Almost 5 months after their last outing, the NGK Spark Plugs SA Superbike Series riders return to Zwartkops Raceway on Saturday, 8 August for the third round of the 2020 championship. The Bridgestone supported series managed to get just two rounds of the championship in before all motorsport was brought to a halt by the Covid-19 lockdown.
David McFadden (RPM Center/Stunt SA Yamaha R1) has yet to finish off the podium this year and will look to continue that run of good form which put him at the top of the Superbike championship standings. Fellow Capetonian Lance Isaacs is 14 points behind McFadden in second place but he won’t be in action this weekend as he is currently in the USA. This leaves the likely challenge at the front of the field to come from a couple of former champions. Multiple champion Clint Seller (King Price Xtreme Yamaha R1) is only 16 points behind in the standings and will be out to repeat the double win he took in the last round back in March while 2018 champion Michael White makes a welcome return to South Africa’s premier motorcycle racing class on a Dent Carpets supported Yamaha R1.
Blaze Baker (JBR/Rapid Bike Kawasaki ZX10R) made his debut in the litre class at the last round, coming away with a pair of fourth places. With a bit more track time, he could also challenge the front runners while Garrick Vlok (DCCS Coring, Cutting and Sealing Yamaha R1) will be looking to bounce back after brake problems spoilt his last outing. Former Supersport 600 rider Dian Nelson has made the step up to the top class and will join the field on the TRD Motorcycles Kawasaki ZX10R.
With Women’s Day celebrated in South Africa the day after the event, Nicole van Aswegen (Gem Auto/Analaft Ducati 1299) will be flying the flag for the ladies. She will be doing her utmost to get the better of her partner, Damian Purificati, who will be on the Andalaft Racing BMW S1000RR. Sifiso Themba (King Price Extreme Kawasaki ZX10R) has made the move from the Kawasaki Masters Cup and will be joined on the grid by Hein McMohan (BDJ Freight BMW S1000RR), Luca Bertolini (Izinga Worx/Willcom Racing Yamaha R1), Brian Bontekoning (Jaguar Power Products Ducati), Naasief Wadvalla (Fast Bike Racing Yamaha R1) and Ian Thomas (SA Compressor Hire Kawasaki ZX10R) should also be chasing points.
In the SuperSport 600 class, Ricardo Otto (Power Motorsport Yamaha R6) has already built up a comfortable championship lead. His closest rival, Dino Iozzo (King Price Extreme Yamaha R6) will miss the race after a training accident ruled him out but both Jared Schultz (ASAP World Yamaha R6) and Brett Roberts (Lights by Linea/PRM Center Yamaha R6) will be looking to take as many points as possible off Otto.
As usual, there will be three qualifying practice sessions on Friday which will determine the grid positions for Saturday’s races. The first of those is scheduled for 10h40 with race 2 due to start at 14h05.
Unfortunately, due to the government’s Covid-19 restrictions, no spectators will be admitted to Zwartkops for the event, however, regular updates will be posted to the SA Superbike Series’ social media pages.
Published by the SA Superbike Series
Picture Caption: David McFadden leads the SuperBike championship standings
Photography by: Paul Bedford