SunBet ZX10 Masters Cup – Round 5 at the Festival of Motoring
This past weekend, the Festival of Motoring at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit delivered an adrenaline-fueled spectacle as South Africa’s top superbike riders competed in the SunBet ZX10 Masters Cup. The 4.529 km full circuit hosted a double-header for Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2025 season, offering fans two days of intense racing across the Masters (A), Grand Masters (B), and Veterans (C) classes. The championship is proudly supported by SunBet, Bridgestone South Africa, VAG Automotive Center Centurion, and EBC Brakes.
Qualifying Highlights
Defending champion Clinton Seller once again showcased why he is the man to beat, powering his King Price Xtreme ZX-10R to pole position with a lap time of 1:48.948. Close on his heels were Damion Purificati, Adriaan van Dalen, and David Enticott, while Hein McMahon, Keith Agliotti, and Graeme van Breda filled out the rest of the top eight. Unfortunately, some of the field struggled to match Seller’s pace, with Henk Schuiling rounding out the qualifying order.
Race 1 – Seller Shows His Class
When the lights went out for the 8-lap opener, Clinton Seller quickly took command and never looked back, crossing the line 8 seconds ahead of his nearest rival with a fastest lap of 1:48.907. Damion Purificati finished a strong second, followed by Adriaan van Dalen in third. Graeme van Breda claimed fourth, while David Enticott rounded out the top five.
The race was not without drama: Keith Agliotti crashed out while fighting for fifth, and Sfiso Themba crashed in Turn 1 earlier that same lap which limited him to just six laps. Brian Bontekoning also had a few issues getting his ZX10R stopped and unfortunately also saw the gravel in turn 1 but did rejoin the race and finish the race in 21st overall.
Timo Green, although entered for Round 5, was competing in a short circuit series race at the Vereeniging Kart Circuit that day and would return for Round 6 the following day.
Race 2 – Seller Doubles Up
The second outing, also 8 laps, saw Clinton Seller dominate once again, securing victory and setting the fastest lap of the race with a 1:48.652. Damion Purificati once again finished second, with Graeme van Breda completing the podium. Hein McMahon and Adriaan van Dalen battled fiercely to claim fourth and fifth respectively.
There were several incidents mid-pack: Mark Newland was forced to retire due to an issue, Johan le Roux suffered a crash, and Nico Zietsman experienced a motor failure but safely brought the bike to a stop at the marshal point. Fans were also delighted to see Mark Newland returning from injury, hinting at more strong performances later in the season.
#53 Lubabalo Ntisana – Class B
Overall Round 5 Results
Across both races, Clinton Seller was simply untouchable, claiming overall victory with a day of clean, dominant performances. Damion Purificati and Adriaan van Dalen rounded out the Masters podium, while David Enticott, Hein McMahon, Renatus van Niekerk, Byron Rothquel, and Keith Agliotti also posted strong showings in the Masters class.
In the Grand Masters, Graeme van Breda took top honours, followed by James Barson, Reginald Seale, Henk Kruger, Dieter Huysamen, Tyron Piper, Stephen Galgoczy, Lubabalo Ntisana, and Nkululeko Majola. Both Mark Newland and Sfiso Themba scored points despite encountering issues, while Nico Zietsman was unable to finish.
In the Veterans class, it was fantastic to see Pieter de Vos, one of the stalwarts of the SunBet ZX10 Masters Cup, back in action doing what he loves. Pieter took overall victory in the Veterans class, with Brian Bontekoning, Joao Cruz, Raymond Keel, Johan le Roux, and Henk Schuiling completing the class standings.
With Seller dominating the Masters, strong podium finishes from Purificati and van Breda, and competitive battles throughout the Grand Masters and Veterans categories, Round 5 of the SunBet ZX10 Masters Cup delivered everything fans expect: speed, skill, and drama. The championship moved straight into Round 6 on Sunday for a thrilling double header weekend of racing, which promised more high-octane action at Kyalami.
