South Africa’s rising superstar in the world of Supersport motorcycle racing, Ronan Quarmby, makes his third appearance this year in the FIM Supersport World Championship when he lines up with the world’s best 600 cc bike riders in the 11th round of the series at the famed Nurburgring circuit in Germany this weekend.
He will again be aboard the Ten Kate Racing Products Honda on which he made his debut at Kyalami in May and followed up with a brave showing in the British round at Silverstone five weeks ago. This time, it will be in the colours of his South African sponsors, Interfile and TyresinTransit. Quarmby is excited to once again have the experienced Ten Kate Racing Products’ Rutger Belt as crew chief and Arnold Lutjens as his suspension engineer.
Since his return from England he has been working hard at his fitness and nursing his femur and fractured ankle back to health, but he found time to travel to Phakisa Freeway in the Free State to defend his lead in the Interfile South African Supersport Championship on his Interfile/TyresinTransit Yamaha.
The two scheduled races were cancelled after the circuit was deemed to be unsafe for bike racing and, instead, the organisers staged a consolation, non-points scoring SuperPole. The Comeback Kid blitzed his competition with a stunning fastest lap that was nearly half a second inside the Phakisa lap record and half a second faster than the next rider.
“It was frustrating having practiced for the Phakisa round on the Friday and then not to be able to race, so I was keen to make some kind of impression in the one-off SuperPole,” said Quarmby. “At least I still have my three-point lead in the championship to take with me to the next SA round at Zwartkops on September 11.
“It was important for me to get back on the bike and test my ankle, which was extremely swollen after practice. Since then I’ve had a chance to put in some practice ! laps at Midvaal on my Yamaha and I’m comfortable.
Quarmby took part in a Ten Kate test session at Assen near the Dutch premier team’s home base on Tuesday (August 31) before preparing himself for Friday’s first official practice session. “My ankle’s much better, the swelling has gone and I’m keen to get back on the bike and show these guys what I’m capable of.”
