This past weekend saw round one of the National Superbike Championship get underway in the mining town of Welkom and more specifically at Phakisa Freeway. Forming part of the days festivities was the first round of the newly established budget racing series for youths, the Super Junior National Challenge and the Super M National Championship.
Super Bike – SuperM
Beau Levy of Motos Klerksdorp made easy pickings of the Super M class over the weekend leading every session and race to take overall honours on his RC8. This bodes extremely well for last years runner up in the championship and his title hopes.
Super Bike – Super Juniors
During the early-morning qualifying session. Dorren Loureiro (RAD Moto KTM), Cameron Aitken (RAD Moto KTM) and William Friend (RAD Moto KTM) were substantially quicker than the other riders but were within tenths of a second of each other making for a three way battle at the sharp end of the field. The mid pack was as close with Luca Coccioni, Jenna Ekhout (RAD Moto KTM) and Dominic Doyle also within a fraction of each others times. New comer to racing, Reinhald Joubert (Motos Klerksdorp KTM) made gains every lap finding the transition from his 675 down to the 390 a little tough having to rely on corner speed to make a good lap. However under the guidanbce of SuperM star, Beau Levy, Joubert is sure to propser soon enough.
Unfortunately for Friend, his bike was struggling to engage gears and the clutch seemed to be playing up so he had to start from pit lane. This made for a two-way fight for the lead for the first five laps of the race between Loureiro and Aitken. Then suddenly after finishing the half way mark, Aitken had a massive tank slapper going into turn one after trying to make a huge move to gain time on the dominant Lorreiro but alas it was too much for hime and his steed and and both rideer and bike hurtled into the outfield. Cam suffered light injuries but was not able to race again on the day.
Lorreiro won the first heat in emphatic style and showed just why he is competing in Europe in 2015. Friend worked his way through from last place to cross the line in second with Luca Coccioni on the final podium step. Dominic Doyle took fourth, followed by Jenna Eekhout and Reinhald Joubert rounding out the top six.
What with the fact that Aitken was sat with his arm in a sling, it was left to Loureiro and Friend to fight it out for ultimate glory in race two. Friends issues had been sorted and Loureiro had a glint of confifence in his Carl-Fogarty-like eyes.
Loureiro and Friend stamped their authority within the first lap checking out from their fellow SuperJunior competitors and had a race long tussle. Dorren looked to have it in the bag but Friend had the lead going into the final turn leaving Loureiro to take a last lap last corner lunge at the leader and unfortunately the front of his bike washed out on the final corner allowing Friend to take the flag. Loureiro re-mounted but had to settle for sixth. Coccioni and Doyle finished in second and third with Eekhout fourth and Joubert in fifth.
Being production bikes, KTM has once again compounded the fact that their bikes are indeed READY TO RACE straight out of the crate. The next round of the DEOD SuperGP Champions Trophy will be held at Zwartkops outside Pretoria on the 12 April 2015.
- For info on how to ride, contact KTM South Africa.
- Special thanks go out to RAD Moto KTM, Motos Klerksdorp and Automotorcycles for fielding riders in the class.
