27 Sep 2015 Superbike Races - Another feather in Pan Delta s cap

During the Pan Delta Super Racing Festival Autumn Race, one of the races attracted major media and spectator attention, the Asia Talent Cup. Asia Talent Cup is established by Dorna, the promoter for MotoGP World Championship. It aims to nurture young, skilled and talented Asian riders and help them prepare for world class superbike racing. It is now the top level motorbike race series for aspiring young riders in Asia. Over the races in two days, Asia Talent Cup has seen intense competition, especially in the first race when the winner and 1st runner's up was only 0.03 second apart.

Dorna is the promoter and operator of both the MotoGP World Championship and the World Superbike Championship. Its professionalism is unquestionable. So why have they brought Asia Talent Cup to Zhuhai and work with the Pan Delta platform? Dorna's young driver development manager Eva explains that after MotoGP left China, Chinese motorbike racing requires a platform to showcase and develop their talents, while Dorna needs a window to discover and nutrure potential Chinese riders. They believe that Pan Delta's ZIC Superbike currently represents the highest level of motorbike sport in China. Since Pan Delta has a high popularity in Southern China and even the entire country, it is beneficial to Dorna's promotional efforts towards young riders.

With the end of the race weekend, Pan Delta has completed its 11th anniversary. There are more riders entered in ZIC Superbike than ever, with 46 riders. At the start of the race, there is even a situation where the numbers of riders trying to get through turn 1 is so great, they have to slow down and wait for their turn to turn the corner.

Today's success in motorbike racing is the result of years hardwork and refinement by ZIC. Yuan Ji-Bo, class 2 winner of the championship, has already raced overseas as a Chinese representative. He thinks that the full grid and the full grandstand are enough to explain Pan Delta's success. He has been to the Losail International Circuit at Doha, Qatar many times where it held MotoGP races. Compared with Losail's world class race operation and facilities, Pan Delta is clearly a grassroot race. But the race organization, operation and protection have reached new heights nonetheless. Superbike class has improved in recent years, it has not just improved its attractiveness, but its competition level has also risen. Two or three years ago, Superbike 600cc class lap times were about 1:44 seconds, this year a rider has to manage 1:42 to have any chance of victory.

Apart from the record high competitior numbers, ZIC Superbike has also attracted a lot of manufacturer/brand interest. Yamaha, Ducati, Kawasaki, BMW, EBR and Suzuki are all represented one way or another. With motorbike racing in decline elsewhere in the country, Pan Delta Superbike has become the strongest and most spectacular motorbike race series nationally.

In the next five year plan, Pan Delta will continue its work at grassroot levels, it will continue to grow the superbike series and will establish a basic beginners level motorbike race for all the motorbike fans and enthusiasts, so that Pan Delta Superbike will become another namecard for the event after Circuit Hero.