Bermuda motorcycle racer Jevaughn Simons, current points leader in the Michelin/WERA National Challenge Series 600cc Novice Superstock and Superbike division, continued his steady march towards a first major championship on US soil in Florida over the weekend.

Competing at the two-mile Jennings GP race track, the 24-year-old Smith's Parish resident posted back-to-back podium finishes that saw him stretch his lead atop the points standings in two separate divisions.

Simons currently leads the Superbike novices by an 11-point margin and has a 22-point cushion over nearest rival Joshua Stidham in the Superstock division.

The diminutive rider led the pack in both of last weekend's races, but was pipped on each occasion by American Reese Wacker, and was denied a fourth title this year in what has so far been a watershed season for the rising star.

Heading into last weekend's Grand Prix, Simons' primary objective was to consolidate his lead in both divisions. And despite twice seeing victory slip through his fingers, runner-up honours seemed to suit the motorcycle mechanic just fine as it kept him well on course for what he hopes will be a maiden championship come season's end.

"Because I am the points leader, I now have to think of the long-term goals and so going into Jennings I just wanted to get podium finishes and finish the race," Simons said. "I just needed to relax and keep the bike on two wheels and finish the race rather than push too hard for a win and maybe crash and end up with no points at all.

"My goal was to race a conservative race and not do anything rash that could cost me points. The race track was a bit slippery in the morning but during the race it was actually nice and dry and treated everyone well."

Simons started third on the grid in the Supertsock race and worked his way to the front before Wacker surged ahead with less than two laps remaining.

In the Superbike race, Simons surrendered the lead mid-way through the ten-lap race after again working his way through the field.

"I led the majority of the laps but in the end he (Wacker) overtook me," Simons said.

Also competing in Florida last weekend was 750cc Expert Supersport rider Antoine Richards who had to withdraw from his race because of mechanical problems.

"My weekend was pretty rotten. I was plagued with an electrical problem all weekend which made my bike uncompetitive and caused me not to finish my race," Richards lamented.

But Richards enjoyed meeting up with old pal Simons at the track where the two friends shared valuable information.

"I had a great time catching up with Jevaughn last weekend. The team that he rides with, AB-1 Motorsports, are a great bunch of guys. They run a very dedicated and professional race programme," he added.

Simons races out of Alabama for team owner Aaron Brown, a past fabricator for late Nascar legend Dale Earnhardt.

"They work hard and deserve to win championships. Hopefully one day I will get the opportunity to work with them as well," Richards said. "Jevaughn and I ran very similar lap times before my battery died, effectively ending my weekend.

"We were trading information on different lines around the track and I'd like to think I helped him drop his best lap time. Just having a fellow Bermudian in the paddock naturally brought out our competitiveness. It's all about being able to go back home and say who was faster on the day!"

Simons added: "It was good to see another Bermudian out there. Antoine had a lot of good advice for me which was a great asset.

"Unfortunately for him, though, he was plagued the entire weekend with electrical problems and actually had to end up borrowing a battery."