25 Jun 2014 ZIC Superbike Race 2: Huang Shi-Zhao falls as Benjamin Burke scores second win
At 1:45 pm on 15 June 2014, after the exciting Red Bull Drift Race and Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup, ZIC Superbike Championship's second race of the weekend is ready to roll. In the first race, Benjamin Burke's Kawasaki beat China'a Huang Shi-Zhao for the win. Today the weather is cloudy and the track is not as hot as the day before. Will we see a different result?
ZIC Superbike Championship is the most important motorcycle race series in China. Since the inception of Pan Delta, Superbike races have been its integral part. It has allowed motorcycle sport to continue and grow. With motorcycle sport on the decline in China, there are fewer and fewer participants. Pan Delta is the only platform on which national riders can perform. They are highly appreciated by the spectators in the grandstand. Every time they are on track, the grandstand is full.
For this Pan Delta, Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup, a new series that nurture riders for Moto GP, has joined up. This is an indication that Pan Delta is the event that is most supportive of motorcycle racing in the country.
With the grid set by yesterday's race 1 results, Benjamin Burke, Huang Shi-Zhao, Dan Kruger line up on the front row. On the second row are Hu Zhao-Neng, Tamura Takeshi and Li Zheng-Peng. Li Zheng-Peng is the only rider among the first two row starters using a 600cc motorcycle, the rest are all on 1,000cc machines.
At 2:00pm, after the mechanics and race queens leave the grid, the bikes move off for their warm-up lap. The weather is fine with the sun beaming down nicely.
Benjamin Burke makes a good start, Huang Shi-Zhao tries to usurp him but is unsuccessful. After turn 1 Benjamin leads with Huang and Dan Kruger behind him. At the start of lap 2 the trio are still running closely together. Huang Shi-Zhao keeps looking for a way past but to no avail. Dan Kruger, meanwhile, is slowing losing ground.
On lap 3, Huang Shi-Zhao passes Benjamin Burke in the corner and begins to lead. But there is a long way to go. For the next 3 laps the leading duo set laps that are merely 0.15 second apart. On lap 5, Huang posts a 1:37.592 fastest lap.
On lap 6, Benjamin Burke counter attacks to keep pace with the leader. Next lap Benjamin takes advantage of a backmarker who slows Huang Shi-Zhao to re-take the lead. But now it is his turn to face the many backmarkers and Huang Shi-Zhao almost manages to use them for a move at the end of the straight. The gap between the duo is just 0.125 second.
On the last lap, at the end of the straight, Huang Shi-Zhao makes a good move around the outside on Benjamin, but he is unable to turn in time, spins off and falls. The bike is spun off into the grass. Thankfully Huang Shi-Zhao is an experienced rider and has taken good precautions by rolling on and sliding to prevent a hard landing. Soon he gets himself and his bike up again and returns to the pit lane area.
In the end, Benjamin Burke completes his second win of the weekend, ahead of Dan Kruger and Takeshi Tamura. The fastest lap is posted by Huang Shi-Zhao, a 1:37.340.