In the final race meeting of the season, newly crowned Superbike champion Greg Gildenhuys (BMW Motorrad Motorsport BMW S1000RR) finished third and second in the two 12-lap races that were a highlight of the ninth round of the WesBank Super Series.
The 22-year-old from Boskruin in Gauteng, who wrapped up the title at the penultimate round at Zwartkops two weeks earlier, was disappointed not to have finished his great season with another win, but was naturally delighted with his second successive championship win aboard the big BMW. At the end of the day his final overall winning margin ahead of second placed Chris Leeson (Kawasaki) was a comfortable 38 points. Former champion Sheridan Morais was third with 240 points.
“It would have been nice to have finished with a win today, but we’re happy. It’s been a super awesome season,” said Gildenhuys. He finished on the podium in 17 of the 18 races, winning four and finishing second 11 times.
Leeson (Kawasaki) won both races on Saturday from first on the starting grid after he and Gildenhuys were separated by just 0,043 second in the race for pole position.
Gildenhuys was again let down by slow starts in both 12-lap races, recovering from fifth in race one to finish third and from fourth in race two to take the runner-up spot at the chequered flag.
The factory bike was well supported by a number of privateers during the season. Most successful of these was the Rocket 88/Ryder Motorrad BMW S1000RR of James Egan. In his first season in Superbikes after stepping up from the Supersport category, the KwaZulu-Natal rider finished a fine fourth overall with 218 points and seven podium places, including two seconds.
Nicholas Grobler (Jonway BMW S1000RR) was a regular top-five finisher and scored three podium places on his way to fifth overall with 207 points.
Ryan Simon Ottens (Northside Motorcycles BMW S1000RR) also impressed after making his Superbike debut in the penultimate round at Zwartkops on November 5 with two seventh place finishes. He followed this up in the final round with another seventh and a fifth in the last race of the season.
“Congratulations to Greg and his team on their second successive championship on our S1000RR superbike,” said Rob Holder, general manager of BMW Motorcycles. “And a big thank-you to the BMW privateers who gave our official factory entry such great support. They have all done BMW proud and we look forward to the 2012 season and continued BMW success.”
STORY COURTESY OF BURROUGHES COMMUNICATIONS
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