[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he DEOD SuperGP Champions Trophy makes its way to Kyalami between 26 and 28 May for the fourth rouns of the 2017 championship. The event, which only features the premier 1000cc class, forms part of the SA Bike Festival.
The last round of the championship, held at Zwartkops Raceway, was blighted by bad weather, and although the support classes all managed to get one race in on the day, the SuperGP riders were not so lucky. Heavy rain, coupled with some oil on the track, resulted in a number of riders crashing out on the opening lap. Racing was halted in the hopes that conditions would improve but the rain slowly got worse, and in the interests of safety, racing was abandoned.
Three victories in the four opening races see Clint Seller (MiWay Yamaha Racing R1) at the head of the championship log. His qualifying time, in difficult conditions at Zwartkops, shows that he is serious regaining the title he lost last year and his rivals will have to be at the top of their game to challenge him.
Greg Gildenhuys (Autohaus Towing / Transport.co.za Kawasaki ZX10R), who set the motorcycle lap record at the newly revamped Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit last year, is 21 points adrift of the former champion and will be looking to build on the win he took in the first race in East London. David McFadden (RPM Centre / Sandton Auto BMW S1000RR) and Lance Isaacs (Supabets / Sandton BMW Motorrad S1000RR) are in a tie for third on the log. Isaacs was quick all the way through practice and qualifying at Zwartkops and will look to keep that performance going while McFadden will be hoping his run of bad luck ended at Zwartkops. He was unable to set a qualifying time in East London after his chain snapped and then was involved in a couple of accidents at Zwartkops.
AJ Venter (Team Hygenica Yamaha Racing R1) was another that was involved in an accident at Zwartkops, although not of his own making. Consistent points-scoring finishes see him in fifth place ahead of Michael White (Consortium Shipping Yamaha R1).
Hendrik de Bruin (Yamaha R1) has finished on the podium in each of the SuperMasters races this year. This consistency sees him at the top of the championship standings Heinrich Rheeder (BMW Motorrad / Rheeder Racing BMW S1000RR) is not far behind. Beau Levey (Moto Blu Cru Yamaha R1) had a good outing in East London to move up to third on the log.
The running order will be somewhat different to the normal DEOD SuperGP Champions Trophy race weekend. Practice sessions and qualifying will take place on Friday with one 15-lap race taking place at 14h00 on Saturday, the other at 14h00 on Sunday.
