19 Jun 2014 Pan Delta ZIC SBK Race 1: Accident caused red flag allows Benjamin Burke to win

At 3:15pm on 14 June 2014, Pan Delta Superbike is ready to rumble. They are on track right after the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup. The main difference is that while the Asia Talent Cup uses identical motorcycles, Pan Delta Superbike riders are free to choose their machinery from 250cc to 1,000cc. Riders as well as their teams' abilities are crucial.

Of course for those familiar with Pan Delta, the SBK is dominated in recent years by riders such as Huang Shi-Zhao and Dan Kruger. Both are experienced and fast around the Zhuhai track. But for this race they will face a new challenger, Benjamin Burke. He has already shown his speed in qualifying by grabbing pole position. Will he takeover as the new king of Pan Delta SBK?

The race begins with a warm up lap as usual, Zhuhai is very hot today at 32 degree C and the track temperature is even higher at 60 degree C after being under the sun for the entire morning.

As the race begins, 36 high revving superbikes storm towards the first corner. Huang Shi-Zhao hesitates at the start and Dan Kruger needs no invitation to get ahead of him, while Benjamin Burke eases into the lead. Huang quickly reasserts himself against Dan Kruger and at turn 13, slips down the inside line and overtakes Benjamin Burke for the lead. Benjamin and Dan though are able to keep close and the first three cross the line a mere 0.2 second apart.

On lap 2, Huang Shi-Zhao tries to break away but seems unable to do so. Benjamin is not letting him getaway. On lap 3, near the end of the main straight, Benjamin Burke moves to the inside line and outbrakes Huang Shi-Zhao into the first corner. After that Huang trails Burke and the white bike leads the blue bike around. On lap 4, Benjamin sets the fastest lap time of 1:37.225 which he breaks on his next tour with a 1:37.126.

The leading duo then encounters backmarkers and Huang Shi-Zhao tries to take advantage in the corner. His surprise move works and he leads again. But by now both riders seem to suffer from tyre problems as their bikes wobble quite wildly in the corners.

On lap 7 between turns 3 and 4, Benjamin Burke suddenly moves to Huang Shi-Zhao's left side and tries to dive through, but Huang defends it with determination. At turn 8, Huang meets a backmarker and Benjamin moves to the outside line and outbrakes Huang for the lead. At the same time a bike runs onto the grass and sand at turn 14, its rider rolls across the sand and the race organizers decides to stop the race with the red flag.

Benjamin Burke is thus declared the winner, with Huang Shi-Zhao second and Dan Kruger third.