Cape Town – In every way, this has been Brandon Haupt’s year. After a shaky start to the season, marred by a blown engine (his family-sponsored MX Clean ZX-10R is still running with the engine from his father’s similar road bike) his challenge for the Mike Hopkins regional motorcycle title has gained momentum with every outing.
Of 10 races run so far this year, he has won the last seven on the trot – each by a bigger margin than the previous race - and has a solid lead in the points standings. All things being equal, he should start as firm favourite in Saturday’s sixth round of the series.
But all things are rarely equal in motorsport; this Saturday sees a welcome return to his home circuit by former SA Supersport champion and World Superstock star David ‘McFlash’ McFadden on the Suzuki South GSX-R1000 L5S.
In their previous clash at Killarney, at the first round of this season, McFadden beat Haupt by four seconds in Race 1 and five seconds in Race 2. Will Haupt, on the crest of a wave of confidence, be able to up his game that vital half-second a lap to match McFlash? Only time will tell, but the racing is going to be intense.
Keeping the two star riders honest will be Malcolm Rapson on his Kawasaki ZX-10R and Trevor Westman on the Mad Mac’s ZX-10R. Westman is rapidly coming to terms with the 2016 Kawasaki and, were it not for McFadden’s presence, I would tip him as the rider most likely to challenge Haupt. As it is, both of them will be within striking range if either of the front-runners makes the slightest mistake.
600 Challenge
Right behind them will be the leaders of the Brat Pack, Hayden Jonas (Fifty8 Racing) and Warren ‘Starfish’ Guantario (Mad Mac’s) on the two quickest 600s at Killarney – so quick, in fact, that Jonas in particular has been known to challenge the litre-class front-runners on his day.
Jonas has had the upper hand in their previous three encounters, but usually by the narrowest of margins, and Guantariol still leads the points standings. Unless Jonas is able to put one of the litre-class riders between them, this could be a real needle match.
Jacques Ackerman on the second Mad Mac’s ZX-10R heads Class B at the halfway point of the season, albeit more by consistency than outright pace. He’ll face strong challenges from Mark van den Berg (Honda CBR1000 RR) and the Schultz’s - father Karl and son Jared, on the ASAP World ZX-6Rs – for class honours.
Powersport/Clubman
JP Friedrich (Calberg SV650) started the season on a strong note but has since been upstaged in the Powersport rankings by skinny teenager Brandon Staffen, on the Keating & Jansen SV650, who has beaten him three times out of six this year. Expect them to take up where they left off, with no quarter asked or given, on Saturday.
Alongside them will be Clubman class leader ‘Big Harry’ Clifton on the MSD Auto Services ZX-10R, who will be under threat from Joske Kotze (Kawasaki ZX-6R), Jayson Bulterman (BMW F800 ST) and suddenly on-form veteran Bronte Heinrich, riding his classic Ducati 996 SPS.