High-speed drama in SA Superbike race

BMW star Chris Leeson, BMW leads Kawasaki riders Clint Seller at East London.

BMW star Chris Leeson, BMW leads Kawasaki riders Clint Seller at East London.

Published Jul 1, 2013

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Superbike fans will remember Round 5 of the SA Superbike series, at the East London Grand Prix circuit on 29 June, for insanely close racing, the fastest motorcycle lap in the circuit's history - and the this year's most fearsome crash by far.

The first Superbike race saw 'works' BMW rider Chris Leeson fighting for the lead with Kawasaki riders Clint Seller, Nicolas Grobler and the vastly experienced Stewart MacLeod, on a once-off return from retirement.

But on lap six veteran Heinrich Rheeder (BMW) and Yamaha rider Dylan White touched going into the scary Potters' Pass, the fastest conrer in South African circuit racing.

OVER THE WALL

Rheeder's BMW went farming at about 250km/h, slid more than 60 metres across the grass without losing speed and ploughed into a tyre wall. Both rider and bike flipped over the wall, and the medics were amazed to find Rheeder limping around in a dust cloud, reasonably intact.

The race was red-flagged, Rheeder was taken to hospital for observation, and marshals collected the widely scattered bits of his BMW.

After the restart Seller took the lead and went on to win, just ahead of Leeson, Grobler, MacLeod, White and Leeson's BMW team mate Ryan Ottens.

RACE 2

The second leg delivered a race-long battle between Seller, Leeson and Grobler, each taking a turn to set the quickest lap time as the race went on.

Leeson broke free on the final lap to win, recording the East London circuit's fastest ever two-wheeler lap of 1 min18.88 in the process, and leading home Seller, Grobler, MacLeod, White and Ottens.

SUPERSPORTS

Veteran Lance Isaacs won the first 600cc race from MV Agusta team mates Brent Harran and Cam Petersen, who narrowly beat Dean Vos' Yamaha R6 into fourth.

Race two saw Isaacs, Harran, Petersen and Vos fighting tooth and nail throughout, tackling the Potters Pass sweep side by side at more than 230km/h on almost every lap.

It all came down to a last-lap charge for the flag that had the crowd on its feet as Voss won from Isaacs, Petersen and Harran, with all four covered by half a second across the finish line.

The next round of the SA Superbike series will be run at the Free State Phakisa Raceway on Saturday 4 August.

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