15 Oct 2011 2011 CSBK Zhuhai Final Round race 1 report: 150cc strategy comes first; 600cc Xiao Jin enjoys good luck

On 15 October, 2011 China Superbike Championship (CSBK)’s final round is held at Audi Zhuhai International Circuit. Before the start of the race, only the SS600cc teams’ title has confirmed its winner as Yes! Yamaha Tianjian Racing. All other titles, including the riders’ titles in both classes are still to be decided.

In the 150cc Open class, the riders’ title battle is focused on SYM Jiguang Racing’s Qiu Ming-Xian and YSW-Racing’s Chen Xiao-Lei. Before the start of the race there is a gap of 20 points between them. In the teams’ championship, SYM Jiguang Racing leads YSW-Racing by 8 points.

In the SS600cc class, Yes! Yamaha Tianjian Racing’s Xiao Jin leads teammate Huang Shi-Zhao by 6 points. The two “swordsmen” will be battling in the final round.

From the qualifying, 150cc Open class’ two teams enjoy mixed emotions. Although SYM Jiguang Racing’s Qiu Ming-Xian took pole position, his teammates Qiu Shi-Yi and Zhou Hang-Kai did not perform well, they are unlikely to offer him the support that he needs. On the other hand, Chen Xiao-Lei hasn’t qualified well, but YSW-Racing’s four bikes are all inside the top six. Team strategy will be their weapon.

Contrast with 150cc Open class, SS600cc is very straight forward. Pole sitter Huang Shi-Zhao’s aim is clear, win both races and he will be in charge of his own destiny. While Xiao Jin, who starts third, will need to perform superbly and hopes that Huang Zhi-Yu will win and help him.

150cc Open class: Title contending duo face adversity

 

At 11:45, 150cc Open class’s first race officially begins. Second placed YSW-Racing rider Chen Yuan-Hang uses his weight advantage to pressure Qiu Ming-Xian, who starts on his right and allows his teams 4 riders to lead into the first corner. Soon, YSW-Racing work together to allow Chen Xiao-Lei to rise to first place. After one lap, the order is: Chen Xiao-Lei, Wang Xiao-Yuan, Chen Yuan-Hang and Zhou Sheng Jun-Jie. The three SYM Jiguang Racing riders follow.

On lap 2, for an unknown reason, title challenger Chen Xiao-Lei’s speed drops and he drops down the order. He was soon down to 4th place. On lap 3, SYM Jiguang Racing’s riders begin to push and get themselves into the YSW-Racing group. The 7 bikes now run together as one group. After a series of fierce battles, Wang Xiao-Yuan breaks free and pulls out a small gap, while the rest continue to battle each other.

Although Wang Xiao-Yuan leads, for SYM Jiguang Racing, the best news is that Qiu Ming-Xian is now ahead of Chen Xiao-Lei. Even if Wang Xiao-Yuan wins, so long as Qiu Ming-Xian stays ahead of Chen Xiao-Lei, the title will be his.

In the middle of the race, Chen Xiao-Lei loses pace against the leaders. But the gap from 2nd to 6th place is just 0.4 second. In the final stage, YSW-Racing’s young riders Chen Yuan-Hang and Zhou Sheng Jun-Jie begin to tire, both are passed by SYM Jiguang Racing’s 3 riders. Wang Xiao-Yuan continues to run in an untroubled lead, with 3 SYM Jiguang Racing riders chasing. But unexpectedly, Qiu Ming-Xian’s bike suddenly suffers a mechanical failure and he has to retire from the race. A big blow to SYM Jiguang Racing’s title hopes.

In the end, YSW-Racing’s Wang Xiao-Yuan crosses the line to win race 1 of the final round. SYM Jiguang Racings’s Qiu Shi-Yi and Zhou Hang-Kai are second and third. Chen Xiao-Lei finishes 7th. The gap between him and Qiu Ming-Xian is now down to 11 points.

SS600cc class: Xiao Jin takes fortunate win

At 12:30, after the end of the 150cc Open class. SS600cc race 1 begins. At the start, Tianyu DTU Racing’s Huang Zhi-Yu charges ahead and runs ahead of the two Yes! Yamaha Tianjian Racing riders. But after just half a lap, he is passed by Yamaha veteran Huang Shi-Zhao. In the following laps, Huang Shi-Zhao will just have to focus on protecting his position. For teammate Xiao Jin, his aim is to overtake Huang Zhi-Yu and Huang Shi-Zhao. Xiao Jin though finds Huang Zhi-Yu is very hard to deal with.

But then, his luck changes. Huang Shi-Zhao’s bike has an unexpected failure and he slows dramatically. Both Huang Zhi-Yu and Xiao Jin are able to pass him easily. Now the race leader is Huang Zhi-Yu and although Xiao Jin is only second, the riders’ title is closer and closer.

In the second half of the race, second placed Xiao Jin begins to get to the tail of Huang Zhi-Yu, but he is not able to pass, the gap between them about 0.5 second. Huang Shi-Zhao runs in third place, his earlier strong run ensures that he can still finish third provided he has no accidents, giving him a ray of hope for the title.

In the end, Xiao Jin battles past Huang Zhi-Yu at turn 9, Huang tries to fight back by diving down early to take a quicker exit, but the two bikes touch and Huang falls off. Xiao Jin thus takes victory, his third of the season. Huang Shi-Zhao, despite his problems, finishes second. But now the gap between the two riders have grown to 11 points.