At 1:20pm on 17 June, Pan Delta Super Racing Festival ZIC Superbike’s second race is about to start. Compared with the cool temperatures of the morning, the circuit has become rather hot. But it should be better for the motorbikes’ performance. The battle among Huang Shi-Zhao, Dan Kruger and Li Zheng-Peng is bound to be more spectacular this afternoon.
At 1:30pm, the 10 lap race officially begins. After the formation lap, the front row starters including pole sitter Huang Shi-Zhao, Li Zheng-Peng and Huang Zhi-Yu are ready to go, while Dan Kruger starts on row 2 directly behind Huang Shi-Zhao.
The red lights go off and the race begins. Huang Shi-Zhao makes a good start and is first into turn 1. But Dan Kruger’s green Kawasaki also makes a good start and is stuck to Huang’s tail. At turn 4, no. 8 Huang Zhi-Yu cannot brake in time and hit the bike in front, pushing it onto the grass. Huang falling over in the process and sliding more than 10 metres until reaching the sand trap. Fortunately his leather protected him from any injury. At turn 10, another bike goes off the track and then two other bikes go the same way. Just one lap and we have lost 4 bikes.
At the end of lap 1, suddenly the sky opens and rain comes pouring down. This causes a major problem as everyone has started the race on dry, threadless tyres. They cannot cope with any standing water. The race organizer shows the red flag to stop the race. The rain has not dampened the crowd’s spirits as they have just witnessed a great race lap and are eager for more.
The downpour comes and goes quickly. In less than 5 minutes, the ZIC Superbikes are back on track, ready for the re-start. Almost everyone are now on wet tyres, as the conditions on the track are not optimal. The spray that comes off the back of the safety car indicates that this is going to be a different race from race 1.
waiting for the tyre change mid-race
The race re-starts with a formation lap, this allows the riders a look at where all the standing water are located. At the start, the green Kawasaki of Dan Kruger leads. On a wet track the leader has a clear advantage because of his better visibility. With the advantage, Dan Kruger completes lap 1 in the lead, with a 2.5 seconds gap to Huang Shi-Zhao in second place.
On lap 2, another accident happens, a bike is fallen by the side and the rescue workers placed the rider on the stretcher. The rider is seen waving his arm so he is in pain but conscious. Yellow flags are shown in the corner but the race continues.
On lap 3, Huang Shi-Zhao has dropped back to 4 seconds behind. Dan Kruger is clearly aiming to revenge the 0.031 second defeat suffered in the morning. On lap 4, parts of the track is already drying up. This surface will be good for Huang Shi-Zhao and he immediately closes in, taking one second out of Dan Kruger’s advantage. The emergency rescue at turn 6 is completed and the yellow flags are withdrawn.
On lap 5, Huang Shi-Zhao closes in once more, now just 2 seconds behind. The two riders’ battle seems inevitable. By the end of lap 5, Huang Shi-Zhao is right on Dan Kruger’s tail and after the pair exit the final corner, they are almost together. At turn 1, Dan Kruger still leads but at turn 3, Huang Shi-Zhao dives down the inside line and goes for the outside line at turn 4 to successfully pass Dan. Dan is certainly not going to give up his fight and immediately looks for a way back in front but Huang defends very well, giving him no chance at all. As the lap is completed Dan is already 1.8 seconds behind and the gap is growing.
At the last corner on the last lap, Huang Shi-Zhao turns around to make his custmary look, there is nobody! Once again Huang has used his stunning ability to win the ZIC Superbike race. The second race ends without the drama of the 0.031 second finishing gap, but it is a more exciting race. The sudden downpour has not dampened the passion of the riders, as witnessed by the cheering fans in the grandstand.
PRESS FROM CHINA: Spirits that cannot be dampened: Pan Delta ZIC Superbike Race 2
At 1:20pm on 17 June, Pan Delta Super Racing Festival ZIC Superbike’s second race is about to start. Compared with the cool temperatures of the morning, the circuit has become rather hot. But it should be better for the motorbikes’ performance. The battle among Huang Shi-Zhao, Dan Kruger and Li Zheng-Peng is bound to be more spectacular this afternoon.
At 1:30pm, the 10 lap race officially begins. After the formation lap, the front row starters including pole sitter Huang Shi-Zhao, Li Zheng-Peng and Huang Zhi-Yu are ready to go, while Dan Kruger starts on row 2 directly behind Huang Shi-Zhao.
The red lights go off and the race begins. Huang Shi-Zhao makes a good start and is first into turn 1. But Dan Kruger’s green Kawasaki also makes a good start and is stuck to Huang’s tail. At turn 4, no. 8 Huang Zhi-Yu cannot brake in time and hit the bike in front, pushing it onto the grass. Huang falling over in the process and sliding more than 10 metres until reaching the sand trap. Fortunately his leather protected him from any injury. At turn 10, another bike goes off the track and then two other bikes go the same way. Just one lap and we have lost 4 bikes.
At the end of lap 1, suddenly the sky opens and rain comes pouring down. This causes a major problem as everyone has started the race on dry, threadless tyres. They cannot cope with any standing water. The race organizer shows the red flag to stop the race. The rain has not dampened the crowd’s spirits as they have just witnessed a great race lap and are eager for more.
The downpour comes and goes quickly. In less than 5 minutes, the ZIC Superbikes are back on track, ready for the re-start. Almost everyone are now on wet tyres, as the conditions on the track are not optimal. The spray that comes off the back of the safety car indicates that this is going to be a different race from race 1.
waiting for the tyre change mid-race
The race re-starts with a formation lap, this allows the riders a look at where all the standing water are located. At the start, the green Kawasaki of Dan Kruger leads. On a wet track the leader has a clear advantage because of his better visibility. With the advantage, Dan Kruger completes lap 1 in the lead, with a 2.5 seconds gap to Huang Shi-Zhao in second place.
On lap 2, another accident happens, a bike is fallen by the side and the rescue workers placed the rider on the stretcher. The rider is seen waving his arm so he is in pain but conscious. Yellow flags are shown in the corner but the race continues.
On lap 3, Huang Shi-Zhao has dropped back to 4 seconds behind. Dan Kruger is clearly aiming to revenge the 0.031 second defeat suffered in the morning. On lap 4, parts of the track is already drying up. This surface will be good for Huang Shi-Zhao and he immediately closes in, taking one second out of Dan Kruger’s advantage. The emergency rescue at turn 6 is completed and the yellow flags are withdrawn.
On lap 5, Huang Shi-Zhao closes in once more, now just 2 seconds behind. The two riders’ battle seems inevitable. By the end of lap 5, Huang Shi-Zhao is right on Dan Kruger’s tail and after the pair exit the final corner, they are almost together. At turn 1, Dan Kruger still leads but at turn 3, Huang Shi-Zhao dives down the inside line and goes for the outside line at turn 4 to successfully pass Dan. Dan is certainly not going to give up his fight and immediately looks for a way back in front but Huang defends very well, giving him no chance at all. As the lap is completed Dan is already 1.8 seconds behind and the gap is growing.
At the last corner on the last lap, Huang Shi-Zhao turns around to make his custmary look, there is nobody! Once again Huang has used his stunning ability to win the ZIC Superbike race. The second race ends without the drama of the 0.031 second finishing gap, but it is a more exciting race. The sudden downpour has not dampened the passion of the riders, as witnessed by the cheering fans in the grandstand.
the Sweet taste of success