The Autopage Cellular Yamaha team accomplished its main 2003 mission at the Port Elizabeth Aldo Scribante circuit on Saturday (November 1). Team leader Russell Wood won both of the day’s Superbike races, to clinch this year’s most prestigious South African two-wheeler Championship. –
– With two of the season’s scheduled 20 Superbike title races left, Wood can no longer be caught on the national points ladder, and he celebrated an unprecedented 14th South African motorcycle racing Championship. –
– Saturday’s victories did not come to Wood on a plate. Following the morning’s Official Qualifying session, the Autopage Cellular Yamaha rider found himself fifth on the starting grid, behind Shaun Whyte (First Technology Yamaha) plus the Cell C Suzuki team’s Trevor Crookes, Noel Haarhoff and Stewart MacLeod. –
– MacLeod, Whyte and Crookes took turns to lead the opening 12-lap race, before Wood managed to take the front spot two tours from the end. He won ahead of main Championship rival Shaun Whyte. –
– Meanwhile, Autopage Cellular Yamaha’s Greg Dreyer produced the ride of the day. Starting from 12th place on the grid, Dreyer blasted through the field, to finally barge into third place in the final corner of the last lap. –
– In the second, 15-lap race Wood and Dreyer worked their way into the two leading places by the twelfth tour. A lap later Dreyer ran wide coming into the pit straight and crashed, suffering a sprained ankle. Wood went on to win narrowly ahead of Shaun Whyte and Trevor Crookes, clinching this year’s title in the process. –
– “I am ecstatic,” the Autopage Cellular Yamaha team captain said afterwards. “My Yamaha went like a rocket when it mattered, and I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Autopage Cellular team for endless hours of hard work.” –
– “It was also gratifying to see my team mate Greg Dreyer return to his former pace, being on hand to assist me while I came under attack from some of the country’s other top riders,” Wood added. –
– The final rounds of this year’s South African Superbike Championship will be held at AA Kyalami on Saturday, November 22.
