DeCouto to celebrate birthday on the track
Top motorcycle racer Paul DeCouto will celebrate his 42nd birthday at Miami International Raceway on Sunday doing what he loves to do best racing.The Cycle Care co-owner will once again rub shoulders with some of the best riders the US has to offer in the Florida Championship Series Event sanctioned by Championship Cup Series (CCS).DeCouto, who is enjoying one of his most successful seasons in the sport this year, departed for Florida yesterday where he will also assist with coaching student riders at the Penguin Roadracing School in what promises to be a hectic weekend for the seasoned athlete.“I will be going out on the track leading groups of 4-8 student riders/racers for 15 minute sessions and returning to the pits with them for debriefing, question and answers and critiquing,” he said.“I find this very rewarding as I learn more each time I interact with students. Also this allows me extra track time at slower speeds to loosen myself up physically and mentally for the challenging days ahead.”DeCouto is set to compete in the Expert GTO, Unlimited Supersport, Heavyweight Supersport, Formula 40, Heavyweight Superbike and Unlimited GP Shootout races on his GSXR 1000 and GSXR 750 bikes.This weekend’s event, the last race of the season, will see double points awarded and forecasters predict weather conditions to be ideal for racing.“It seems the Weather Gods will bless this event with lots of warm sunshine with temperatures around the 77 degree mark,” DeCouto said. “The weather is usually great!”The veteran racer proved that he can hold his own competing at this level when he was crowned National Champion in the Formula Expert 40 class during October’s CCS Race of Champions at Daytona International Speedway in Florida.DeCouto’s rich form then spilled over into the WERA Grand National Finals at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia where he posted a remarkable five podium finishes at the racetrack to enhance his status as one of the Island’s leading athletes.