Superbike World Champs back at Kyalami
18 March 2010
The FIM Superbike World Championship returns to the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit from 13 to 16 May for the sixth round of the 13-round series. Last year's World Superbike racing at the Midrand circuit was the first time it had taken place there in seven years.
With 53 000 spectators in attendance, the racing was dominated by Ducati, with Japanese rider Noriyuki Haga winning both races and his team-mate Michel Fabrizio placing second on both occasions.
Ultimately, Haga missed out on the world title by only six points to Yamaha's Ben Spies, who placed third in race one, but was forced out of race two with a gear shift problem.
South Africa's most famous motor racing circuit is a hive of activity as preparations are made for this year's three-day race weekend, which will see the exciting Superpole qualifying on Saturday, 15 May, and four races for world championship Supersport and Superbikes on Sunday, 16 May.
In addition, there will also be supporting races for local Supersport and Superbikes on Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets
Tickets go on sale on Saturday, 20 March at Computicket outlets countrywide or online at Computicket.
There will be a single gold grand stand (opposite the pits) with prices unchanged from 2009: R100 for Friday, R250 for Saturday, R500 for Sunday and R650 for the weekend.
Silver grand stand ticket prices are R80 for Friday, R200 for Saturday, R400 for Sunday and R550 for the weekend.
General access tickets cost R50 for Friday, R100 for Saturday, R170 for Sunday and R250 for the weekend.
Children from the ages of eight 16 enjoy a 15% discount on general access tickets, while children under the age of eight will be admitted for free to the general access areas.
A Park and Ride system will be in operation to minimise road congestion and lengthy traffic queues, so race fans are encouraged to check event logistic details when booking their tickets.
Spectators will not be allowed to bring their own food, drinks, cooler boxes, braais or gazebos. However, many additional food and beverage outlets are planned to ensure fans have quick and easy access to a variety of quality refreshments.
The requirements of the FIM, world motorcycle racing's controlling body, will see some changes to the circuit involving the exit from the pits. These will prevent t bikes joining turn one from the pits exiting straight onto the racing line.
2010 Superbike season
The new Superbike season got off to a great start in Australia on 28 February when Leon Haslam of Suzuki won the opening race at the picturesque Phillip Island circuit south of Melbourne.
The Briton, who started from pole position, scored a tight win – his first in SBK – beating second-placed Michel Fabrizio of Ducati by the smallest margin in SBK history – 0.004 sec. Japanese hero Noriyuki Haga, also on a Ducati, placed third, ahead of Jonathan Rea (Honda), Max Biaggi (Aprilia), Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki) and Carlos Checa (Ducati).
In the afternoon, Checa became the first privateer to win a race since 2008 with a convincing performance in race two. It was his third victory since he switched to production superbikes from MotoGP in 2008.
The Spaniard passed race one winner Haslam with just two corners of the final lap to go and held off the Briton to take the chequered flag.
Fabrizio was third ahead of Guintoli, Haga, Rea and Biaggi with less than a second separating the top four after 22 laps of the ocean-side circuit.
Haslam leads the championship with 45 points from Fabrizio (36), Checa (34), Haga (27), Guintoli (23) and Rea (23). The next round is at Portimao in Portugal on 28 March.
SAinfo reporter
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