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Supermoto Season Ends on a High
The Mr Price National Supermoto season came to a close at the weekend, when The Rock Raceway on Gauteng's East Rand became the newest and final venue on the calendar. Full Throttle, Red Bull, KTM's Brian Capper (North Riding, Gauteng) had already wrapped up the premier class championship at the penultimate round, and with the pressure off Capper dominated the day with three heat race wins. Six other National titles were decided, with the Masters class battle the closest fought of them all. Motocross legend Team Red Yamaha's Gary Galway (Hillcrest, KZN) took his second championship trophy in the sport and ended his Supermoto career on a high. The premier class was a three way battle with Chriscraft Panelbeaters Match Insurance Honda's Riaan Neveling (Centurion, Gauteng) stepping up to the plate and taking the lead in the first corner of heat one. Capper and Pelotrain Honda's Michael Kok (Benoni, Gauteng) made contact through the first turn, leaving them playing catch-up. Kok was caught off-guard by a slippery dirt section which sent him tumbling, while Capper managed to pass Neveling just in time for the race to be stopped by officials. A crash by Kyle Brummer sent the red flags flying, but it was minutes later that the game was back on and positions reset according to qualifying times. With lightning-fast starts by both Kok and Capper, there was only room for one on the racing line. This time Kok went down, but a quick recovery saw him fight his way into third. Neveling was led to the line by Capper, who took the win on one wheel. In heat two, Capper led the charge from start to finish, and his consistent pace put some breathing room between himself and Kok. Neveling crossed the line in third. As the riders lined up on the grid for the third heat race there was a tangible excitement in the air ahead of their final performance for 2010. This race was the one that would linger in the minds of the competitors all through the off-season, leaving them either satisfied or inspired; or perhaps both. Capper's hunger for victory was satisfied with a perfect hat trick for the day. Having already cemented his name at the top of the points log, this was the icing on the cake for the ultimate perfectionist: "With the championship already won, I was undecided as to whether I should even ride today" said Capper, "but it felt great to have no pressure and to ride for the fun of it. I enjoyed the day, and this year has been incredible. I cannot thank my team and sponsors enough; all of our hard work has paid off." Kok and Neveling rounded off the top three in the final heat, and the results were mirrored in the overall classification for the day's racing. Capper's single point victory over Kok in 2009 was the closest fought battle in Supermoto championship history, until the 2010 Masters class showdown came along. With the top two contenders tied for points after fourteen heat races of the season, and tied for the number of wins secured by each rider, the silverware was claimed by the man with just one more second place finish throughout the year, Team Red Yamaha's Gary Galway. UTC Kawasaki's Carl van Niekerk () was dethroned as SA Champ when he placed fourth overall on race day. Galway placed second ahead of KTM's Wayne Smith, while returning superstar of the Supermoto scene, UTC Kawasaki's Errol Dalton placed first. "I think Carl and I both had the nerves to deal with" said a calculated Galway, "and I know we both felt it out there. It's the closest battle I've ever fought and it makes it that much more meaningful." Team Red Yamaha's Kyle Smythe (Durban, KZN) took the glory for the overall win in the S3 "lites" class, but the champagne was flowing for newly crowned champ Perfecto Carriers Suzuki's Grant Frerichs (Bedfordview, Gauteng) who came back from shoulder surgery to finish off a spectacular year, securing his title with a third overall. Second place went to DCM Yamaha's Cameron Peterson (Gauteng). The S2 Open class was dominated by Masters class winner Dalton, who has returned to the sport stronger than ever, ready to campaign for a 2011 title. Hot on his heels was fellow Masters rider Smith, and teammate UTC Kawasaki's Rudolf Botha who rounded off the top three. The championship was clinched by Smith, already a multiple title holder in Motocross. The Open Tar Challenge is a relatively new addition to the schedule and is the perfect opportunity for tar-specialists to show off their prowess and avoid the tricky dirt sections. Next year the Tar Challenge will be an official championship, and is attracting the likes of Capper to the fight. The first place trophy went to Neveling, a skilled motocross rider, who is due to take up a wildcard ride in the upcoming 1000cc National Superbike series. Acid Extreme's Shaun Jubber (Bedfordview, Gauteng) rode the race of his life into second, followed home by Shumbala KTM's Jaco Gous (Centurion, Gauteng). The unofficial title went to Westside Honda's Doug Lang for a year of fast-paced consistency. Another two unofficial titles went to Westside Honda's Brittany Cuthbert who dominated the Ladies class throughout the year; and UTC Kawasaki's Marco Rass who came out tops in the Juniors class. One of the highlights of prize giving was the announcement of the Gary Petersen Most Improved Rider Trophy, which commemorates an extraordinary rider and his contribution to the sport. This year the prestigious award went to Wether'd Clothing Suzuki's Shannon Phillips, who stands out not only as a phenomenal female rider but as a remarkable competitor. With all the silverware allocated and the champagne bottles dry, the 2010 Championship comes to a close. Supermoto sleeps until March next year, when an all-new racing format will be announced. Despite the significant achievements of SA's top motorsport athletes, come 2011 the points are zeroed and the race begins again. Which new riders will raise the game, and which seasoned competitors will seize their chance to shine? Only time will tell. Until then, it's more champagne and a season of celebration for the deserving Championship winners. Article by CaptureNation  Capper crowned Champ at penultimate round Spectators braved the scorching heat at Vereeniging’s Adrenaline Kart Circuit at the weekend for the Mr Price National Supermoto Series, which held all the promise of a Championship wrap-up. Full Throttle Red Bull KTM's Brian Capper (North Riding, Gauteng) did not disappoint the crowds when he was crowned SA National Supermoto Champ for the eighth time in his illustrious career, rewriting his own record with still one race on the calendar. Last year's title contender Mkulu Plant Honda's Michael Kok (Benoni, Gauteng) clinched the win ahead of Capper, but a massive points margin meant it was all champagne and celebration for the 2010 Title holder. This year's victory marked a hat trick Championship for Capper since taking a year off in '07 to compete on the US circuit. Although Capper has made a name for himself in the Supermoto world, his National Championship tally is nine - the multi-talented rider first put his name in lights by winning an Outdoor Trials Title in '97. Since then Capper has pioneered extreme riding exhibitions in SA, and travelled the globe winning audiences far and wide. But the seasoned athlete admits to having racing in his blood, and amidst the jubilation is determined to bring home his tenth title next year: "I am so happy to have the Championship in the bag. It is a huge relief, the competition has been tough all year, and even though it wasn't the perfect race day, I have achieved what I set out to do. I love the sport and my focus is sharper than ever - my aim is to take the number of championships into double digits. I am competing against featherweights with youth and talent on their side, but I have the experience and definitely the burning desire to always be number one."
The premier class was kicked off with a lightning-fast qualifying time from Kok, but Capper stole an early lead in heat one, holding off Kok until he crashed on the tar and was relegated to fifth. Capper put in some fast laps, and crossed the line first. Kok had his eyes on the prize, and picked himself up and back into second. Team Red Yamaha's Kyle Smythe (Durban, KZN) also had a cracker start, and rode consistently into third position. Capper once again led the charge in heat two, but a mistake on the dirt saw Kok pass him in mid-air. Holding off Capper until the end, Kok took a triumphant win over Capper, with Smythe sailing home in third. The final heat was to be the showdown of the day, winner takes all. Capper made light work of the start, pulling away ahead of the pack. A few fiery laps put some distance between himself and Kok, but at the halfway mark Kok decided to apply the pressure. With just three laps remaining, the two front runners made contact in the tricky dirt section, with Kok taking advantage of the situation, and securing the lead. Kok sealed the deal on his overall win for the day, with Capper coming through in second, and Smythe riding smoothly into third, and into second in the championship log.
"I have to admit" said a smiling Kok, "that was a great race I just rode. After breaking my femur early in the year it has been a long road, and it is so good to be back on top." The S3 "lites" class was action packed as usual, with Team Red Yamaha's Kyle Smythe emerging victorious in both heat races. Perfecto Carriers Wetherd Clothing's Ryan Frerichs secured two second place finishes, putting on a stellar performance in place of his brother Grant, who despite recovering from shoulder surgery will be back on the bike for the final round, needing just a finish to win the 2010 S3 Title. Third place was wrapped-up by UTC Kawasaki's Petrus Botha. Team Red Yamaha's Gary Galway (Hillcrest, KZN) set a blistering qualifying time in the Masters class, and went on to win heat one, but some bar-to-bar action in heat two saw him shaking off the dust from a crash and finishing in fourth. Despite an overall second place, the day's events turned his one point lead in the championship into a two point deficit. New points leader UTC Kawasaki's Carl van Niekerk (Benoni, Gauteng) took home the winner's trophy, while UTC Kawasaki team mate Errol Dalton made a welcome return to the sport in third. The S2 Open class was a duel between Klever Clean KTM's Wayne Smith and Honda's Jaryd Geldenhuys. Both with a heat race win under their belt, it was Smith who emerged victorious after amassing maximum points with a second. Geldenhuys still has enough points to remain in front of the championship chase, with all to fight for in the final round. Dalton made a strong appearance in both the Masters and S2 classes, earning another third place trophy after a year away from the sport. The Ladies class was brought home first by Westrand Honda's Brittany Cuthbert, followed by Bike Gear KTM's Bianca Nortje, and MFC Suzuki's Shannon Phillips. Cuthbert's stellar performance moves her to top spot in the title chase. It was a UTC Kawasaki affair in the Junior class, with team mates Jesse Wright, Marco Ras, and Jaydon Jones crossing the line respectively. Ras remains ahead in the points log, but by a breath. The highlight of the day was the crowning of the 2010 Mr Price National Supermoto Champion, just another feather in the cap of an already established rider. Capper walks away from Vereeniging both satisfied and refocused on the job at hand. For these expert racers, the festive season marks the start of an intensive training regimen. But for the most of the riders the job is not yet finished. The 2010 race is still wide open, and the final showdown of the season will commence on the 14th November at The Rock raceway on JHB's Eastrand. Capper Streets Ahead at Pinetown South Africa's one and only Supermoto Street Race is officially a proud Pinetown tradition and is part of the Mr Price National Championship series where motocross and track riders take to the streets to earn one of the most coveted titles in SA motorsport. Leader of the pack Full Throttle Red Bull KTM's Brian Capper (North Riding, Gauteng) is on track to wrap up his eighth Championship and Sunday's racing was no exception.
Capper put on a fantastic show for the thousands of spectators who all had ringside seats for the action. The experienced rider secured pole position over Team Red Yamaha's Kyle Smythe (Durban, KZN) then put in a perfect day's work with three scintillating heat race wins. "There's nothing quite like a street race, the atmosphere is amazing and I really enjoy the different dynamic it adds to the season. This race is always the most competitive, and it feels incredible to have won the day" said an elated Capper. "I now have a comfortable lead in the points so it's all about focussing on the task ahead." With Capper leading from the first corner to the last, the fight was left for the field behind to rake in some championship points. Smythe proved that consistency is key, and two second places and a fourth was enough to climb the podium ahead of last year's main championship rival Mkulu Plants Honda's Michael Kok (Benoni, Gauteng). Kok had to work hard to overcome a seventh place finish in heat one, but still managed a spot in the top three. Smythe was all smiles. "It was really the best day for me. Pinetown is my favourite track by far, and the home-town support was unreal. I came second in both classes I competed in, which was just perfect." Smythe also competed in the S3 lites class, but was relegated to second by Perfecto Carriers Suzuki's Grant Frerichs (Bedfordview, Gauteng). The young up and comer, DCM Yamaha's Cameron Petersen made his mark in third position. The Masters Class was as tightly contested as ever, with the Championship lead now separated by a single point. New title fight leader Red Yamaha's Gary Galway (Hillcrest, KZN) has tasted victory before; securing the championship crown in 2007. Nemesis and current National Champ UTC Kawasaki's Carl van Niekerk (Benoni, Gauteng) was ousted in both heats when Galway put on the performance of a lifetime for the home crowds. Klever Clean KTM's Wayne Smith (Benoni, Gauteng) put in a solid ride to round off the top three.
"I overcame a messy start in the first heat, and just couldn't shake van Niekerk in the second heat, but two wins was all I needed to move to the front of the points" says Galway, "I'm really happy and feeling confident for the final two rounds of the season." The S2 Open class was dominated by UTC Kawasaki's Jason Jones who made the pilgrimage from New Zealand to compete in this event. Second place Cazir Naroth (Durban, KZN) was in top form, beating third place Alex van Staden to the line. The ladies were also out there in full force and rookie, West Rand Honda's Brittany Cuthbert, lead Shannon Phillips and Carol Alberts to the chequered flag.
The streets have been swept, the hay bales and fences pulled down, but the long black tire marks are there to stay - a reminder to bookmark next year's festival of speed into your calendar. The race to ultimate glory continues as the next instalment of the Mr Price National Supermoto Championship looms. With a new venue on the cards, and seven title trophies yet to be engraved, the stakes are higher than ever. August 2010 August was a busy month for me as the World Cup Soccer disappeared into the distance and normal activities resumed. I started off the month in emphatic style by Winning Round Four of the National SuperMoto Championshiop in East London. Started off well with the quickest Practice time and Pole Position, and went on to win the first two heatrs. I was leading the final heat race until a flat tyre relegated me to seond on the last corner. With the overall win in the bag, I have extended my leadin the Championship by 55 points. 7 August I did a show at the Grand Opening of a brand new KTM Dealership in the Vaal Triangle 9 August I did another Xtreme Riding Xhibition at Zwartkops Raceway for the 2010 National Women's Day. I went on to compete in an Xtreme EnduroX Race that was held straight after my show. I was first ou the gates and round the track in both Mo'o's but a few errors in the race resulted in me finishing second overall for the day. It was such a fun race, and first place and myself lapped the field twice. 15 August I did a Quality SuperMoto Test Session at Vereeniging and improved my lap times substantially. 21 August XRX Show at Mercedes Benz Springs 23 August XRX Show for Red Bull in JHB. 28 August XRX Show at Annual East Rand Show 29 August National Enduro Practice in Qua Qua (Harrismith). Preperation for Round 5 National Enduro in KZN on 11 September. September is going to be an awesome month with Round 5 National SuperMoto a street race in Pinetown, as well as the NAtional Enduro the following weekend. Upcoming shows include: XRX Shows at the Annual KTM Festival (Sun City), Red Bull Box Cart, and Sun City Spring Break. Local Mr Price National Supermoto Heroes Are Triumphant on KZN Soil The valley of a thousand hills was echoing with excitement at the weekend when the competitors of the Mr Price National Supermoto Championship took centre stage for the ultimate two-wheeled showdown at the Idube Kart Circuit in Pietermaritzburg, KZN. Despite a solid pole position, reigning Title holder Full Throttle Red Bull KTM's Brian Capper (North Riding, Gauteng) was taken to task by local hero and up-and-comer First Freight Perry Yamaha Monster Motors' Jason Munroe (New Germany, KZN). Munroe won two from three heats in the upset of the season and took home gold and glory on race day.
Capper kicked the day off with his usual dominance, out-qualifying the competition by a full second. He kept the pace steady into heat one, taking the lead in the first corner and leaving the field behind. A lapse in concentration in the dirt section pulled the rug out from under his feet, and a small tumble slotted him back into sixth position. Jason Munroe capitalized on the drama, and took the lead with the Team Red Yamaha Criterion freight train of Brett Bircher (Hillcrest, KZN) and Kyle Smythe (Durban, KZN) hot on his heels. Fuelled by the support of the capacity home crowd, Munroe crossed the finish line to taste his first ever premier class race victory. Smythe slid off into the tire-wall a few laps from the end, easing the pressure off second place man Bircher, who was followed home by Wethered Perfecto Carriers Suzuki's Grant Frerichs, and the catch-up king, Capper, in fourth. A starting grid shuffle in Heat two saw Munroe in pole position, and a fired-up Capper directly behind him with his eyes on the prize. Munroe lead Capper as the face-off began, holding him off until the end, with the seasoned Champ unable to find a way around. Munroe signed off on his second victory for the day and consistent local favourite Bircher rounded off the top three. The air was thick with tension as South Africa’s best lined up for the third and final heat of the day. Capper and Munroe were side-by-side, two friends turned foe for fifteen minutes of furious racing action. And they did not disappoint. The greatest tussle of the season ensued, with Munroe seizing an early lead and Capper applying full pressure into every turn. Current points leader Capper made numerous attempts to pass his challenger, but Munroe put his expert track knowledge to good use, not making one mistake. With just a few laps remaining, Capper took advantage of a wide corner on the tar, relegating Munroe to second. Capper continued to charge relentlessly to the finish, opening up a gap and cementing his points lead in the championship with a second place overall. Team Red Yamaha's '07 National Champion Bircher pulled in a smooth third overall for the day. Munroe celebrated the victory of a lifetime, clinching the overall win for the first time in his riding career, and lifting the trophy in front of an ecstatic home crowd: "I am so stoked, what a perfect day. I was hoping for three heat wins, but I didn't want to throw away the overall win, so I took it easy at the end. I feel awesome, I couldn't ask for a better day."
Capper, although disappointed to lose out on maximum points, was both happy for Munroe and content with the championship standings. "I couldn't catch Jason all day, he really rode well, but in the last heat I made a decision, I just had to get past him. There’s a saying in motorsport that you're only as good as your last race, so there was no option but to win" he laughs. "It feels good going into the next round with a heat win, and I love the East London track. I have a good lead in the points, but after today I'm more motivated than ever." The S3 "lites" class was a divided affair, with Smythe and Frerichs each securing a heat win. It was Team Red Yamaha's newest addition Smythe who took the overall top honours for winning the last heat, while Monster Motors' Michael Morgan (Durban, KZN) rounded off the top three. The Masters class was dominated by one man – home town hero Team Red Yamaha's Gary Galway (Hillcrest, KZN). The '07 champ is once again charging for the title, but despite picture-perfect qualifying sessions from the start of the season, race wins have narrowly eluded him. This round seemed to be the turn-around point for Galway, with two first place finishes over rival UTC Kawasaki's Carl van Niekerk (Benoni, Gauteng) in second, and Accessories Unlimited Andre Kriel (Pietermaritzburg, KZN) in third. "I really needed the double win today; it has put me back into contention. I watched Capper crash in his first heat, and decided to run a breath slower so I didn't fling it in the dirt, and it paid off. All I need now is two more wins in the following round and I'll be leading the championship" said a focussed Galway.
The S2 Open class was dictated by motocross champ UTC Kawasaki's Lloyd Verkuil (Pietermaritzburg, KZN) who won two from two in his very first attempt at Supermoto. The new kid on the block took his contenders by surprise and injected some fresh racing action into the mix. The S4 junior's class was another two-way skirmish and a Team UTC Kawasaki affair, which turned out in favour of Marco Ras, now the clear championship leader, with Jesse Wright in second, and Liquor City's Erhardt Beukes in third. The ladies class was a showcase of feminine prowess, which was controlled by Privateer Brittany Cuthbert, who turned the tables on the championship chase with a clear points lead. Hurricane Supermoto heads to East London for the next round, and this action-packed day will mark the midway point of the Mr Price National Supermoto season. This year there are more top class riders and more possible winners than ever before. The stakes are high, and the young guns are gearing for battle against the proven champions. Who will emerge victorious? All will be revealed as the sleepy city of East London gets a wakeup call on July tenth. King of South African Supermoto King of South African Supermoto Brian Capper (Northriding, Gauteng, pictured) secured an emphatic win in the second round of the Mr Price Supermoto National Championship under clear skies at Killarney in Cape Town at the weekend. Up against a fiercely competitive field of 16 riders in the premiere S1 Class (450cc) Capper was in a class of his own as he posted a trio of wins to secure the S1 title ahead of Jason Jones (Benoni, Gauteng) and Grant Ferichs (Bedfordview, Gauteng) to move into the lead on national ratings. "I was quickest in practice, put it on pole and then won three out of three but it still wasn't an easy day," said the Full Throttle Red Bull Red Bull KTM rider Capper. "The whole field has stepped it up to another level and youngster Jason Jones was racing really well on the Kawasaki today."
The Mr Price Spermoto National Series heads to iDube in Kwazulu-Natal for the third round of the third round of the championship in June where Capper is expecting tough opposition from KwaZulu-Natal's top ranked Team Red Yamaha riders Brett Bircher and Kyle Smythe. "I'm so excited about heading down to iDube for the next round. I love that track and hopefully I can beat the Team Red Yamaha riders as it's their home track and it's always a challenge to win there." Winners in the following divisions in national championships included: S2 Jaryd Geldenhys, S3 Grant Frerichs (Gauteng), Ladies Bianca Nortje (Gauteng) and S4 Masters Carl van Niekerk (Gauteng). Article by CaptureNation
Cracker Start to Mr Price National Supermoto Season It was game on for the much anticipated Mr Price National Supermoto season at the weekend, where a brand new track was added to the arsenal, and the highly debated favourites were unveiled. The tables seemed to have turned for Chris Craft Panelbeater’s Riaan Neveling (Centurion, Gauteng) whose consistent pace and fiery determination stole the spotlight. His perfect hat trick of heat race wins eluded him in the final race where reigning Champion Full Throttle Red Bull KTM’s Brian Capper (North Riding, Gauteng) secured top spot and signed off on second for the day. The sweeping corners of the Polokwane circuit have spiced up the 2010 calendar, bringing the riders new terrain and fresh motivation. Two dirt sections were primed for the occasion, yet the challenging new landscape was quickly mastered by one man. Neveling got to work early, laying down some solid qualifying times and shuffling himself to the top of the grid. After finishing off of the podium in last year’s championship chase, Neveling has his head down and some fire in his veins, not to mention his brand new lightning-fast Honda. Neveling made his mark in the first two heat races, winning in style after bidding an early farewell to the pack. Heat three was nothing short of motorbike ballet. Capper and Neveling danced from corner to corner, side by side, every movement mirrored. Capper led the synchronized showdown from start to finish, but his emphatic opponent kept maximum pressure until the very end.
"I'm extremely happy" said a triumphant Neveling after the final heat. "That was such a fun race, but it's a one line track which makes passing very difficult. I really enjoyed fighting it out with Brian; we almost lost our voices shouting at each other in the corners. That was good racing." Capper, although defending his crown, was the wildcard of the day. The seven-time title winner went in search of new inspiration on the Enduro circuit this year, but an eleventh hour injury forced him to choose his first love, Supermoto. Capper surprised the field with his last minute entry, but was himself taken aback by the pace of former teammate Neveling. "It feels really good to win, Riaan didn't make it easy for me, but I had such a good time out there. I was supposed to be in Lesotho racing Enduro this weekend, so I couldn't go back home without at least a race win. I definitely won't be taking three months off my Supermoto bike again, and I'm feeling more motivated than ever." Two Red Yamaha teammates tussled all day for third place on the podium. Last year’s S3 “lites” class champ Kyle Smythe (Durban, KZN) made the jump to the highly decorated Red Yamaha camp for 2010, joining fellow previous National Champions Brett Bircher and Gary Galway (both Hillcrest, KZN). Bircher and Smythe continued the theme of friendly rivalry throughout the day, but in the end it was Smythe who won out to take home third. Galway picked up where he left off in the Master’s class last year, relentlessly fighting to win back his crown. Despite qualifying in pole position, Galway’s unlucky crash in heat one saw reigning champ UTC Kawasaki’s Carl van Niekerk (Benoni, Gauteng) take the lead. Van Niekerk pushed the pace again in heat two, and despite the photo-finish, won two for two at the season opener.
"I don't know what happened in qualifying" said Frerichs, "I just didn't have the pace; but I pulled it together in the races. I went down in the first heat but picked myself up and carried on. This track only really has one racing line, so it’s tough to pass, but I'm happy with the result, it's such a great way to start the season." After a three month off-season all cards have been laid on the table. Speculation has been set aside as a hot new set of favourites emerge. Riders have been traded between teams, bikes have been tweaked and tuned, and the race toward ultimate championship victory is once again underway. Article by CaptureNation
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