The country’s most spectacular motorsport show will perform in the Eastern Cape next Saturday (October 12), with much at stake. The occasions will be Rounds 17 and 18 of the 2002 South African Superbike Championship at the Port Elizabeth Aldo Scribante circuit. With just six of the year’s 22 races left, three riders representing three different manufacturers are locked in battle for the country’s most prestigious two-wheeler title. –
– Multiple former South African Champion Russell Wood leads with 154 points on his Vodacom Nashua Yamaha. Stalking him, just ten points adrift, is UUNET Ducati team leader Trevor Crookes, with Stewart MacLeod (Cell C Suzuki) also within striking distance on 206 points. With victory in next Saturday’s two Scribante races worth a total of 40 points, none of the three riders can afford any mistakes. –
– Their title fight apart, the top contenders’ plans could be ruined by a number of other competitors. Willing and absolutely able to win will be Cell C Suzuki rider Greg “Tumble” Dreyer, wishing to make a point after four crashes in the last six races. Less dangerous, but potentially as quick, will be works First Technology Honda riders Arushen Moodley and Shaun Whyte, plus Vodacom Nashua Yamaha’s Brad Anasssis. –
– Heading up the Privateer rankings and certainly not intimidated by any of the factory riders will be Noel Haarhoff (DeWalt Suzuki) and Greame van Breda on his Merces Cura Suzuki. They could both stand on the podium, as could factory-backed riders like Hudson Kennaugh (Cell C Suzuki), Alex Lenearts (First Technology Honda) and Vodacom Nashua Yamaha’s Development rider Dino de Wet. Meanwhile, a furious mid-field battle should include Erlang Yamaha riders Gavin Ramsay and Garth Norris, Jason Wessels (UUNET Ducati), veteran Mike Dickenson (DeWalt Ducati), John Oliver (Cell C Suzuki) and Robert Cragg (Suzuki). –
– “The Aldo Scribante circuit is tight and twisty, with one ultra-fast sweep thrown into the equation.” “The venue always produces ultra-close two-wheeler racing, where a single mistake can cost a rider two or three places,” said Mr Norman MacLeod, Chairman of the South African Motorcycle Racing Association. “All the front teams have been testing at Scribante during the past two weeks, with their eventual quickest times differing by hundredth’s of a second.” “They should all quickly find the optimum handling setup during Friday’s practice outings, which promises one of the year’s closest Official Qualifying Sessions on Saturday morning.” “This should guarantee two of the year’s closest races – and in local Superbike Championship terms, that is a massive statement,” he added.
