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Team Tuned Motorcycle Racing's championship challenges started at the Bermuda Motorsports Park in Southside, St. Davids. The first race event of the Bermuda Motorcycle Racing Club's National Championship Series got off to a great start with a large crowd, cool weather and intense motorcycle racing action.
Shae Darrell led the charge for Team Tuned within the GP70 classification. Darrell, who finished 2nd overall in 2009, was determined to take this year's crown from Jazary Caisey who won the classification in 2009. In race one Darrell got a great start off the line and led into turn one. The classification was combined with the GP80 riders whom Darrell set his sight on competing against as he blitzed the entire field of GP70 riders from start to finish. Darrell's first win of the season was repeated in identical form in race 2 as he walked away with the double-win and the championship lead after the first event of the season.
Bruce Degrilla Jr. and Cody Sousa-Saints represented Team Tuned within the GP125 classification. Although both riders were competing under the same racing team there were no friendships on the race track when the green flag dropped at the start of the race! Degrilla Jr., the 2009 GP125 Champion, looked to start his championship defense in fine form as he and Andrew Decosta (the 2008 GP125 Champion) battled head to head at the front of the pack. Sousa-Saints was not too far behind the lead battle in 3rd position as he was competing in his first race within the classification. With an intense battle raging between Degrilla Jr. and Decosta corner after corner in race one Degrilla Jr. looked to have the win secured leading into the first corner of the last lap. Unfortunately a risk move by Decosta saw him crash out into Degrilla Jr. taking them both out of the race for the victory. Sousa-Saints reaped in his teammates sorrows as he went on to win his first race in the GP125 classification! Derilla remounted and was able to bring the bike home in fourth.
Race two in the GP125 classification was just as intense though this time Sousa-Saints decided that he would join in the battle for the win making it a three-way battle for victory. Decosta, Degrilla and Sousa-Saints all battled head to head for several laps until Degrilla was able to make a pass for the lead and put some distance between him and the pack. Sousa-Saints followed in his team-mates trails but was unable to match his pace as Degrilla went on to win the second race of the day whilst Sousa-Saints secured 2nd position.
Cyril Whitter III represented Team Tuned within the 600 Superbike classification. Whitter III has been coaching the riders within Team Tuned since its creation in 2007 but has now decided to rejoin the racing ranks alongside his other duties within the team. Rejoining in the sports premier class though was no easy feat as Whitter III lined up against the 2008 Superbike Champion Paul Decouto amongst other worthy competitors. Race one saw Whitter III start from 4th on the grid. Making up a few positions by turns 1 and 2, Whitter III was able to position himself in 2nd place behind Paul Decouto on lap one. Pushing hard in his debut race within the classification Whitter III attempted to keep Decouto within his sights throughout the race but was unable to mount a challenge for the win. Crossing the line in second in his first race was admirable as he completed a similar task in race 2 and end the day 2nd Overall in the Superbike Championship Standings leading into the next race event.
Overall the team achieved 4 Wins, 3 second place finishes and is leading 2 National Championships after the first race event of the BMRC National Championship Series.
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