20 Jan 2018 First race for upgraded Speed Hero; #453 Jack Fu Ao Ieong/Lee Guo-Xiong/Lee Jun-Zheng takes pole position for endurance race

On 20 January 2018, the newly created “Speed Hero” 3 hours Endurance Race by Zhuhai International Circuit holds its qualifying session. This is the first time the “Speed Hero” series holds a race. For high performance superbikes, the 3 hours endurance race gives riders and machines a great challenge.

All the major ZIC Superbike racing teams entered their best rider combinations to the first ever “Speed Hero” race. There is a total of 24 entrants and 58 riders. The biggest entry among them is Shi Zhao Racing, with 5 superbikes and 11 riders. Shenzhen 299 Racing, ACE Motorcycle, S&S and other renowned racing teams in the country have also entered. Even “Circuit Hero” regular “Baldy” He Wei-Hang is a participant, the popularity of the race is clear for all to see.

Just 8 minutes into qualifying, #71 loses control and goes into the gravel bed at turn 9, losing its chances to improve its lap time. Although #71 has already set a good time, 1:38.192, guaranteeing its front row starting position for tomorrow’s race.

15 minutes later, all the entries begin to make proper progress. Among them #453 sets the best time of 1:37.075. Most teams enter the pit lane to change riders, at the same time making final adjustments to the superbikes. 

The 30 minutes long qualifying session soon nears it end, with some riders making their last dashes. At turn 7, #41 loses control and falls on the trackside, in a dangerous position. The race organizers show the yellow flag and all the teams return to the pit lane.

In the end, Jack Fu Io Aeong/Lee Guo-Xiong/Lee Jun-Zheng #453 takes pole position for the 3 hours endurance race tomorrow. Dan Kruger/Shinjo Masahiro #71 are in second place. Zhang Jin/Yang Chao/Huang Yin-Jia #96 is third. The three front row slots are all occupied by CL1 entries. Lin Zhi-Fei/Xu Wei-Lang/Deng Jin-Cheng CL2 #17 are first in class and fifth overall.

The race tomorrow looks set to be very exciting.