Motorcycle racer Jevaughn Simons recorded two podium finishes in Salt Lake City, Utah, last weekend to solidify his lead atop the Michelin/WERA National Challenge 600cc Novice Superstock and Superbike Divisions.

The 24-year-old Bermudian took the chequered flag in the Supersport race and then finished second in the Superbike event to cap off an outstanding weekend of racing.

Simons currently leads the Superstock division by a commanding 31 points over nearest rival Joshua Stidham and tops the Superbike standings by 24 points over second-placed rider Sloan Monk with five races remaining on the 2008 schedule.

The Smith's parish resident has been consistent all season and has managed six podium finishes so far, including three wins.

"I knew of the track (Miller Motorsports Park), which is world class, and so my strategy was to go in and keep my bike up on two wheels and try and get on the podium so that I can extend my lead," Simons said yesterday.

With his nearest rivals in the points standings absent from last weekend's event, it was left to the diminutive Simons to take full advantage of the opportunity to stretch his lead – and he did just that convincingly.

"My main competitors were not there to race and so my goal was to extend my lead further. That was my main goal last weekend," he said.

But even in the absences of Stidham and Monk, motorcycle mechanic Simons still had his work cut out for him.

"During practice I was about three seconds slower than the top running guys and so going into the race I was nervous because before then I figured I could run away with it," he said. "I was thinking I might get a fourth or something like that.

"But going into the first race (Superstock) I switched on and put my head down and led from the first lap until the finish. I didn't know I had it in me and it was a pretty convincing win."

Simons also impressed in the Superbike race, despite having to compete at a disadvantage.

"It was actually difficult because I was in a class where I was outpowered. The straightaways (at the race track) are 3,885 feet and so it's a very long straightaway. That's where my rivals made up ground on me," he said.

With five races remaining, Simons, who recently received a $10,000 cash injection from money raised by family members, remains cautiously optimistic he can hold off his rivals and take class honours at the end of the schedule.

"I do feel a lot of pressure now as opposed to the beginning of the season," he admitted, heading into the business end of the campaign.

"At the beginning of the season all I wanted to do was win, win, win. But now that I have the lead all I'm really concerned about is keeping the bike on two wheels and finishing every race.

"I'm not really worried about achieving podium finishes anymore. If I get them, yes, that's nice. But I do want to get points and so that's where my focus now lies."