Cape Town - Most racing drivers think motorcycle racers are crazy, but there’s no gainsaying they add excitement and spectacle to a day’s racing. So, with the national motorcycle championships having deserted the Super Series in favour of their own SuperGP calendar, the Western Province Motor Club has invited the Superbike classes of the Mike Hopkins regional motorcycle series to join the party at Killarney’s first National meeting of the year – with interesting results.
A number of the country’s top riders - including at least one reigning SA champion and a multiple former title-holder - have grabbed the chance to put in some extra track time on their new Evo-class machines at the bumpy Cape circuit before Round 3 of the SuperGP here on the third weekend of May.
But, perhaps more importantly, local teenage hotshot Nicholas van der Walt will make his litre-class debut on the EmTek R1 on his home circuit with his local fans cheering him on.
He’ll line up alongside EmTek team mates Cameron Petersen (the current SA Supersport title-holder) and Dean Vos, each on a Yamaha R6, and international rider Sheridan Morais, whose father Ricky is the driving force behind the EmTek outfit, adding considerable spice to an already interesting entry.
AMBITIOUS PROGRAMME
Leading the charge will be reigning Regional champion Ronald Slamet (Mike Hopkins ZX-10R), who has committed himself to an ambitious programme of running a full season in SuperGP, plus as many rounds of the Mike Hopkins Regionals as do not clash with the new national championship.
Also mixing it with the visitors will be veteran David Bolding on the PJ One ZX-10R and some seriously quick 600 Challenge riders, among them Brandon Haupt, back from injury on the MX Clean GSX-R600, and Mike van Rensburg’s Pragma R6.
Look for Van Rensburg to set the pace in Class B as well, with father and son Mark (Planet Electronics CBR1000RR) and Alex (Planet Electronics CBR600RR) van der Berg keeping him honest - and Alex predicting that this time he’ll finally show the old toppie the way home.
A larger than usual Class C entry will see Jacques Brits (BMW S1000RR) take on Jannie Stander’s Galvatech ZX-10R, with class stalwarts Vossie Vosloo (Wijnland R1) and Wayne Arendse (Honda CB600RR) always in the picture, making for close racing throughout the field.