Three riders are locked in battle for the title lead and at least seven should be able to win races. For those reasons, Rounds 15 and 16 of the 2003 South African Superbike Championship should provide the Vodacom Power Tour’s top spectacle at the Free State Phakisa Raceway next Saturday (October 4). –
– Going to the Free State, defending national Champion Russell Wood tops the title standings, with 201 points on his Autopage Cellular Yamaha. His two closest challengers are Cell C Suzuki racer Hudson Kennaugh and the First Technology team’s Shaun Whyte, respectively with 185 and 182 points to their names. With a total of 40 points available on the day, any of the three riders could leave Phakisa as Championship leader. –
– The fight for race victories will certainly not be confined to Wood, Kennaugh and Whyte. Various other riders should be able and more than willing to upset the title contenders’ best-laid plans. First Technology Yamaha’s Arushen Moodley, who has been threatening to score his first national Championship victory all season, will lead their ranks. Also overdue for a victory is multiple former South African Champion Greg Dreyer on his Autopage Cellular Yamaha and Alex Lenearts (First Technology Yamaha). –
– During a successful Yamaha testing session at the Free State circuit earlier this month, all three riders will be on a mission at Phakisa. So will Cell C Suzuki’s Trevor Crookes, Stewart MacLeod and Noel Haarhoff, with their Suzukis well suited to the circuit’s fast sweeps. Having won a race at Kyalami last month, Greame van Breda (Inala Kawasaki) will want more of the same this time out, backed by his young Inala Kawasaki team mate Garth Norris. –
– A number of Privateer racers could interfere at the front end, led by youngster Sheridan Morias (Teazer’s Kawasaki) and veteran Gavin Ramsay (Kreepy Krauly Yamaha), plus Mad Buzz Ducati racers Clinton Pienaar and Robert Portman. The two Phakisa Superbike races will be respectively held over eight laps and ten laps, with riders required to complete the morning’s Official Qualifying plus both races on the same set of tyres.
