The Citizen (KZN)

Only the brave need apply

SUPERGP MOTORCYCLE CHAMPIONSH­IP: BIKERS WILL FACE FASTEST RACING TRACK Super-fast Clint Seller will be the man to beat.

- André de Kock

An event for the brave – that will be the occasion at the East London Grand Prix circuit this weekend, with the venue to host round two of this year’s DEOD SuperGP Motorcycle Racing Championsh­ip.

The event will form part of the 2017 Africa Bike Week in East London. The East London Grand Prix circuit is officially the fastest road racing track in South Africa, with its Potters Pass and Rifle Range sweeps the fastest corners in local motorsport.

SuperGP motorcycle­s go through Potters Pass at around 255km/h, while they tackle the Rifle Range sweep at over 280km/h, going on to top 300km/h before the end of the straight.

Topping the action should be races for the SuperGP brigade, with Clint Seller (MiWay Yamaha R1) the man to beat.

Seller won both of the season-opening races at Killarney three weeks ago, setting the Western Cape circuit’s quickest two-wheeler lap ever.

He must start as this Saturday’s victory favourite, challenged by people like David McFadden (RPM Centre BMW S1000RR), Greg Gildenhuys (Autohaus Towing Kawasaki ZX10R), Michael White (Consortium Shipping Yamaha R1) and Allan Jon Venter (Hygenica Yamaha Racing R1).

Also chasing podium places should be SuperMaste­rs champion Lance Isaacs (SupaBets BMW S1000RR), Heinrich Rheeder (Motorrad BMW S1000RR), Hendrik de Bruin (Yamaha R1) and Johnny Krieger (Hygenica Yamaha R1).

Topping the Super600 entry will be reigning champion Adolf Boshoff (MiWay Yamaha R6), with his closest challenger­s likely to be Hayden Jonas (Samurai Racing Kawasaki ZX6), Blaze Baker (Uncle Andy Suzuki GSXR600), Malcolm Rudman (Montclair Motorcycle­s Kawasaki ZX6), Byron Bester (Hi-Tech Elements Kawasaki ZX6) and Kewyn Snyman (Inex Constructi­on Kawasaki).

Current season points leader Steven Odendaal (Petra Yamaha R6) will not be in the Eastern Cape this weekend.

He will be in Spain for the first race of the defence of his FIM CEV Moto2 European Championsh­ip.

In the SuperJunio­r category the Cape Town race wins were shared by Sam Lochoff (KTM) and Ricardo Otto (Inex Constructi­on KTM).

The two of them, together with Taric van der Merwe (KTM) and Tyreece Robert (KTM) should challenge for the wins in East London.

The national classes will be supported by a full programme of regional and local racing.

As usual, practice and qualifying will take place on Friday with two races for each category on Saturday.

The event will be live streamed on supergp.co.za.

 ?? Pictures: Eric Buijs ?? FAST, SCARY. The SuperGP brigade, here led by Clint Seller on his MiWay Yamaha R1, should reach speeds of over 300 km/h on the East London Grand Prix circuit this weekend.
Pictures: Eric Buijs FAST, SCARY. The SuperGP brigade, here led by Clint Seller on his MiWay Yamaha R1, should reach speeds of over 300 km/h on the East London Grand Prix circuit this weekend.
 ??  ?? CLOSE STUFF. Adolf Boshoff (MiWay Yamaha R6) should be the man to beat in the Super600 races.
CLOSE STUFF. Adolf Boshoff (MiWay Yamaha R6) should be the man to beat in the Super600 races.

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