IT'LL NEVER happen of course, but wouldn't it be nice if some of the clowns who treat Bermuda's roads as if they were their own race track, putting their own lives – and more importantly the lives of others – in danger, followed in the footsteps of Antoine Richards.

The young Bermudian raced on the famed Daytona yesterday and again today in his pro debut on the motorcycle circuit.

On a powerful 600cc Suzuki, he's racing at over 120 mph against some of America's top riders.

Richards admitted in a recent interview that he "got the itch" to race motorcyles as a 16-year-old speeding on the Island's streets, but quickly realised he could put that talent to better use.

He took his bike off the road and began racing on Bermuda's quarter-mile track at Southside.

Again that wasn't enough to utilise his obvious racing skills.

"I decided that I'm pretty good riding on the street, I'm going to get myself a 600 and I bought a Yamaha," he said.

That powerful machine was never –going to see a local road, but it was enough to launch a race career in the USA, fulfilling a childhood dream.

And this week in an event that will be shown on the cable TV channel SPEED, it'll be interesting to see how he fares on his debut.

Hopefully, a few of the idiots who think they possess the same talent as they weave their way between cars and trucks at breakneck speed, attempting to smash the sound barrier on their piddling 100cc mopeds, will be watching.

And if they believe they're just as good, maybe they might think about taking the same route as Richards.

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IT'S difficult to argue with the selection panel who voted tennis player Gavin Manders and swimmer Kiera Aitken as the respective Male and Female Athletes of the Year at last Saturday's City Hall presentations.

Both enjoyed stellar years – Manders winning every local tournament he entered and overseas starred in the Davis Cup, taking his record in that prestigious international event to 6-1 and helping Bermuda to advance to Group III.

Aitken, who also lifted the Female Award a year ago, became the first woman to dip under one minute in the 100 metres backstroke and smashed a host of other records at the Spanish Nationals.

In all, 25 athletes or sporting bodies were recognised at Saturday's ceremony.

But there was one glaring omission – another of the Island's top swimmers, Rebecca Sharpe.

At the Carifta Swimming Championships last year, she lifted three gold medals, smashing three records in the process, in the 50, 100 and 200 metres backstroke.

She also qualified for the World Championships.

Not a bad season.

Additionally, there was absolutely no mention of Bermuda's success at the –Island Games in Aland.

Bermuda's gymnasts swept the board, picking up a host of medals and there were others who excelled.

Admittedly, the Games don't attract the world's elite but they are certainly as competitive as Carifta or other –regional sporting events.

Oddly, Bermuda has never embraced these Games and failed to recognise anyone who has made their mark.

Of course that's bound to change when Bermuda hosts the same Games in 2013.

You can bet Government and their Ministers will be falling over themselves to congratulate the team every time the Island wins a medal.

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SO Government invested $11 million for the development of cricket.

And Bermuda Cricket Board –managed to persuade one of the most respected international coaches, David Moore, to take charge of their programme.

But just two weeks before the national team travel to Namibia for one of their most important matches in the last two years – the ICC International Shield – the Department of Immigration, after more than a month, are still mulling over whether they should grant Mr. Moore a work permit.

Make any sense?

ADRIAN ROBSON