A look back at Kyalami - the last 3 editions

2000 - The new Honda VTR1000 twin won on its first appearance in race 1 at Kyalami. It was not difficult to predict though, as Colin Edwards (photo) had recorded amazing lap times during the winter in all of the circuits he tested. The race was a three-man affair involving Edwards, Haga and Fogarty. Edwards led from the start, but on the penultimate lap Haga was able to go in front, Edwards reacted and on the last lap went back into the lead to win, with Fogarty in third, very close, but unable to attack because he was still suffering from an accident in testing and his shoulder was not at 100%. At the second start the task for Fogarty was even harder, because he remained trapped behind Aoki while Haga, Edwards, Corser and Chili pulled away from the rest. Fogarty quickly set after the leaders, was even able to pass Corser, but after ten laps fell and was out of the race. In the second part of the race Haga improved his pace and Edwards gave up, to secure a safe second, also because Chili had already dropped his pace in third and Corser was further behind on fourth. The Japanese rider won, but he was later disqualified after he failed a drugs test. The Haga affair would be a season-long dispute in the courts, more or less like the Slight affair back in 1994.
2001 - Ben Bostrom took pole at Kyalami, but in race 1 Edwards was out on his own; Bayliss stayed with him for half of the race, then gave up the fight, leaving the American to cruise to the end. Third was Corser and fourth Bostrom, who in race 2 took the lead immediately at the start, while Edwards had to pass Bayliss and Corser before starting to chase him. Colin had another pace in Kyalami, caught Ben and managed to pass him, but suffered a mechanical failure soon afterwards and Bostrom won unchallenged, since Bayliss was not able to catch him and Corser was too far seconds behind. Edwards' failure put the spotlight on Honda's poor reliability in the first two races: the American had lost a win and his team-mate Okada suffered three failures in four races (he was still at zero points after a clash with Laconi in Valencia that completed the series of retirements).

2002 - At Kyalami there were few changes in the finishing order from what the Championship had shown so far, as it was a two-man duel between Bayliss and Edwards. In race 1 Bayliss won from Edwards and Xaus, in race 2 from...Xaus and Edwards. All three were on Michelin rubber in a year where the tyre war was crucial for performance: the Dunlop riders were not so far behind, but not in a condition to fight for the win. Haga was a clear example: the Japanese rider twice started well and was even able to take the lead, Bayliss had only to wait for the Dunlops to wear out and then passed Haga, who wasn't a problem anymore for the rest of the races.

WSBK riders step into the lion's den at Kyalami

Thursday, 14 May 2009 17:16

The sixth round of the Hannspree FIM Superbike World Championship kicked off today with a series of PR and media activities for a dozen top riders at Kyalami in the build-up to the South African Round this weekend. This morning Michel Fabrizio (Ducati Xerox), Carlos Checa and Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), Broc Parkes (Kawasaki World Superbike Racing Team) and Tom Sykes (Yamaha World Superbike) met up in front of the famous landmark statue in Nelson Mandela Square in downtown Sandton, one of Johannesburg's suburbs, for a photo shoot before being taken on a wildlife tour at a nearby Lion Park.

The riders had the opportunity to meet and interact with lion cubs and giraffes before heading back to the circuit for their afternoon activities.

Later in the pre-race press conference held in the circuit, Fabrizio, Ben Spies (Yamaha World Superbike), Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing), Fonsi Nieto (Suzuki Alstare, replacing the injured Max Neukirchner), Ryuichi Kiyonari (Ten Kate Honda), Ruben Xaus (BMW Motorrad), national champion Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki World Superbike Racing Team, replacing Makoto Tamada) and Shaun Whyte from Zimbabwe (substitute rider for David Checa in the Yamaha France GMT 94 IPONE team) were introduced to national and international media by Stephen Watson, CEO of Gauteng Motorsport Company and SBK Director Paolo Ciabatti.

Ben Spies: "The season so far has had its ups and downs but so far it's been more good than bad. I feel sure it's going to be another good weekend, we had a really good test here, at that point only the second time for me on the bike, but now we have a much better motorcycle and set-up. Everybody is riding really good and every weekend is really tough."

Michel Fabrizio: "The tests were the first time out for everyone, now we have already done five races, for sure it'll be a lot more difficult this weekend. I really like this circuit, hopefully we can have a good weekend as well here like last weekend."

Max Biaggi: "Since December we have improved a lot, here it was just the second test. Now we have really stepped up. Temperature conditions will be much different now so I will put my head down and try to do my best."

Ryuichi Kiyonari: "I did a good test here last year. I know which is the programme on my bike for this circuit and I try to do the same results as I did at Monza or better here."

Ruben Xaus: "I like Kyalami, the last time I raced here I was in the points. The BMW bike was new when I tested here, things are coming on. There is always too short a time to get the bikes ready, but I'm looking forward to a good result."

Fonsi Nieto: "For me everything is new, track and bike, not the team however I know them from last year. It's not the best moment for coming back but I'm happy to be here in Kyalami."

Sheridan Morais: "To come in with a team of this stature is a good thing. You can only do the best you can. Our national times aren't too far off the times in testing so that's where we're going to be this weekend."

Shaun Whyte: "It's a dream come true to be in World Superbikes and I'm grateful for this opportunity to be able to race with these guys. I'm hoping I can do something to keep the honour of the Zimbabwe flag up."

LAP RECORDS: modified circuit

SCHEDULE: The South African Round of the Hannspree FIM Superbike World Championship takes place from Friday 15 thru Sunday 17 May. Superbike and Supersport free practice and qualifying are held on the first two days, with Superpole scheduled for Saturday at 15.00. The two 24-lap (101.904 km) Superbike races are scheduled to run on Sunday at 12.00 and 15.30, with the 23-lap (97.658 km) Supersport race at 13.25 local time.

ABOUT THE KYALAMI CIRCUIT: The track is situated on the plateau surrounding South Africa's biggest city Johannesburg, and it has always been the scene for some spectacular racing, with a prestigious list of winners over the years. In the five editions held there from 1998 to 2002, Colin Edwards is the most successful rider with three wins to his name, following by Pierfrancesco Chili, Carl Fogarty and Troy Bayliss, the last winner, on 2 each and one for Ben Bostrom. The layout of the track, measuring 4.246 metres, is technically challenging. It has 11 left-hand curves and 6 right, and a difference in elevation between the various sections, that makes it difficult for riders and forces them to remain fully-focussed throughout the entirety of the lap.

TV SCHEDULE: Eurosport (pan-European): Sunday 17 May, Superpole - 11.30 (delayed), SBK race 1 - 12.00 (live), Supersport - 17.30 (delayed), SBK race 2 - 17.45 (delayed). British Eurosport (UK): Sunday 17 May, Superbike race 1 & 2, Supersport - 10.30 (live)