Persaud, Hopkinson, Chase fly Golden Arrowhead high in Panama

– learning experiences for Da Silva, Bridgemohan

The international contingent from the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) made a strong statement at the 2.5-kilometre (km) circuit of Autódromo Panamá during the fourth round of the 2026 Motovelocidad Championship.
Facing tough regional competitors on the fast Panamanian track, Guyana’s motorcycle racers secured multiple podium positions across the board.
In the highly competitive 600cc and 1000cc pre-expert division, Kevin Persaud delivered a brilliant performance to claim a win and a second-place finish in the smaller displacement class on his Yamaha YZF-R6.
After a brilliant qualifying performance the day prior, in which Persaud secured pole position with a blistering lap time of 1:10.061, he was able to hold on until the chequered flag in heat one, finishing ahead of Mateo Castellano, Hopkinson, Jorge Mendieta, and William Ayala.
In heat two, a small mistake cost him the lead, with Castellano getting the win, Hopkinson third, Mendieta fourth, and Alberto Mendez fifth.
After the tabulation of points, Persaud walked away with the overall second-place finish; Castellano was standing on the top step of the podium, having posted the faster times over the two sessions, with Hopkinson completing the rostrum.
Meanwhile, in the Novice 1000cc and 600cc classes, Elwin Chase qualified second on the grid, with Christopher Brijmohan third and Jerry Da Silva fourth; Cristian Henao bagged the smaller displacement pole position.
Henao would ride to a light-to-flag win ahead of Chase in the first heat, with Marcus Guzman, David Melara, Magaly Aguilar and Brijmohan finishing in that order.
Henao returned for a clean sweep of the day, the top two positions unchanged, with Brijmohan up to third, Guzman and Melara demoted to fourth and fifth, ahead of Aguilar.
When the points were tallied, Henao was the clear champion ahead of Chase, Guzman, Brijmohan, and Melara.
The team is slated to return home this week.