15 Oct 2011 2011 Ends on exciting note: Xiao Jin crowned 600cc champion; YSW-Racing breaks lap record

After the end of the first race, the 2011 China Superbike Championship’s 150cc and SS600cc title battles have intensified. In the riders’ championships, YSW-Racing’s Chen Xiao-Lei and Yes! Yamaha Tianjian Racing’s Huang Shi-Zhao are both 11 points behind Qiu Ming-Xian and Xiao Jin 11 points respectively. They still have hopes but face different scenarios.

Compared with his rivals, Chen Xiao-Lei does not enjoy a speed advantage. If he wants to overcome the 11 points deficit, then he must win the race while hoping that his teammates can help him turn the table around. For Huang Shi-Zhao, speed is not a problem, the key is that apart from himself, the only man who can cause Xiao Jin problems is Huang Zhi-Yu. If Xiao Jin finishes in the top 3, then regardless of where Huang Shi-Zhao finish, Xiao Jin will be champion.

150cc Open class: SYM, YSW divide the prizes

At 15:25 on 15 October, the final race begins. At the start, YSW-Racing’s bikes make clean getaways, pressuring Qiu Ming-Xian into the first corner. Zhou Hang-Kai fails to start and falls to the rear of the field. At the end of lap 1, Zhou Sheng Jun-Jie makes a break, using his lighter body weight advantage. Chen Xiao-Lei, Wang Xiao-Yuan, Qiu Shi-Yi and Qiu Ming-Xian chase after him.

After two laps, the two SYM Jiguang Racing riders Qiu Ming-Xian and Qiu Shi-Yi, running 4th and 5th respectively, are already out of breath trying to keep up with the front 3. Then, after a brief intra-team battle, Wang Xiao-Yuan emerges ahead. Chen Xiao-Lei is then caught by his two SYM Jiguang Racing teammates. The three SYM Jiguang Racing bikes run together and fight for third. At the same time, Zhou Sheng Jun-Jie, running solo, makes a 2:17.386 fastest lap. This lap is quicker than the existing lap record of 2:18.966, set by Wu Xia in 2007.

At the end of lap 2, race leader Zhou Sheng Jun-Jie’s lead extends to over 10 seconds, while second placed Wang Xiao-Yuan is also 6 seconds clear of the third place battle. YSW-Racing’s other rider Chen Xiao-Lei is still fighting with Qiu Shi-Yi and Qiu Ming-Xian.

In the end, Zhou Sheng Jun-Jie wins and helps YSW-Racing dominate both race wins in the 2011 final round. Wang Xiao-Yuan finishes second and Chen Xiao-Lei third. Qiu Ming-Xian finishes fifth. In the championship battle, YSW-Racing claims the 150cc Open class teams’ championship. Since Chen Xiao-Lei could not overcome the 11 points deficit, SYM Jiguang Racing rider Qiu Ming-Xian successfully defends his championship crown. In the 2011 season, SYM and YSW end with a title each.

SS600cc class: Xiao Jin crowned champion

At 16:10, SS600cc class takes to the track. As the red lights go out, the race begins. Just as in the first race, Huang Zhi-Yu makes a excellent start and enters the first corner in the lead. Xiao Jin and Huang Shi-Zhao follow. After just half a lap, Huang Shi-Zhao passes Xiao Jin for second. For the defending champion, Huang Zhi-Yu is the next target, after overtaking him, the rest will be down to luck.

On lap 2, Huang Shi-Zhao is already on Huang Zhi-Yu’s tail. He tries numerous times to overtake, while Xiao Jin takes a conservative approach and is already 5 seconds behind. After all, he just needs to finish third to be crowned champion.

After 3 laps, Huang Shi-Zhao is still behind Huang Zhi-Yu, the gap between them is just 0.2 second. The exciting battle continues. Finally, on the exit of lap 9, Huang Shi-Zhao successfully makes it stick. Once into the lead, Huang Shi-Zhao has not been able to break away as usual, instead, Huang Zhi-Yu runs closely behind him.

In the last few laps, Huang Zhi-Yu begins to lose ground against Huang Shi-Zhao. Xiao Jin continues to maintain position and pace with the title now in sight. Finally, Huang Shi-Zhao wins the race, with Huang Zhi-Yu and Xiao Jin finishing second and third. In the riders championship table, Xiao Jin wins the title with 167 points. He is also the fifth champion since CSBK’s establishment in 2007. Huang Shi-Zhao finishes second overall, 2 points behind. CSBK 600cc continues the trend of no rider being able to defend the title.

And now 2011 CSBK closes its curtains. In the 150cc Open class, SYM Jiguang Racing’s Qiu Ming-Xian successfully defends his crown, while YSW-Racing takes the teams’ title. In SS600cc, Yes! Yamaha Tianjian Racing is the big winner, taking both teams and riders titles.