Joel Jackson took the victory in a historic manner over 2024 Team Streetz dexterity champion driver Rajendra Jadusingh as the 2025 dexterity season kicked off on Saturday, July 5 at the Palisadoes International Raceway, Kingston, with Asphalt Assault.

“It feels good to have won. It’s a bit of an odd feeling that I only completed the first run and it was good enough; never had that happen before in 21 years of competing,” Jackson told the Jamaica Observer’s weekly Auto magazine.

Jackson placed his winning time in his first run at the course. Posting a 0:45.900-second time in his Mazda Miata put him right at the top of the leaderboard, setting up an immediate battle with Jadusingh, the pre-event favourite. The following attempt was slower, and with car issues, Jackson left the venue before the end.

“The fuel level was low and it looks like on the last 360 degree turn the fuel in the tank sloshed away from the pickup so it sucked in air and stalled it. The car started up fine afterwards, but seeing as I still had the fastest time and the nearest gas station was all the way in Harbour View, I elected to not run again,” explained Jackson.

The 45-second mark proved elusive, with only Jadusingh coming close.

“I’m a bit disappointed. I won my class, front-wheel drive, and second overall is not a bad result by any means, but I felt I could have done better,” said Jadusingh.

Recognising that the course was what he termed excessively biased towards rear-wheel drive cars, given its figure eight and multiple 360-degree turns, Jadusingh outfitted the rear of his Mini One with a set of space saver spare tyres to deal as best as he could with the situation. He made full use of all three-run attempts, clocking in at 0:46.977 seconds on the third try, putting him second on the podium.

“Joel is a very good driver, that’s the first most obvious thing. But his car is vastly more suitable to dexterities than mine,” he said.

Both men are committed to the dexterity series, given that there is only one more shot, as Saturday’s event is one of the two dexterity events Team Streetz plans to hold in 2025.

“Team Streetz is only having one more dexterity for the year in November. The plan is to be there. I’d like to have a dexterity champion trophy for once,” Jackson said.

For Jadusingh, the prospect of a hat-trick of dexterity titles awaits.

“Essentially, the car, where it is now, is where it will be. I’ve won with it two years so far, and I won my class again this time with second overall. I’m not going backwards by any means, so I’m going to make the best of it,” Jadusingh said.

Jordan Newman took the remaining podium position. Completing the top five finishers were Stephen Dixon and Jamoy Livingston.

Christopher James of Team Streetz marked the event a success.

“It delivered all we had hoped. We promised an epic event, and an epic event was delivered. We had brand-new drivers, a whole heap of rookies, and everybody enjoyed themselves, and they did well. We had an excellent turnout, and that’s even better. So, we give God thanks. It’s going well. We have new sponsors that have stepped up and have come to see what we’re doing and what we’re about. And our existing sponsors have shown they’re serious about road safety and grass roots motorsports,” said James.

Jamoy Livingston impresses in his RWD Toyota Starlet. (Photo: Rory Daley)