CAS Honda: Round 10 of the World Championship – South Africa

20th July 2008

CAS Boys – top Honda riders in South Africa

Both Billy MacKenzie and Steve Boniface took the long haul to South Africa to compete in the 10th round of the World Championship. The new venue was good but the low winter sun made visibility tricky in various places. Billy and Steve qualified in 10th and 12th spot on Saturday, even though Steve had been suffering with a violent stomach bug all week, which didn’t improve over the weekend.

The first race saw Billy get a great start, settling into 3rd position quite quickly, although steadily Nagl and Ramon pulled away, leaving Billy half way through the moto to fight with Philippearts and Barragan, finally passing the flag in 7th place. Meanwhile Steve got a brilliant start right behind team mate Billy in 4th place but with the stomach bug getting worse he felt so weak he dropped back eventually to 13th.

The second race was another cracking start from Billy in 3rd again, and Steve in 6th. Billy rode a much better, consistent race and came home in 5th. Steve was struggling to ride with his stomach upset but still fought as hard as he could and passed the chequered flag in 13th.

Team Manager Neil Prince comments:

Billy had good starts and rode consistently, but due to the shoulder injury still is not having enough practice time on the bike during the week, which means his results are suffering because of bike fitness. This should now change as the shoulder has 100% improved. Steve showed guts riding here after being so sick.

Billy MacKenzie comments:

My starts were good but in the 1st race the leaders pulled away and left me taking some bad lines, losing me a few places, but towards the end of the race I came back strong. The 2nd race was better, I almost got the holeshot and pushed hard, but Pourcel caught me, I lost my rhythm, but rode strong to the end when I caught Coppins and Pourcel, but had no time to pass them before the finish.

Steve Boniface comments:

The track was good and I was enjoying it, but I’ve been sick all week and today I felt even worse than ever.

This weekend the team travel over from their base in Belgium for the next round of the British Championship at Foxhills. See you there!


Results Race 1:

1st S Ramon, 2nd D Philippearts, 3rd J Barragan, 4th M Nagl, 5th K DeDycker, 6th T Leok, 7th B MacKenzie (S Boniface 13th)

Results Race 2:

1st J Barragan, 2nd M Nagl, 3rd, S Pourcel, 4th J Coppins, 5th B MacKenzie, 6th D Philippearts, 7th K DeDycker (S Boniface 13th)

Overall Results on the day:

1st J Barragan, 2nd M Nagl, 3rd S Ramon

Championship Positions to date:

1st D Philippearts 339 points, 2nd S Ramon 328 points, 3rd J Coppins 316 points, 4th K DeDycker 296 points, 5th J Barragan 284 points (B MacKenzie 8th with 235 points)