Spaniard Rider in Africa to Test New Grand Prix Circuit: "The track is really nice"

22-year-old Spaniard, Maverick Viñales travelled to Cape Town, South Africa to be a part of the Yamaha R World Event and test out the new Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit.

(Image: Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit)

First built in 1961, it hosted about 18 rounds of the F1 World Championship from 1967 to 1985. After various revisions on the layout, the building was finally auctioned off in 2014 when renowned and respected motor business entrepreneur Toby Verner bought it, to the relief of most fans. The reason for their enthusiasm was that, finally, “a man with passion for motorsport had rescued the historic venue from the brink of imminent demise”.

The upgraded and refurbished building was reopened May of last year, taking its place as “the premier motoring and motorsport facility in Africa”. And on December 13, Viñales of the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Team got to ride around the international race track – a 16-turn, 4.522km anti - clockwise FIA graded circuit – for a private test session, followed by a six-lap session where he was joined by the local National Superbike and Supersport Yamaha riders as well as ten [lucky] customers aboard YZF-R1s and YZF-R6s.

(Image: Maverick Viñales Official Website)

After lunch was a press conference in which Viñales played an important role in handing out autographs and hampers with Yamaha merchandise in them.

“The R World Riding Experience was so good!” he remarked. “I really liked riding the bike and I‘ve been enjoying my stay in South Africa and riding at the Kyalami International Race Track a lot.

“The track is really nice, it‘s like an old-school style track and I‘ve been enjoying riding the YZF-R1.”

Meanwhile, the third annual South Africa Bike Festival will be back on May 25 and will be running through until the 27th.  Tickets will be on sale on Jnauray 25, 2018.

(Image: Premier Motorsport)

With the joint force of AutoTrader, the largest online automotive company, and Discovery Channel (that needs no introduction), you can anticipate a strong platform for the leading motorcycle brands, manufacturers, accessories and apparel, as well as all industry and motoring lifestyle businesses. They have a goal to meet - 20,000 potential customers – in order to “focus on the future of motorcycling in South Africa”.