The Yamaha team has been working on its machines during the long break since the last meeting and are hoping to extend their lead in the South African Superbike Championship at Kyalami on Saturday.
The Yamaha team has been working on its machines during the long break since the last meeting and are hoping to extend their lead in the South African Superbike Championship at Kyalami on Saturday.
Autopage Cellular Yamaha team captain Russell Wood leads the standings after four wins from eight starts. He has a total of 125 Championship points, while Shaun Whyte of the First Technology Yamaha team has 100 points and Cell C Suzuki’s Hudson Kennaugh has 98.
With a total of 40 points up for grabs at Kyalami, Wood wants to win the maximum amount. “A championship lead at the halfway point of the season means very little, one retirement can see it disappear, while two good runs by any of the top opposition could see them snatch it from you,” he said.
“Therefore, we have been hard at work since the previous Vodacom Power Tour meeting at East London on May 24. We have fitted our machines with Yamaha’s homologated Power Command system, which adjusts the engine’s fuel injection electronically to cope exactly with every possible revolution increment.”
Wood and team-mate Greg Dreyer tested the new system at Killarney circuit recently. “We need to have the Yamahas running faultlessly by Friday, when we shall get our first opportunity to test them on the Kyalami circuit.”
Wood expects his toughest challenge to come from the Cell C Suzuki and First Technology Yamaha riders. “Having recovered from his early-season crash injuries, hopefully Greg Dreyer will race at the front-runners’ pace, so that we can meet the various challenges as a team,” he said.