With the country’s premier motorcycle championship already decided, it’s up to the remaining riders to fight for honour in the next two rounds of the SA Superbike Championship on at Kyalami this weekend.
With the country’s premier motorcycle championship already decided, it’s up to the remaining riders to fight for honour in the next two rounds of the SA Superbike Championship on at Kyalami this weekend.
After nine wins and a second place in the ten races thus far, Cell C Suzuki’s Hudson Kennaugh enjoys a healthy lead in the championship. He is followed by his Cell C team mate Trevor Crookes and going into rounds 11 and 12 of the competition, a number of riders could derail the Suzuki team’s prolific performances.
First Technology Honda’s Sheridan Morias has challenged the Suzuki machines on various occasions and the 18-year-old’s first victory cannot be far off. Backing him up are team mates Arushen Moodley and Shaun Whyte, all riding new Honda CBR 1000 RR machines.
Autopage Cellular Yamaha’s Greg Dreyer should match the Suzukis in terms of sheer power, but nursing broken ribs and a hand injury should complicate matters for the rider. Team mate and current SA champion Russell Wood, piloting a similar Yamaha R1, could set the pace too.
Kawasaki’s ZXR 1000 Ninja has been extremely quick under the guidance of privateers Robert Cragg, Stewart MacLeod and Garth Norris in their Arlen Ness colours. Other privateers who should score points are Gavin Ramsay and Graeme van Breda (Kreepy Krauly Bioguard), Charles Grassie and Donovan Fourie (Bike SA/USN Suzuki), Jason Wessels (Motorcycle Toy Store Suzuki) and Alex Lenearts (Big Boy Scooters Suzuki).
The Mecer Ducati team has yet to make a mark on the season, but the team has been working hard on the 999S models of Lance Isaacs and Robert Portman, and results should be visible soon.
The men to beat in the 600cc Supersport category are Darryn Upton (Kreepy Krauly Bioguard Yamaha R6), Clinton Seller (Sel Mar Aluminium Suzuki) and Gareth Agnew on his Honda 600 F4.