Fire Wayne takes the chequered flag in the first race (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)
Fire Wayne plans to release a new song to commemorate his emphatic triumph in Bermuda Motocross Association’s Celebrity Race on Sunday.
The popular Soca singer blitzed a star-studded field to take the chequered flag in both races contested before a large crowd who were treated to thrills and spills on the track at Southside, St David’s.
“I’m definitely going to write a song, ‘The Champion Scrambler Rider’,” he told The Royal Gazette. “I’m going to make sure I say scrambler, too.”
Fire Wayne issued a statement of intent in the opening race, which he led from start to finish.
“I went out from the hole shot and that’s all she wrote,” he said. “Nobody wanted to vote for me on the online poll, so I said ‘all right, I guess I have to show them’, and I showed them,” he said.
L-R: Bermuda Motocross vice-president Jamal Thompson, Fire Wayne, centre, and association president Gannon Trott (Photograph by Colin Thompson)
The singer then proved that his win in the first race was no fluke but he was forced to dig a little deeper this time, coming from behind to again lead the field across the finish to clinch the title.
“It feels good to have won,” he said. “I have always wanted to ride down the track and this is an opportunity that I got and it’s my first time ever riding down here.
L: R: Wayne Caines, Mr Fotogenik, Sakaela Ebbin-Simons, Nick Thomson, sports minister Owen Darrell, Fire Wayne, Nikki Bascome, Karlandra, General Kaution. Sitting: Nadanja Bailey. Missing: Jesse Seymour (Photograph by Colin Thompson)
“This is a big day for me today, so I said I was going to make the best of it and I made it.
“The key to success was staying in front and jumping what you feel like you can jump. I thought I was going to break the bike, but it worked out fine.”
Fire Wayne was denied the opportunity for a hat-trick of victories after the third race was cancelled after some of the competitors had other commitments.
Action from the Celebrity Race (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)
“They were scared and they didn’t want to stay,” he quipped.
Belco president Wayne Caines was second followed by dancehall singer General Kaution in third.
“I was out there cracking everything with no fear,” General Kaution said.
“I was jumping; stay wide or don’t ride, that’s what they told me.
Action from the Celebrity Race (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)
“I know I’m going to feel it tomorrow, but I feel amazing right now.”
The day didn’t go exactly as planned for sports minister Owen Darrell, who had predicted he would be victorious heading into the event but had to settle for seventh instead.
However, he still had cause for celebration after beating multitalented MC and social-media personality Mr Fotogenik in a personal battle between the two rivals.
“Most people would’ve heard of Mr Fotogenik and his personal challenge with me,” he said.
Mr Fotogenik, left, sporting a tee short poking fun at sports minister Owen Darrell’s V50 motorcycle he rode as a teenager (Photograph by Colin Thompson)
“I went easy in the first race to get my feet wet, but in the second race I don’t know what happened to him. I don’t know if he came off the bike but he came last.”
The Minister also had a dig at the winner.
“Congratulations to Fire Wayne, but I’m not sure if that really counts,” he said.
“I came to understand he grew up riding motocross bikes, so he had some experience as well as General Kaution and Jesse Seymour.
Action from the Celebrity Race (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)
“It was a lot of experienced riders on the track that I’m not sure it was a fair advantage, but I was happy to support and had a great time.”
Mr Fotogenik got the better of Darrell in the first race but was denied the sweep after coming off his bike and suffering a mechanical breakdown to finish tenth in the second race.
“I’m a little upset that my bike broke down in the last race, especially more so because I was talking a whole bunch of smack to Minister Owen Darrell before and now he is not going to let me lay that one down,” he said.
It also proved to be an eventful afternoon for professional boxer Nikki Bascome, who came off his bike in both races but still managed to finish fifth.
Action from the Celebrity Race (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)
“It was a rough one but I done my best and had fun,” he said. “I came from behind both times so I didn’t give up and I enjoyed it.”
Influencer Karlandra and Caines also had hearts fluttering after straying off the racetrack in the first race.
“We went the wrong way,” said Karlandra, who finished ninth.
Action from the Celebrity Race (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)
“I was following him [Caines] because I didn’t do the practice race, so it just looked like that was the natural way to turn, but I was able to get back on track and start again.”
Caines added: “I got so excited I had a little mental breakdown. I took that last jump with fear, came around that berm and forgot where I was supposed to go. But I had fun bringing back good memories. No complaints.”
Action from the Celebrity Race (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)
Comedian Nadanja Bailey was happy to achieve his goal of going the distance in both races unscathed to finish sixth.
“I finished my races, didn’t deck out and didn’t come last,” he said.
“That was most important for me. I’m not going to go out there and put shame to my name. My body hurts right now, so I’m going to rest.”
Results
Fire Wayne
Wayne Caines
General Kaution
Nick Thomson
Nikki Bascome
Nadanja Bailey
Owen Darrell
Jesse Seymour
Karlandra
Mr Fotogenik
Sakaela Ebbin-Simons
Results
Fire Wayne
Wayne Caines
General Kaution
Nick Thomson
Nikki Bascome
Nadanja Bailey
Owen Darrell
Jesse Seymour
Karlandra
Mr Fotogenik
Sakaela Ebbin-Simons