Expert motorcycle racer Paul DeCouto made his presence felt at Roebling Road Raceway at the weekend.The 43-year-old Bermudian blew away the competition to take the chequered flag in the Champions Cup Series (CCS) Expert Formula 40 event.He also placed third among a formidable field in the American Sportbike Racing Association (ASRA) Pro Superstock event to cap a satisfying weekend of racing at the Georgia-based racetrack.DeCouto led the six-lap Expert Unlimited GP ASRA Pro Superstock race which was the main event of the weekend but was ultimately pipped at the line.“I was racing against highly modified GP specified bikes so I had to use strategy to get past them as they are so much faster on the straightaways,” he said. “I was in third place after the fifth lap and was right behind the leaders and passed both of them on lap six hoping to put enough distance between me and them before the finish line.“I came around the final turn in first place and just as I approached the finish line two bikes passed me so I settled for third.”Pro rider Tim Bemisderfer won the ASRA Pro Superstock event.“Tim is top dog in ASRA Pro Superstock and a seasoned veteran so I’m proud and very excited to be able to compete against him,” DeCouto added. “My main focus was to do well in the ASRA Pro Superstock race and placing third against 15 other national level competitors is more than I expected.”DeCouto started the ASRA Pro Superstock race beside Bemisderfer in the front row after posting the second fastest qualifying time.As well as producing two podium displays, the local rider lowered his fastest lap time at Roebling Road Raceway after completing a lap in a blistering one minute and 12 seconds during the ASRA Pro Superstock event.“The ASRA Pro Superstock track record is 1:11 so I was only one second off,” he said.DeCouto won the Expert Formula 40 event by more than a 20 second margin.The top local rider managed to put in a good showing even though his modified Cycle Care Racing Limited GSXR 1000 was not running at its best.“The motor is not running how it should and the lack of speed is really making me work in the corners,” he said. “But I’m happy with my overall performance.“This is the first ASRA race of the season and I’m confident that I can maintain good results throughout the season. It will be a lot of hard work and travelling, but that’s the name of this game.”