Portable Shade PS Honda makes history as they win their first SA Superbike event !

Killarney ‘Cape Town’ - Round 3 SA Interfile 1000cc Super Bike & 600cc Super Sport Championship

Superbike 1000

Practice started with a bang and Isaacs slotted himself solid third fastest at the end of Friday’s practice sessions and in doing so put down some blistering fast laps well under his personal best time ever around his home circuit and the new chicane, Grobler placed in 9th on the second 1000 PS Honda. 1000cc Qualifying saw Isaacs again hold firm with 3rd position on the grid, and Grobler move up the filed into 7th. 600’s was a tough affair with Morais on the ZX6RR showing why he has an entry to this weekend’s World SuperSport race at Kyalami and simply outpacing the rest of the field by around one second, the came a bunch of Honda’s with our team boys showing well. Janine learning the track fast at the end of Friday posting times that most street superbike riders can only dream of. The team were using the new Metzeler tyres and all riders left for a good night’s rest feeling confident and positive for race day.

Race 1 – 1000cc Superbike

The first race of the Superbikes was always going to be a close affair with the top six riders separated by just over a second. Isaacs on the CBR1000RR had the start he needed forcing way and almost into the lead but got boxed in going into turn one pushing him back to eventually exit in fifth place. Grobler had early problems with a gear lever breaking of making the race very difficult for the young sixteen year old Witbank rider who eventually finished in 7th Place. Up front Isaacs, Sellers & White changed lead every lap, on the final lap under pressure from the Isaacs saw Sellers’ make a crucial mistake exiting the chicane and Isaacs grabbed 2nd place in front of his faithful home town fans.

Race 2 – 1000cc Superbike

Was another lightening fast affair with Isaacs getting the hole shot and thundering into the lead. Grobler did start not as good as in the first heat and unfortunately hit Leeson from behind ending up in a crash for our youngster. Isaacs on the CBR 1000 RR Honda kept his head down and stretched out a 1.8 second lead with the Anassis racing tuned engine on song, Morais who did not complete two laps in race one due to a technical problem and thus having a fresh rear tyre caught up to Isaacs and stole the thunder from Isaacs for a heat win on the final lap, what was positive in the heat was that the two sped away from the rest of the field by more than four seconds proving that for events to come the team have a great set up for heat two, Isaacs used his head and knew that he only had to finish the heat in second position to win overall for the day. Lance giving Honda its first superbike overall win in three years!

Lance Isaacs was honoured as overall motorcycle rider for the event by Wesbank and event media journalists.

Superbikes Overall Results

1st Lance Isaacs – PS Honda CBR1000RR
2nd Shaun Whyte – Yamaha R1
3rd Greg Gildenhuys – Honda CBR1000RR
DNF Nicolas Grobler – Honda CBR1000RR

SuperSport 600

Since getting draughted into the Anassis Racing camp the teams young CBR600cc riders have shined, under the guidance of Martin Paetzold from MP suspension our youngsters are growing from strength to strength learning about suspension and set up, race track guidance from team boss Brad Anassis is working well as the team takes up the front row for qualifying. Jacques Peskens has been a revelation this year with front row starts at every event thus far and podium finishes in the past two events, Peskens slotted his PS CBR6000 into second place while James Egan coming back from a huge crash in ’08 found one second from Friday practice to give the Portable Shade PS Honda team two front row starters. Arriving in cape town for only the second time Janine made herself proud in 23rd position.

Race 1 – 600 SuperSport

Saw an incredible start from Peskens & Egan as they launched their CBR600’s into second and third spots on lap one, with the long back straight slip streaming was going play a crucial part of winning the race, this worked against leading on lap one and saw our boys drop down to sixth and seventh respectfully at the end of lap one with slipstreaming taking its toll. Morais again showed his dominance and quickly pulled out a two second lead, Peskens and Egan had to fight off the brat pack and work their way back to lead the second bunch. Peskens fitness levels showing and eventually pulling away to take a clear second place, Egan 4th and Janine top 20.

Race 2 – 600 SuperSport

Was again a great start for Peskens (who has been practicing his starts at Tarlton under the guidance of Brad Anassis – SA Drag Race Champion) slotting into third, Egan got a horrid start ending 8th at the end of lap one. The team made a gearing change for heat two and it paid off with more top speed the boys used the slip stream to their advantage. Morais again sped into the lead taking Green CBR600 with him, Peskens fell back three seconds while again fighting off the brat pack and managed to close down on Green with two laps to go. Green a local home town rider didn’t give the advantage straight away and fought hard to hang onto his position, again Peskens had to dig deep to pass into second place. Unfortunately the pace of Morais too fast and he had to settle for another second to give him the same placing on the day. Egan ended 6th for the heat while Mitchell posted her fastest lap for the event on her final lap of the day.

600 SuperSport Overall Results

1st Sheridan Morais – Kawasaki ZX6
2nd Jacques Peskens – PS Honda CBR600
3rd Graham Green – Honda CBR600
5th James Egan – PS Honda CBR6000

Racing from Round 8 of the WesBank Super Series will be aired on MNET SuperSport. Next round of the WesBank Super Series will take place at East London on the 6th of June.