Thrills and spills at SuperGP
FIVE-TIMES SA CHAMPION WILL AIM TO DEFEND HIS TITLE IN PREMIER RACE Michael White, who ended past two seasons in top three, is stiff competition.
This year’s South African motorcycle racing championship will get under way this Saturday, with Zwartkops Raceway near Pretoria hosting the opening rounds of 2018 SuperGP Champions Trophy series.
In addition to the regular national and regional classes that make up the SuperGP series, several additional motorcycle classes will compete.
In the premier SuperGP class, five-times SA champion Clint Seller (King Price Extreme Yamaha R1) will be out to defend the title he won last year. Zwartkops gates will be open at 7am, with racing to start at 10am. Tickets are R100 online from Ticketpros.co.za or at the gate.
Michael White (Consortium Shipping Yamaha R1) has ended the past two seasons in the top three in the championship and he should provide Seller with stiff competition.
Other podium contenders should be David McFadden (RPM Centre Kawasaki ZX10), Morne Geldenhuis (Hi-Tech Elements Yamaha R1), Dylan Barnard (Shop 74 Yamaha R1), Garick Vlok (Shop 74 Yamaha R1), Gavin Upton (Shop 74 Yamaha R1) and Heinrich Rheeder (Motorrad BMW S1000RR).
The Super600 class should again provide spectacular action and one thing is certain – there will be a new champion in 2018. 2017 winner Steven Odendaal is now competing on the Moto2 world championship.
Blaze Baker has joined the King Price Extreme Yamaha outfit and will be hoping the R6 gives him the title that just eluded him last season. Adolf Boshoff (Uncle Andy Suzuki), Hayden Jonas (Samurai Yamaha R6) and Byron Bester (Hi-Tech Elements Kawasaki ZX6) are among those who will be challenging him for the top spot.
Others to watch include Ricardo Otto (ORT-Online.co.za Yamaha R6), Gareth Gehlig (Formula Autos Kawazaki ZX6), Aiden Liebenberg (Shop 74 Yamaha R6), Brandon Staffen (AJH Cooling Kawasaki ZX6), and Luca Coccioni (Monroe Kawasaki ZX6).
After years of running as a single make category, the junior class has changed. It will now be known as Super300 and run on similar rules to those of the world SuperSport 300 championship.
Taric van der Merwe (Evolve Nutrition Yamaha R3) should be a favourite, but he will have to fight 010-492-5281
Edited by André de Kock andrédk@citizen.co.za
off Kewyn Snyman (ORT-Online KTM RC390) and Deegan Claasens (Nini Nine Kawasaki 300).
The national categories will be supported by regional and club classes which include Thunderbikes, BOTTS, Sub-10 Superbikes and the Bridgestone Challenge. –