The SuperGP Champions Trophy makes its first visit to the Aldo Scribante circuit in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, 27 August when the sixth round of the 2016 season takes place. While most of the riders have competed at the 2.48 km long circuit, it will be the first time they will be there as part of the SuperGP series.
With just three events left in the championship this year the race for points is becoming even more important. Despite a crash in the opening race last time out at Red Star Raceway, SuperGP championship leader Mathew Scholtz (ETR Nashua Yamaha R1) bounced back with a win in the second heat and has a 40-point lead in the championship.
Michael White (Consortium Shipping Yamaha R1) and defending champion Clint Seller (Neolife Yamaha R1) are his closest challengers. The pair are separated by just a single point and will be going all out to secure victory and claim the 50 points on offer in Port Elizabeth.
Greg Gildenhuys (Kreepy Krauly Kawasaki ZX10-R) has finished on the podium in each of the last three rounds and is now in a solid fourth place on the log ahead of veteran Lance Isaacs (LIR Motorrad BMW S1000RR). Daryn Upton (Turnskill Engineering Yamaha R1) is slowly getting to grips with his new bike and holds sixth place.
In the SuperMasters Interprovincial Challenge Isaacs has yet to be beaten this season and has a comfortable 109-point lead in the championship. Another pair of wins at Aldo Scribante will see him secure the 2016 title. Damon Purificati (Amalgam Welding Shop Kawasaki ZX10-R) and Etienne Nelson (BMW S1000RR) are his closest challengers.
Steven Odendaal’s (Petra Yamaha R6) commitments in the FIM CEV Moto2 European Championship mean that Adolf Boshoff (Neolife Yamaha R6) has opened up a substantial 60-point gap at the top of the championship log and he looks a good bet to take the championship.
Blaze Baker had electronic problems on his Uncle Andy Racing Suzuki GSXR 600 at Red Star but still holds third place on the log. He is followed by lady racer Nicole van Aswegen (Women in Motorsport Triumph 675) with Dylan Barnard (Kawasaki ZX6) and Kewyn Snyman (Inex Construction Kawasaki ZX6) in fifth and sixth respectively.
Despite a slightly disappointing outing at Red Star, Capetonian Brandon Staffen still leads the way in the SuperJunior championship. Aiden Liebenberg has narrowed the gap to just 5 points with Tyreece Robert not far behind in third. CJ Hackart, Luca Coccioni and Jared Schultz complete the top six.
The national categories will be supported by the BOTTS riders and number of regional categories. Practice and qualifying take place on Friday, 26 August with racing getting underway at 10h00 on Saturday, 27 August.
As is the case at all SuperGP Champions Trophy events, there is a charity component to the race meeting. The Tin Run Tour helps charities in the area of the circuit with donations of tinned food. Spectators who arrive before 10h00 on race day will be granted free admission to the circuit in exchange for a tin of food.