He is hopeful teams from LDR and Sub Zero will also turn up the heat on the day.

Some of those teams may have two or more entries depending on class.

He said registration for the event would begin in December.

“The more bikes, the more interesting it is going to be.

“It’s not going to be limited to race bikes. We figure we’ll have some street bikes as well. There may be some Scoopy 100s or scooters that will be taken to the track.”