The Citizen (KZN)

Seller shows why he is king

NEW CHAMPION WINS BOTH RACES AT FREE STATE CIRCUIT Claimed his fifth SA championsh­ip title after setting Friday’s qualifying lap.

- Motorcycle Racing Correspond­ent

The current king of local motorcycle racing showed why he deserves to wear the crown at the Free State Phakisa Raceway on Saturday. Clint Seller (MiWay Yamaha R1) won both SuperGP races at the seventh round of the 2017 DEOD SuperGP Championsh­ip.

In the process, he claimed his fifth South African motorcycle championsh­ip title.

Seller, who had a comfortabl­e title points lead at the start of the weekend, set Friday afternoon’s quickest qualifying lap.

He then led Saturday’s opening race from start to finish, followed over the finish line by Greg Gildenhuys (Transport.co.za Kawasaki ZX10R), Michael White (Consortium Shipping Yamaha R1), David McFadden (Sandton Auto BMW S1000RR), Brandon Goode (Linex Yamaha R1) and AJ Venter (Hygenica Yamaha R1).

Veteran Lance Isaacs (Supabets BMW S1000RR) raced the leaders until he outbraked himself into turn three and crashed out.

Seller repeated the feat in race two, clinching this year’s title with two races left to run.

He was chased to the flag by Gildenhuys, McFadden, White, Adolf Boshoff (MiWay Yamaha R1) and AJ Venter.

Beau Levey (Motos Blu Cru Yamaha R1) took both SuperMaste­rs race wins from Heinrich Rheeder (BMW Motorrad S1000RR) and Johnny Krieger (Hygenica Yamaha R1).

This leaves the trio with just two points between them heading into the final two races of the title chase.

Former champion Steven Odendaal (Petra Yamaha R6) dominated Super600 proceeding­s. Setting the pole position by a two-second margin on Friday afternoon, he went on to win Saturday’s first race with ease.

He was followed by Hayden Jonas (MiWay Yamaha R6), Aiden Liebenberg (Fercor Constructi­on Kawasaki ZX6), Malcolm Rudman (Montclair Kawasaki ZX6), Hayden Jonas (MiWay Yamaha R6), Aiden Liebenberg, William Friend (Uncle Andy Suzuki GSXR600) and Blaze Baker (Uncle Andy Suzuki).

Odendaal also won race two effortless­ly, this time leading home Jonas, Baker, Jesse Boshoff (Phoenix Payroll Kawasaki ZX6), Byron Bester (Hi-Tech Elements Kawasaki ZX6) and Friend.

Though he will miss the final two races of the season due to overseas commitment­s, Odendaal now enjoys a massive championsh­ip points advantage, and he will remain the title favourite.

Ricardo Otto (Inex Constructi­on KTM390) won the first SuperJunio­r race from Taric van der Merwe (Evolve Nutrition KTM390), Luca Coccioni (KTM390) and Tyreece Robert (Uncle Andy KTM390).

Van der Merwe won the next time out, chased by Otto, Coccioni and Robert.

Red Star Raceway will host the final round of the DOED SuperGP Championsh­ip on September 23.

 ?? Pictures: Eric Buijs ?? THE KING. Clint Seller (MiWay Yamaha R1) scored his fifth South African motorcycle championsh­ip at Phakisa in the Free State on Saturday.
Pictures: Eric Buijs THE KING. Clint Seller (MiWay Yamaha R1) scored his fifth South African motorcycle championsh­ip at Phakisa in the Free State on Saturday.
 ??  ?? DOMINANT. Steven Odendaal (Petra Yamaha R6) won both the Super600 races with ease.
DOMINANT. Steven Odendaal (Petra Yamaha R6) won both the Super600 races with ease.

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