SA’S TOP MOTORCYCLE RACERS TO VISIT SA’S TOP MOTORCYCLE RACING CIRCUIT SOUTH Africa’s most prestigious motorcycle racing championships will be contested on the country’s top two-wheeler circuit this Saturday, August 3.
Rounds 11 and 12 of the 2013 South African Motorcycle Racing championships will take place on the Free State Phakisa Raceway. The venue, situated between Welkom and Odendaalsrus, was specifically designed to cater for two-wheeler racing. As a consequence, motorcycle racers love competing there, and this Saturday’s events at Phakisa should be no different. Going to the Free State, Clinton Seller (Czank Kawasaki) leads the year’s Superbike championship by a narrow margin from Chris Leeson (Motorrad BMW) and Nicolas Grobler (Pta North Toyota Kawasaki).
Any of the three riders could spray champagne on Saturday afternoon. Not far behind them should be Ryan Ottens (Motorrad BMW), Dylan White (Brother Yamaha), Ryan van Aswegen (Gem Auto Kawasaki), Trevor Westman (Adrenalin Powersport BMW), Clinton Pienaar (Superbike Magazine BMW), Stephen Steenkamp (Pta North Toyota Kawasaki) and Etienne Nelson (Adrenaline Powersport Yamaha). Returning to the fray after an amazing 250 km/h shunt at the East London Grand Prix circuit last month will be Heinrich Rheeder, on a new BMW. Cam Petersen (Liqui Moly MV Agusta) should be the man to beat in the 600 Supersport category, but he will face incredibly tight competition.
Last month at East London, both 600cc races saw four riders fighting for the lead, and in the final heat, all four were covered by half a second over the finish line. Petersen’s three top adversaries will be Lance Isaacs (Pta North Toyota Kawasaki), Brent Harran (Liqui Moly MV Agusta) and Dean Vos (Brother Yamaha). Others who could join the front bunch will include Nicholas Kershaw (Race Bike Rental Kawasaki), Nicole van Aswegen (Gem Auto Triumph), Brandon Goode (Race Bike Rental Kawasaki) and Gareth Davidson (TK Imports Kawasaki). Both categories will race on Pirelli tyres, with each rider allowed two sets of rubberware for the weekend. The Superbike riders are allowed to change tyres at will on Saturday, but the 600 Supersport competitors have to complete the morning’s official qualifying, plus both of the day’s races on the same two tyres.
“Phakisa is a fantastic circuit for any motorcycle racer, with its combination of fast sweeps, medium pace corners and hairpins designed to test real riding skill,” said Pirelli’s Wayne Doran.
“The circuit does not cause excessive tyre wear, and riders who plan things right, should enjoy full tyre performance in both races.” “We could have one problem – if there is a real Free State cold snap, the low circuit temperatures could cause tyre fragmentation. However, if it happens, it will be the same for everybody, and again come down to riding skill,” Doran added.
