Variety was the name of the game in the combined Supersport and Superstreet round two at Thailand Circuit on Sunday, September 18. As well as the screams and howls of four-cylinder 600s and 1000s, there was also the roar of a big twin and the thumping of 450 Supermoto singles. And it wasn’t only the sights and sounds of the bikes, it was the riders too, with ages ranging from 17 to 62 and four different nationalities, with Swiss, Italian and British lining up with Thai riders.
It was the veteran Meuhlebach who set the pace through the weekend on his immaculate Moto2 Suter and took the overall and SuperSport class win. The second round also saw the entry of David Conquest on an equally well-prepared ex-Meuhlebach CBR600RR, who followed the Swiss master into second place in the class.
Ben Fortt holds the trophy after his win at the Thailand circuit, Sunday, Sept. 18.
The SuperStreet class with no limit to engine size saw new entries from Ben Fortt, previously only seen at the track on his CEA Suzuki GSX-R1000, bring his Supermoto 450 Husqvarna, with fellow exponent Umberto Danelutti, who entered his 450 Honda, while R2M SuperBike SB2 regular Gaven Purisma turned up with a stunning new KTM 990 Super Duke 990cc. They lined up with the stripped Suzuki GSX-R1000 of PK Racing’s ‘Jack’ Peerapat Khun-Inn and the Yamaha R1 streetfighter of Panpund Team owner, Jomphop Sassadee.
The main entertainment was provided by Jack-Peerapat and Ben Fortt in their battle for the SuperStreet win and second place, with the GSX-R1000 holding the advantage over the 17 year-old’s Husqvarna 450cc. In contrast to the ‘stop, point and shoot’ approach necessary to muscle the big Suzuki around the tight, technical circuit, Fortt treated the spectators and TV audience to a display of controlled sliding, as he backed into the turns and kept his corner speed high.
Although Fortt was unable to find a way past the bigger bike, he maintained relentless pressure throughout the race, which paid off on the last lap, when the Suzuki ran wide on the exit to turn six and then toppled over which left Ben Fortt clear at the front to take 1st place while Gaven took second ahead of Jomphop to complete the SuperStreet podium.
Ben Fortt was delighted with his victory. Gaven had struggled with suspension set up on his Superduke throughout the weekend but was pleased to have muscled his enigmatic Austrian mount onto the podium.
The next round of the series will be at the Thailand circuit on 15-16 October 2011.
