With Race 1 full of cliff-hanger moments, South African fans at the Kyalami circuit eagerly awaited the second race of World Superbike south of the Equator. Enough with the Hyperbole, continue reading to see a full race report from Race 2, complete with spoilers.
This weekend, World Superbike Championship racing returned to South Africa at the Kyalami circuit, much to the delight of local motorcycle fans. The Kyalami track, which had been scheduled to be demolished, and then have housing built in its place, features vast elevation changes and sweeping bends, and has been much improved since the removal of the chicane at Turn 12. So interest was high in how the racing would turn out on this tight twisty circuit. Continue reading for a full race report on Race 1 at Kyalami, South Africa.
All signs seem to point to Jamie Hacking replacing the injured Makoto Tamada at World Superbike’s stop at Miller Motorsports Park later this month. In fact, Hacking would be replacing Sheridan Morais, the reigning South African Superbike champion, who is currently filling in for Tamada at WSBK’s round at Kyalami. Tamada is still recovering from having a metal plate inserted in his hand after sustaining a wrist fracture at . While the news is not official, Hacking hinted at it when talking to Roadracing World, saying “there’s a possibility I might do it.”
Ben Spies took his 6th straight Superpole this year, this time at the Kyalami circuit, beating out Michel Fabrizio by a mere one thousandth of a second. Making Spies the second ridr ever to win 6 WSBK poles in a row, a honor previously held alone by American Doug Polen, who accomplished the feat in 1991.
You may remember from this weekend’s World Superbike race at Monza that , causing him to drop to 15th place by the time he crossed the finish line. In response to his avian encounter, the Japanese rider has updated his site with a humorous anti-pigeon campaign banner.
Race 2 proved to be a less hectic event without a red flag in sight. With the race being won by a comfortable margin, the World Superbike season is shaping up to be a good close one.
The first chicane of the Monza circuit is notorious for accidents and hated by all racers because it tightens into a dangerous and tight funnel. Race 1 of the World Superbike Championship at Monza would not be spared of the dangers of the first chicane as a terrifying accident brought the race to an almost immediate halt with five riders seriously involved. Race 1 would continue to prove itself to be full of surprises as more riders ran in to different sorts of difficulty throughout the race’s duration. Continue reading for more and spoilers.
Before the World Superbike race at Monza this weekend, BMW officially revealed the S1000RR street bike that they have been teasing us with over the past 6 months. The bike isn’t the prettiest, but it has it where it counts. Tipping the scales at 183kg dry (403lbs), and 204kg wet (449.7lbs), the S1000RR makes a claimed 193hp at 13,000 RPMs, and 82.5 lb•ft of torque at 9,750RPMs. The S1000RR will also feature a four-stage ABS and race-derived traction control system. All this, and a price tag that BMW promises will be competitive against the Japanese manufacturers.
The S1000RR’s other features include a slipper clutch, six-speed gearbox, fully adjustable 46mm USD forks, fully adjustable rear monoshock, ride height adjustment at the rear, Brembo brakes (with radial-mount callipers at the front), and an aluminium chassis that uses the engine as a load-bearing member. The swingarm features an eccentric pivot, enabling different adjustments to raise and lower the height of the S1000RR in order to change the bike’s steering geometry. What’s not to like?…Besides the headlight. Tons of photos and a video after the jump.
At the fifth round of the World Superbike Championship being held at Monza this weekend, Ben Spies shattered the lap record with a time of 1:44:073 to take his 5th consecutive Superpole victory, making the young American 5 for 5 so far this season in the qualifying event.
At Monza this week, Pirelli will be debuting a new qualifying tire solution for the World Superbike Championship. Taking a page from what the 200mm qualifying tire will include markers that will help indicate what tires are being selected during the Superpole competition. Pirelli tires will sport non-permanent white “long P” markings and yellow lines, which have been imprinted on to the tire’s surface. These markings will offer spectators and presenters a way of identifying what is happening during the Superpole in regards to tire choices.
Stiggy Racing Honda has confirmed that Jake Zemke will replace injured rider John Hopkins for the Monza round of the World Superbike Championship. , although that goal seems lofty. In the interim, Zemke will have to fill his shoes.