26 Mar 2013 ZIC Superbike Series Race 2: Veteran appears as Huang Shi-Zhao loses by just 0.05s

At 2pm on 17 March 2013, Pan Delta Super Racing Festival's ZIC Superbike Series is back on, after the Red Bull Drifting Challenge and Stunt Motorcycle shows. After the closely fought battle yesterday between Dan Kruger and Huang Shi-Zhao, won by the latter by just 0.2 second, it is widely expected that Dan Kruger will try to take his revenge.

Pan Delta Super Racing Festival, as the only national race event that includes a superbike race in its schedule, is very attractive to bike riders. Huang Shi-Zhao and Li Zheng-Peng are among the top national riders in this race. Internationally, European, American and Japanese riders are also in the race. The addition of these international riders are very good for the growth of the sport in China.

The grid is set according to the finishing order of Race 1, with Huang Shi-Zhao on pole position. Dan Kruger is second, Rosli is third. This trio occupies the front row. Li Zheng-Peng, Zhou Hao-Yun, Karl Roe occupies row 2. On the grid, a white haired man raised some cheers in the grandstand. The no. 169 Yamaha R6 rider called Wu Zhong-Sheng from Hong Kong is fast approaching 60 years-old, his appearance in the fast and exciting superbike race is certainly an amazement. The crowd gives him cheer for their assurance and support.

With the gaze of a packed grandstand, the superbike race starts. The sun has yet to make an appearance today, which is good for spectators but not so good for the riders, as the low track temperature means they have to work hard to get the tyres up to working temperature.

At the start of the race Huang Shi-Zhao pulls away cleanly, while Dan Kruger also makes a good start. Dan Kruger soon passes Huang Shi-Zhao to take the lead as they exit turn 1. But Huang is able to keep up and at the end of lap 1, the duo is separated by just 0.5 second. They soon pull away from the rest and by the end of lap 2 they are four seconds ahead of the third rider.

The two lead riders run nose-to-tail for the next three laps. On lap 5, they can see the backmarkers, now maybe Huang's chance to take the lead. He begins to pressurize Dan Kruger. There was no luck with the first backmarker, but there are plenty more to come.

On lap 6, Huang Shi-Zhao gets close to Dan Kruger once more and they have two backmarkers coming up. But Dan is also an experienced rider and he controls his pace and line very well, leaving no gap for Huang to pounce.

On lap 7, Huang is getting a little anxious. After passing a backmarker, his bike vibrates badly and his front wheel takes off. He manages to hold it without losing too much ground. By now the sun is shining on ZIC. But with the race ending soon, the rise in temperature is not going to be much of a difference now.

On the last lap, Huang still has not given up and Dan Kruger once again comes up to a backmarker. Huang closes in once again but there is nothing more he can do. Dan Kruger wins by 0.05 second from Huang Shi-Zhao, Rosli finishes third and Zhou Hao-Yun takes fourth place.