Nicole’s Corner - Round 4 - Detroit Supermoto
The days of sticking a set of slick wheels and brakes onto a motocross bike and tearing up a kart circuit are over. Supermoto has launched itself into a highly specialized, fully fledged racing series, with its own unique style, machinery and riders.
Supermoto’s early days were flooded with superstar appearances, but these days, to be competitive and keep up with the pace, the sport has to be more than just a hobby, its got to be a passion. With the competition heating up more and more every round, the slightest improvement to the bike or rider can make the difference between podium or paddock.
The sport now has its very own superstars, whose names were on fresh on the lips of every motorcycle enthusiast in Detroit this weekend. Michigan’s favourite big city hosted the fourth round of the AMA National championships on Sunday the 8th of July. Last year, the Waterford Hills Road Circuit opened its famous asphalt to Supermoto for the first time, and boasted record crowds for the sport. This year was no different. Not only were the lush grounds ideal for spectators, but they offered photographers a dramatic backdrop for the ensuing action. The surrounding woods even offered up their own competitor, when a deer took to the track between heat races, sending marshals into full flight and almost setting a record lap time in its escape. The riders would not be outdone however, and proceeded to put on the best motorcycling event the circuit has seen in years.
After a slow yet consistent start to the season, team HMC KTM was eager to reestablish their dominance in both the 450 and Unlimited classes. Austrailian export, Troy Herfoss, showed promise in his heat race, where he narrowly missed out on the win. His duel with Troy Lee Designs Cassidy Anderson was thrilling yet unsuccessful, and he settled for second place, securing a front row start in the final. He was pushed wide into the first turn of the main event, and rode a steady race behind Burkhart, Anderson and Ward, into a fourth place finish.
KTM’s Unlimited class hopes were once again in the hands of their talented trio, Brian Capper, Johnny Lewis, and team boss Kurt Nicoll. Capper showed extraordinary speed and determination from the start, setting the fastest lap times of the three, and second fastest overall, behind Frenchman Xavier Bellorphan. Capper, like Herfoss, had the slow line off the start in his heat race and was pushed to the outside as the field poured into turn one. He managed to pick off a few riders before the flag, and finished in fourth. This put the South African champion down onto the second row of the grid for the main, and with a lot of work ahead of him. He took on the challenge no holes barred, and was up into fifth after just two corners.
Teammate Johnny Lewis started in third place, but a bad start saw him down to sixth. Pushing to catch Capper, Lewis bit the dirt hard half way through lap one, when a tricky rhythm section got the better of him. Unfortunately, it was race over for the Dirt Tracker, as he pushed his broken bike back to the pits. In the meantime, Capper, had hunted down fourth place rider Nicoll, and was hungry to make a pass into third. Nicoll’s defensive riding held him off, and Capper finally relinquished the last podium position to the 2004 Unlimited champion, earning himself a solid fourth place. Carlson once again took the win, with only milliseconds separating him from second place finisher Daryl Atkins. Brian’s consistent performances have proved valuable in KTM’s points standings, and have placed him at the top of the team’s championship hopes. This is a position that Capper doesn’t take lightly:
I am fairly happy, I know consistency is important, but I want to win. I have the pace to win a race, now I just need to put it together in qualifying. Once again, its all about the start, so I need to qualify on the front row of the grid. But I am very happy with my lap times, and its good to know I’m constantly improving.
- Brian Capper
AMA Supermoto takes a break now until August 26th, and Capper will be heading home to South Africa for a well deserved break. His time at home will not be time off however, as he will be competing in two rounds of the National series, the first of which takes place on the 29th of July at Vereeniging kart circuit. Brian will not be competing at X-Games in August, but 450 rider Troy Herfoss and former World Supersport Champion Stephan Chambon will be out on the Supercross style circuit on August 4th, representing team HMC KTM.
Capper is looking forward to touching home base again after more than two months on foreign soil.
I’m really excited to go back to South Africa, I can’t wait to spend some good time training, and doing as much as possible to find some more speed. The level of competition in America this year is unbelievable, and you really have to be on your toes as far as training is concerned. So I’m looking forward to spending some serious time in the saddle.
-Brian Capper
He will be home for five weeks, after which he will be jet-setting back to the U.S. for a month of back to back racing.
Keep up to date with all of Brian’s racing news on www.briancapper.co.za and www.hmcracing.com, and be sure to look out for him at South Africa’s biggest events. He will be performing his Extreme Riding Exhibitions throughout July, and again when he returns in September.
- Nicole Capper
