SuperGP kicks off at Red Star

The Red Star Raceway near Delmas will host the opening round of the 2016 SuperGP championship this weekend.

This year’s series will be run over eight rounds, with one event each month until the June winter break.

At the end of July, national championship Superbike racing will make a welcome return to Kyalami, kicking off the second half of the season.

Each event will be run over two days. Practice sessions will happen on Friday morning and early afternoon before qualifying sessions for all classes take place later in the afternoon. Saturday will be a dedicated race day, with two heats for all classes.

The three national championship classes that will compete at each event are SuperGP, Super600 and Super Junior.

There will also be a provincial SuperMasters class for riders over the age of 30, riding bikes that conform to the SuperGP class rules. In addition to the national classes, a number of regional classes will be on the bill.

The 250 Cup, Breakfast Club, Formula Extreme, BOTTS, Ladies and the 600cc and 1000cc Superbike classes that form part of the Northern Regions series will compete at the inland SuperGP events.

Heading the SuperGP category at Red Star will be triple South African champion Clint Seller on a Neolife Yamaha R1.

His main opposition should come from people like Allan John Venter (Uncle Andy Suxuki GSXR), Lance Isaacs (BMW S1000RR), Brandon Goode (Linex Yamaha R1), Ronald Slammet (BMW S1000RR), Mathew Schotlz (ETR Yamaha R1), Themba Khumalo (ETR Yamaha R1), plus Greg Gildenhuys and Nicolas Grobler on BMW S1000RR models.

Adolf Boshoff will top the Super600 class on a Neolife Yamaha R6, while Blaze Baker and Darien Kayser will debut Uncle Andy Suzukis.

Tickets for Saturday’s events are available from TicketPro or can be purchased at Red Star Raceway on the day. Tickets will cost R80 for adults, with children under 12 admitted free of charge.

As was the case in 2015, Gas Sports will be harnessing the generosity of the biking community for the benefit of charities in the area.

In exchange for a tin of food, spectators arriving at the circuit before 10am on race day by motorcycle will be granted free admission to the track.