ZRC Thunderbikes & ZRC Brunch Run Racing.

Race report by Deon vdl.

Photos by Deon vdl Photography and Jen Venter.

While we were at Honda’s brunch run, Zwartkops was also hosting some racing.

These two events are for the rider that wants a little more than just a normal track day at Zwartkops. The first step is to join the Brunch Run if you can do a time of one minute twenty or faster and once you get even faster you can move up to Thunderbikes.

On the day all riders have a 15 min practice session, a 15 min qualifier and two 8 lap races. Each event has multiple classes according to times and the top three riders of each class goes home with a trophy.

Both events take place on a Sunday and share the track with the Sunday Brunch Cruise track day and is held every second month.

Brunch Run:

(Combined Results)

Twenty riders made their way onto the track for their qualifying round. The front row with a 0.113 second time difference were #27 Clive Turnbull on pole, #18 Zaidy Williams and #23 Andrew Jones.

Race one.

All riders stood ready on their grid positions waiting for the lights. The lights came on, the bikes roared and took off as the lights went off. It’s great to watch!

Everyone piled into the first corner and exited cleanly.

Turnbull got the hole-shot and had the early lead and he rode his Suzuki all the way to the end for the win, Jones came through in 2nd place with Williams taking 3rd.

Race two.

Turnbull had another great start. Lap two started with Jones in the lead. A race incident saw #24 Laila Williams pushed wide with the young lady losing the front and causing the red flag to come out.

Riders headed back on the grid waiting for the restart.

After the race was restarted Turnbull was back in front with Williams and Jones side by side through turn one. The race was in full swing when three laps later #76 Meshan Pillay tucked the front going into turn one and had a massive crash.

The second red flag brought an end to the race. Turnbull 1st, Jones 2nd and Williams 3rd.

The good news is that both riders are fine!

Overall Results

Class A:

1st #27 Clive Turnbull 2nd #23 Andrew Jones 3rd #18 Zaidy Williams

Class B:

1st #52 Uegene Lee 2nd #8 Matthew Walker 3rd #106 Jhandre Fourie

Class C:

1st #91 Jarryd Ullyett 2nd #136 Martin Fourie 3rd #30 Bradley Radestock

Class D:

1st #64 Martin Parry 2nd #45 Andrew Minnaar 3rd #76 Meshan Pillay

Class E:

1st #77 Alex Nomicos 2nd #56 Arno Nieuwenhuizen 3rd #36 Nicole Siboza

Thunderbikes.

A pack of 14 riders made their way around the track in the qualifying session. The fastest rider out was #13 Ryan van Nieuwkerk followed by #7 Luca Bertolini and #15 James Barson to complete the front row.

Race one.

The riders leaped into action as the race started. Van Nieuwkerk took up the front with Bertolini hot on his heels. Behind them #117 Dave Veringa was being chased by #15 James Barson and the battle for third place was on. In the end Bertolini took the win with Van Nieuwkerk in a very close 2nd place. The battle for third went down to the wire with Barson claiming 3rd and Veringa following 0.303 sec later in 4th.

Race two.

Van Nieuwkerk was off the line like lightning leaving Bertolini in attack mode. Intense racing between these two kept everybody on their feet. There was some close racing throughout the entire pack making it fantastic spectacle for those watching from the tracks edge.

Things were looking good for Van Nieuwkerk as he started the last lap, but then in turn two he went sliding out….

This left the gate open for Bertolini who powered his way to 1st place, Barson took 2nd and Veringa got 3rd.