June 14, 2013 at 3:24 p.m.
Paul Decouto will be pushing to be number one this weekend with a solid ride in Richmond, Virginia.
Decouto is second in the American Superbike Racing Association’s 1000cc SuperStock Expert Class.
He currently trails Eric Helmbach from Chester, New Jersey by just two points.
Decouto told the Bermuda Sun his son picked him up at the airport in Baltimore.
“What better way to spend Father’s Day then with the two things I love most — bike racing and my son.”
There are eight races in the season with racing this weekend at Virginia International Raceway and the season concluding in October at Daytona.
Decouto, who is riding a Suzuki GSXR 1,000, said experts from club races compete at the semi-pro level.
“I’m not sure I’m going fully professional yet because there’s a lot of responsibility, but I am looking to win a semi-pro national championship.”
Decouto has a good start to the season to accomplishing his goal. He was second in the first race in March and was fifth in the race over the May 24th weekend in spite of him having to start last on the grid. “I could have placed higher in that one,” Decouto said.
He was out on the track qualifying “when I was one lap in and my gear shifter broke.
“So I came in to the pit to fix it, but I wasn’t allowed to go to the pit because the race officials don’t allow you to modify your bike during qualifying.
“I didn’t get disqualified, but I had to start at the back of the grid. I started in last place and I made it up to fifth out of 20-some riders.
“I believe I could have placed first, second or third had I been able to run qualifying, but I’ll take fifth.
“I made a mistake and I’ve learned from it and still got fifth and points.”
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