Monster Energy SuperGP Champions Trophy makes history in KZN

The second half of the 2014 national motorcycle circuit racing championships – the Monster Energy SuperGP Champions Trophy – sees the long-awaited return of national championship circuit racing to KwaZulu-Natal after a break of more than 25 years. The KwaZulu-Natal SuperGP takes place on a brand new circuit laid out on Runway South of the old Durban International Airport on Saturday and Sunday (August 23 and 24).

After four rounds of the inaugural new-look all-motorcycle series – at Phakisa Freeway in the Free State, Red Star Raceway in Mpumalanga, Killarney circuit in Cape Town and the old grand prix circuit in East London – all three race categories have clear leaders, but the competition remains close and the quality of riding is of the highest class.

The headline act is the Monster Energy SuperGP, a unique South African national championship category for 1 000 cc base-level evo rules machines with limited modifications.

The support categories include Super600, like SuperGP a national championship for base-level 600 cc evo rules bikes with less modifications than the previous Supersport category. Rounding out the menu is the new SuperM, which carries challenge status and covers  entries from Super600M, which is equivalent to the Supersport category for modified machines; Superbikes, the existing category for modified 1 000 cc machines; SuperMasters, for SuperGP riders aged over 35 on 1 000 cc bikes complying with the Superbikes technical regulations; and SuperTwins, which caters for 1 000 to 1 200 cc twin-cylinder modified machines.

All rounds follow the format of the FIM Superbike World Championship, with practice and qualifying on Saturday and racing on Sunday.

Four-wheeled racing will also be included on the programme for the first time this season. “The Monster Energy SuperGP Champions Trophy is normally an all-bike weekend of racing,” said Anthony Lauter, Executive Director of GAS Sports, managers and promoters of the national motorcycle championships. “Because we will be staging our fifth round on a  ‘green’ circuit, that is one that has never been raced on before, we need to lay down some rubber for traction and ensure that the competing bikes can achieve safe grip on the tarmac.

“So we have invited the Porsche Club to be a part of the weekend’s entertainment and will be staging a demonstration of the club’s exciting Challenge series with two races on Saturday, in between practice and qualifying for Sunday’s six bike races. In addition, there will be a stunt bike show performed by XDL Super Stunt on Saturday and Sunday.

Clint Seller is the man in SuperGP. Despite seeing a run of three successive wins in SuperGP come to an end in the previous round in East London, when Lance Isaacs upset the Seller apple cart with a fine first win on the Black Swan Energy BMW S1000RR, the reigning Superbike champion enjoys a healthy 27-point lead over Brent Harran (Mantella Trading Kawasaki ZX10). This is thanks to six wins and a second from eight starts. Isaacs is third, six points behind Harran, and these three riders can be expected to deliver the same kind of world-class performances that had the Buffalo City fans on their feet.

Other podium contenders this weekend include Kawasaki riders Brandon Goode (CJ Auto/Network Blue ZX10) Ronald Slamet (Novel Ford/Mike Hopkins ZX10) and Garrick Vlok (ZX10).

Six wins from eight starts – the last four in a row – see Steven Odendaal (PS Race! Kawasaki ZX6RR) in control of the Super600 championship at the halfway stage with 179 points. A big lead of 59 points – equivalent to more than two race wins – separates him from second-placed Dean Vos (Emtek/Brother Yamaha R6), who has five podiums to his credit and two runner-up finishes in rounds two and four.

Matthew Scholtz (Mantella Trading Kawasaki ZX6RR) is third with 116 points despite two DNFs – in round two at Red Star and in round four in East London. Anthony Shelley (Fercor Projects Kawasaki ZX6RR) and reigning Supersport champion Cameron Petersen (Emtek/Brother Yamaha R6) are the only other riders to have stood on the top step of the podium this season and are currently fourth and fifth respectively in the championship with 90 and 87 points respectively. Petersen, in particular, will be hoping to add a rich points haul after two uncharacteristic DNFs in round four.

Kyle Robinson (Fantech Kawasaki ZX10) came back to the SuperM Challenge with a bang after missing round three in Cape Town, winning both races in East London and taking his points total to 140, a healthy 46 ahead of second-placed Justin Gillensen (Portable Shade Kawasaki ZX10R). Beau Levey (Motos KTM Klerksdorp KTM RCB 1190) is third with 81 points, 13 behind Gillensen and just two ahead of Janine Davies (Enbridge Torque-Sure Consultants BMW S1000RR).

The sole female rider was the recipient of Levey’s generosity and fine sportsmanship in East London, when he loaned her his spare bike for the second race after Davies crashed her BMW at speed through the infamous Potter’s Pass. This enabled the plucky lady to score some valuable points and stay in contention for a top-three finish in the SuperM Challenge.

Two high-profile first-time entries this year in SuperM see Sheridan Morais and Chris Leeson line up on the grid this weekend on Kawasaki ZX10 1 000 cc machines backed by Pride Logistics, Cazzmania Signs and EmTek Racing. Morais, 29, was SA Superbike champion in 2005, 2008 and 2009 and Supersport champion in 2009 and is currently contesting the FIM Superbike World Championship on a privateer Iron Brain Grellini Kawasaki ZX-10R Evo. He is 18^th overall with a best result of sixth after nine of the 13 rounds. Leeson, 24, was SA Supersport champion in 2007 and runner-up to Clint Seller in last year’s Superbike championship on a factory BMW HP4.