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Hitting nearly 200mph on a 1,000cc bike may not seem like the perfect way to get ready to race in Bermuda, but Paul DeCouto says the fast speeds overseas helps make him a better racer.

DeCouto is continuing his series of overseas tune-up races this weekend for the upcoming motorbike racing season. He will race this weekend at the Carolina Motorsports Park on both a Yamaha r6 600cc and a Yamaha R1 1,000cc bike. After he finished there, he will travel to Summit Point Raceway for another set of races.

"I've been doing the whole series of races this year to get ready for our season here. I'm just trying to get some practice in now so when the season starts I'll be nice and fresh."

DeCouto said he will be up against some of the best riders in the States. He hasn't won any races but has had some respectable showings, with his best being a fifth out of about 60 bikes.

"It can be intimidating out there because this bike is the fastest I've ever ridden. The top speed can get up to about 195mph," DeCouto said.

The racing is completely different from Bermuda - the bikes are faster, the tracks are longer and there are more competitors out on the track. DeCouto said it takes a bit of adjustment to get used to.

"Here it's stop and go. You point and shoot, then you're slowing down on the brake. Out there the bike gets to a lot more speed. You have to adjust the suspension and the set up of the bike. It's not just about going fast, it's about making the bike feel comfortable and stable at those speeds.

"If it's not adjusted to your weight and riding style, then the bike is going to start shaking."

He said racing overseas helps him for the coming season because everything in Bermuda seems slow-mo in comparison.

"It brings everything down in perspective," DeCouto said. "Here you think you're going fast, but after being out there, you realize it's not as fast."

He said the warm-up races would help him brake later in Bermuda because he'll have more time to slow down.

"I'll be braking a little later into the corner, which will give me a better corner speed and a later apex in the corner and I come out a lot faster."

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