It’s all set for Phakisa track

As very old enthusiasts will know, the Free State Phakisa raceway was originally designed for motorcycle racing.

That has, over the years, made it a huge favourite with two-wheeler contenders. It also makes it the ideal venue for this weekend’s final round of the 2018 SuperGP Championship.

TITLE CHASER. Kewyn Snyman (The Mag Workshop KTM RC390) is the favourite to clinch this year’s Super300 championship.

Michael White, riding the Consortium Shipping Yamaha R1, wrapped up the SuperGP title at Aldo Scribante after 2017 champion Clint Seller (King Price Extreme/Bikefin Yamaha R1) crashed out of the opening race, damaging his bike so badly that he missed the second race, effectively handing his crown to White.

After a disappointing weekend, Seller has dropped to third in the championship standings, eight points behind Daryn Upton (Uncle Andy Racing Suzuki GSXR 1000) and will be aiming to move back up to second.

David McFadden (RPM Centre/ Stunt SA Kawasaki ZX10R), whose main focus now is his international career, still lies in fourth place in the standings ahead of Dylan Barnard (Yamaha R1) and Gavin Upton (Turn Skill Engineering Yamaha R1).

Upton leads in the SuperMasters standings. Adolf Boshoff (Uncle Andy Racing Suzuki GSXR600) took both Super600 race wins in Port Elizabeth, closing the gap to Blaze Baker (King Price Extreme / Bikefin Yamaha R6) at the top of the table to just five points and set up an enthralling contest at Phakisa.

DUEL. Blaze Baker (King Price Extreme/Bikefin Yamaha R6) and Adolf Boshoff (Uncle Andy Racing Suzuki GSXR600) will lock horns in Saturday’s Super600 races, with the year’s South African title at stake.

With Hayden Jonas (Samurai Racing Yamaha R6) no longer competing on the national scene, Byron Bester (Hi-Tech Racing Kawasaki ZX6) is best placed to claim third in the championship, although Capetonians Brandon Staffen (AJH Cooling/Keating & Jansen Kawasaki ZX6) and Jared Schultz (Uncle Andy Racing Suzuki GSXR600) will be doing their best to spoil his party.

Dian Nelson (TRD Motorcycles Yamaha R6) and the ever-improving Gareth Gehlig (Formula Autos Kawasaki ZX6) could also be in the mix.

After an extended break, Kewyn Snyman (The Mag Work shop KTM RC390) dominated the Super300 series when they returned to action at Aldo Scribante, winning all three races and opening up a 21-point advantage in the championship standings.

Dino Iozzo (King Price Extreme/Bikefin Honda) and Taric van der Merwe (Evolve Nutrition Yamaha R3) could mathematically challenge Snyman but need him to suffer some kind of misfortune to have any realistic chance.

Chase Hulscher (Uncle Andy Racing/Motul KTM RC390) had a good outing in Port Elizabeth, taking his first podium finish in the opening race and will be out to build on that at Phakisa.

Deegan Claassens (Nine Nine Racing Kawasaki Ninja 300) and Clinton Fourie (NCA Plant Hire / Kimco Yamaha R3), who are separated by a point, round out the top six in the standings.

As was the case in Port Elizabeth, the BOTTS riders will be the main supporting category to the national classes.

Three podium finishes at his last outing have given Tomas Brown (Rehab Racing Ducati) a 25-point lead and it is hard to see James Harper (Moto Uno Ducati) stopping him from retaining his title.

Alan Hulscher (ALDOR Steel Fabrications Ducati) and Mick Landi (Rehab Racing Ducati) are separated by just five points for the final podium position.

As normal, Friday will see the riders taking part in practice sessions, before qualifying in the afternoon.

On Saturday, each category will have two races which get underway after the morning warm-up sessions.

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