After 15 incredibly close races the Mike Hopkins Regional Motorcycle Series is headed for a cliff-hanger finale at the ninth and final round, to be run at Cape Town’s Killarney circuit this weekend.
Between them Ronald Slamet (Mike Hopkins ZX-10R) and Aran van Niekerk (Stunt SA/DMR ZX-10R) have won all but one of this year’s races so far and are just four points apart - Slamet has 202 to Van Niekerk’s 198 - with two races remaining, each worth nine points for a win and six for second.
But the arithmetic will be complicated by the presence of World Superstock racer (and defending Regional champion) David ‘McFlash’ McFadden, also riding a Kawasaki ZX-10R. Expect world-class racing at the sharp end from three world-class riders.
Right on their tails will be another former Regional title-holder, the vastly experienced Malcom Rapson, also on a ZX-10R, as is PJ One-sponsored David Bolding. They’ll be doing their best to hold off the what can rightly be described as the ‘Brat Pack’ – a group of talented teens on 600cc Supersport machines, fighting for regional 600 Challenge bragging rights.
TOUGH CHALLENGES
Nicholas van der Walt (DMR CBR600) is the form man here, but he’ll have to deal with tough challenges from Sharl Wasserfall - who will be there or thereabouts if he manages to stay on the Berlux ZX-6R for eight laps! - and new challenger Hayden Jonas, 15, out on a Suzuki GSX-R600 for only the second time.
The current Powersport champion rattled more than a few cages in his 600 Challenge debut last time out and could spring a real surprise on Saturday.
The Class B brigade will be led by Shaun de Jager’s Honda CBR1000RR, with Mark van den Berg (Loud & Clear S1000RR) as the challenger of record and veteran Roland Wingeier (Kawasaki ZX-10R) as the dark horse.
Class C, as usual, will be fought out between Wayne Arendse (Honda CBR600RR) and Vossie Vosloo and the Competition Bikes R1.
CLASSICS/POWERSPORT
If you thought the racing was close in the Superbike classes, get ready for an even tighter contest in the Powersport contest as Graeme Green on the Factory Lane/SOS SV650 and Warren ‘Starfish’ Guantario on the Calberg ER-6 take up where they left off at the previous Regionals, after finishing both races less than a tenth of a second apart.
The dark horse here is Jonny Towers, head of British bikewear brand RST, who has entered a privateer Kawasaki ER-6 and could surprise us all - if he can get past Green’s team mate Brandon Storey on the second Factory Lane SV650.
On paper, the nine-strong Clubman Class entry looks like an Ayden van Rooijen (IS Freight GSX-R600) benefit - until you factor in Wessel Kruger (Honda CBR600F3), an on-form Mandy ‘Steel Bender’ Peake (Honda VTR1000) and dark horse Norman McFadden (McFlash senior!) on the Kawasaki ZX-6R that took his son to the 2011 SA Supersport title.
The points standings are so close that there’s no room for tactics - it’s a case of winner take all in almost every class, specifically including the Regional title. Expect fireworks.