The 2021 FIM Supersport World Championship is getting nearer and testing schedules are continuing up and down the paddock. After a whole host of riders took to the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” the past weekend, Steven Odendaal (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) took to the iconic Kyalami venue near Johannesburg for some preseason testing. The South African, one of the most consistent riders in his rookie year last season, was on track as he got acclimatised with Supersport machinery once more.

Blissful weather beat down on the Kyalami circuit, a venue on the WorldSBK calendar initially from 1998 to 2002, and then again in 2009 and 2010. A new layout compared to those times, Kyalami enjoyed Steven Odendaal on the track, along with Brad Binder and his younger brother Darryn as the South African contingency got vital track time ahead of their respective seasons. Odendaal took to the circuit on a Yamaha YZF-R6 on slick tyres, enjoying useful and valid track time ahead of his second season.

Talking about the training at Kyalami, Odendaal said: “While being back home, I have had a great opportunity to get ready for the 2021 season which is very important for me. South African weather never disappoints with track temperature of around 35 degrees. Having a MotoGP™ race winner Brad Binder and his brother Darryn as training partners has also been great in my preparations for the title charge this year as we could push each other on track.”

Continuing, Odendaal stated his feelings for the year ahead: “Now, I am feeling confident and ready to start testing with my new team. A quick shout out to Toby Venter, the CEO of the Kyalami circuit, for giving us the opportunity to practice on a world-class circuit which I hope we can see on the WorldSBK calendar again in the near future.”

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