Freelance motorcycle & vehicle tester, writer & photographer
Subtitle
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Rees Family Dominate 2016 Suzuki Series
Tony Rees made a clean sweep in front of a massive crowd at Whanganui on Boxing Day where he took Pole and won all three premier races including the Robert Holden Memorial race.
The Whakatane-based Honda Rider Insurance CBR1000RR rider had to work for his prizemoney in each F1 Superbike race after fast-starting Taupo rider Scott Moir lead the hungry pack of superbike racers on his Penny Homes Suzuki GSXR1000 during the opening laps of all three races.
Riding better than ever, Rees enjoyed three wins from six starts on his way to securing his first Suzuki Series title. The other series race winners were defending champion Sloan Frost, at Taupo, and Horst Saiger who won both heats at Manfeild. But the last time Rees was beaten around the famous Cemetery Circuit was in 2014 when Moir won race two, but there was no way 49 year old Tony Rees was going to let anyone stand in the way in 2016.
Going into Whanganui Sloan Frost was leading the Suzuki Series by nine points however a jump start in the opening race brought a 20 second penalty which dropped the disappointed Fujitsu TSS Red Baron Suzuki NZ GSXR1000 rider down the finishing order, to ninth.
Team RCM Suzuki GSXR1000 mounted Daniel Mettam, of Auckland, was having the ride of his life when he passed Moir for second on lap three, however Liechtenstein racer Horst Saiger slotted his Kawasaki into second three laps later to make an exciting finishing order of Rees, Saiger, and a close-finishing Mettam, Moir and Toby Summers on his Barnes Jenkins Insurance GSXR1000.
Rees single point for Pole position and 25 points for the race win edged him closer to the title, although the result lifted Saiger into the Suzuki Series lead from Rees heading into the final race.
Once again Moir took the holeshot in race two although it wasn't long before Rees muscled his way to the front and carried on for his second victory of the day - and the Suzuki Series win. Moir held onto the back of Rees throughout the race for second, and Frost won a tough race-long battle for third with Mettam, Summers and Saiger to cross the line in that order.
Northern Irishman Michael Dunlop persevered with ongoing mechanical issues with his Suzuki NZ GSXR1000 throughout the day which meant the 13-time Isle of Man TT winner was unable to show his true potential at the Cemetery Circuit.
Red Devil Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R mounted Saiger rode his best during the Robert Holden Memorial where he almost matched Rees in pace and made a last lap passing attempt which was aggressively held off by Rees, who later said he really wanted that win, and apologised. The finishing order was Rees, Saiger, Moir, Summers and Hastings Suzuki racer Jamie Maindonald. 23 year old Mitch Rees was eighth in the same race, while Damon Rees, 21, was tenth after running off the track early on.
Tony Rees win in the Robert Holden Memorial was his seventh feature race victory at Whanganui - 26 years after his first win in 1990. Stamping his authority at Whanganui he set a new outright lap record of 49.052 seconds, ending Andrew Stroud's record set in 2006.
Tony Rees says "I didn't get the best start in each race so I had to pass somebody, which made it more exciting. We ran the same Pirelli tyres all day, normally we'd put a new set for qualifying, so we ran the same tyre in qualifying, practice, and all three races. Winning the Robert Holden Memorial means a lot because we were mates. It's a long time ago now but he gave me opportunities and he gave me some really good close racing."
Keeping the family trophy cabinet full, Tony Rees 21 year old son, Damon Rees, won the F2 600 Suzuki Series on his Honda Rider Insurance CBR600RR after finishing a steady third in both races. Wellington riders Shane Richardson (Wainui Joinery Kawasaki ZX-6R) and Jay Lawrence (Carl Cox Motorsport GSXR600) won a hectic race each, while a fast-riding David Hall crossed the line fourth in each leg on his PJ Racing & Wrecking GSXR600, behind Damon Rees.
To win the title Damon Rees had to finish third in each race although, like his father, the youngest Rees also had to work to capture his first major championship. "I finished third in race one which was all I needed to do, but in the second race I screwed up going into turn one and went off." Rees explains. "I came back from last and I just got into third place on the very last lap! I was pretty wrecked by the end as I had to really bust it, but it was a pretty cool race as I had to work for it."
Richardson finished a fighting second in the championship, ahead of improving 19 year old Wellingtonian Rogan Chandler on his TSS Red Baron Triumph 675, a rider to watch for the future.
In the F3 class, Leigh Tidman from Taumarunui had repaired his good engine and fitted it to his Jilesen Contractors RS450, and looked set to be a worthy challenger to Wellington's Glen Skachill around the tight 1.6080km street circuit. The pair enjoyed some good tussles in both races however Skachill was able to keep his i-Tools Honda NSR300 in front of Tidman during the opening leg.
A three-time Suzuki Series F2 600 winner (2009, 2010 & 2011), Skachill had to accept third behind Tidman during race two, but neither rider would had guessed the pair of them would be trumped by Whanganui local Ashley Payne, who thoroughly deserved his victory. Skachill won the F3 Suzuki Series with 147 points ahead of Tidman's 132 and defending Suzuki Series F3 champion Aucklander Gavin Veltmeyer with 112 points, gained on his GVR645.
The expected title challenge between the John Holden/Robbie Shorter pair and the Barry Smith/Tracey Bryan team for the F1 Sidecar races didn't eventuate, and fans were disappointed after five-time world sidecar champion Tim Reeves sidecar suffered a broken chassis after a few short laps around the gruelling street circuit during first practice. With no replacement parts available in New Zealand there was no possibility to repair the Carl Cox Motorsport F1 'chair' which left UK-based Reeves and passenger Mark Wilkes as the most well-travelled spectators for the day.
The F1 Sidecar stars of the day turned out to be ex Whanganui but now Auckland-based Adam Unsworth and Stu Dawe, who made a welcome Suzuki Series return on their Eni Windle F1 sidecar to win both races after some close shaves with Holden and Shorter. Unsworth and Dawe had a nasty crash during round one practice at Taupo and only made the decision to race, still slightly injured, a few days before Boxing Day.
Barry Smith and Tracey Bryan were fourth in both races on their fast Carl Cox Motorsport Suzuki F2 'chair', which left the way clear for Holden and Shorter to wrap up the F1 Sidecar Suzuki Series by nine points as the UK/NZ pair brought their Barnes Racing LCR Honda 600 F2 home in second position in each leg.
Holden admitted after the race the extra power of a 1000cc F1 sidecar would have been a better bet to win. "My time in NZ has been brilliant, the people and the country are fantastic - that's the job done!" Holden says. "We couldn't have wanted anything better and the support I've had from Robbie Shorter and the team is mega. After we got Pole and with Tim Reeves unfortunately unable to race I was hoping for some wins but we struggled a little bit against that one thousand [Unsworth/Dawe], which had had the legs on me and he was defending quite well on every corner.
"I'd love to come back, it's just about funding as it costs a lot to get over here but we'll have to see what we can do."
The Masterton/Whanganui duo of Spike Taylor and Craig Pedersen rode extraordinarily well on their Mobility Wairarapa LCR GSXR1000 rig to finish third on each occasion in one of the biggest sidecar fields for some time.
Glen Skachill brought his Bimota YB8 home first in all six Suzuki Series Post Classic Senior races to win the title by 37 points from Eddie Kattenburg. Veteran Paul Pavletich made a welcome return to the Cemetery Circuit on his Yamaha OW01 750 after two decades away and placed second and fourth in each heat, respectively. Jay Lawrence was fourth and then second on his Carl Cox Motorsport GSX1100 which provided enough points to take third in the title chase.
Australian Dean Oughtred rode his Carl Cox Motorsport GSXR1100 to seventh and sixth positions during his very first street race.
Shane Richardson won both Post Classic Pre ’89 junior races ahead of Dean Bentley on a Yamaha FZR600. Aucklander Scott Findlay won the Junior series on his Kawasaki ZXR400 by two points from Bentley.
Richard Dibben won both Supermoto races on his Tyresheild 450 Supermoto bike by a country mile however the ever consistent Duncan Hart took his Mimico Yamaha YZF450 to the Suzuki Series Supermoto title after gaining a pair of hard fought second places on Boxing Day. Dibben won five of the six series races for second in the championship, ahead of Ben Dowman who rode very well at Whanganui with two third placings.
Sanson rider Mark Perry won the two legs of the BEARS senior category in style on his Aprilia V-twin ahead of Jason Bardell each time, with Ashton Hughes third in race one and Rob Whittall third in the second stanza. Colin MacGregor of Tauranga won the series for his BMW S1000RR team, while Whanganui rider Bardell was second on a similar machine.
Ashton Hughes was first across the line in both BEARS junior races on his Triumph Daytona 675. The Bulls rider won the junior class handsomely from Jaden Galway by 27 points.
Rogan Chandler won the two Classic Solo races on a Norton Commando, while the Bryan Stent/Tracey Bryan duo and the Jason Rees/Bryce Rose combination shared the winners spoils in the Classic Pre '82 sidecar races.
The two $2,995 Suzuki UK110 scooter winners are Cheryl Butters (Early Bird ticket draw), and Craig Williams of Hamilton who was present at the draw.
2016 Suzuki Series results from the Cemetery Circuit at Whanganui, Monday December 26
Suzuki Formula 1 Superbike, race 1: Tony Rees (Whakatane, Honda Rider Insurance CBR1000RR), 1; Horst Saiger (Liechtenstein, Red Devil Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R), 2; Daniel Mettam (Auckland, Team RCM Suzuki GSXR1000), 3; Scott Moir (Taupo, Penny Homes Suzuki GSXR1000), 4; Toby Summers (Auckland, Barnes Jenkins Insurance GSXR1000), 5.
Formula 1 Superbike, race 2: Rees, 1; Moir, 2; Sloan Frost, (Wellington, Fujitsu TSS Red Baron Suzuki NZ GSXR1000), 3; Mettam, 4; Summers, 5.
F1 Superbike final series points: Rees, 134; Saiger, 125; Frost, 123; Moir, 107; Mettam, 101.
Frost, 91; Saiger, 88; Rees, 83; Moir, 67; Mettam, 63.
Robert Holden Memorial feature: Tony Rees, 1; Horst Saiger, Scott Moir, 3; Toby Summers, 4; Jamie Maindonald (Hastings, Suzuki GSXR1000), 5.
Pirelli Formula 2, race 1: Shane Richardson (Wainuiomata, Wainui Joinery Kawasaki ZX-6R), 1; Jay Lawrence (Lower Hutt, Carl Cox Motorsport GSXR600), 2; Damon Rees (Whakatane, Honda Rider Insurance CBR600RR), 3; David Hall (Te Awamutu, PJ Racing & Wrecking GSXR600), 4; Sam Willacy (Whanganui, Pirelli Suzuki GSXR600), 5.
Formula 2, race 2: Lawrence, 1; Richardson, 2; Rees, 3; Hall, 4; Rogan Chandler (Wellington, TSS Red Baron Triumph 675), 5.
Formula 2 final series points: Damon Rees, 141; Richardson, 137; Chandler, 93; Lawrence, 90; Hall, 90.
Bike Torque Formula 3, race 1: Glen Skachill (Wellington, i-Tools Honda NSR300), 1; Leigh Tidman (Taumarunui, Jilesen Contractors RS450), 2; Ashley Payne (Whanganui, GSXR440), 3; Gavin Veltmeyer (Auckland, Coleman’s Suzuki GVR645), 4; Richard Markham-Barrett (Nikau Valley, i-Tools KTM800), 5.
Formula 3, race 2; Payne, 1; Tidman, 2; Skachill, 3; Markham-Barrett, 4; Veltmeyer, 5.
Formula 3 final series points: Skachill, 147, Tidman, 132; Veltmeyer, 112; Kattenburg, 95; Augustine, 89.
Collegiate Quality Inn F1 Sidecars race 1: Adam Unsworth/Stu Dawe (Auckland, Eni Windle F1), 1; John Holden/Robbie Shorter (UK/NZ, Barnes Racing LCR Honda 600), 2; Spike Taylor/Craig Pedersen (Masterton, Mobility Wairarapa LCR GSXR1000), 3; Barry Smith/Tracey Bryan (Te Puke/Tauranga, Carl Cox Motorsport Suzuki F2), 4; Chris Lawrance/Richard Lawrance (Warkworth, Shorai Anderson R1), 5.
F1 Sidecars race 2: Unsworth/Dawe, 1; Holden/Shorter, 2; Taylor/Pedersen, 3; Smith/Bryan, 4; Corey Winter/Kieran Whitham (Whanganui, Total Span DMR600), 5.
F1 Sidecars final series points: Holden/Shorter, 139; Smith/Bryan, 130; Chris Lawrance/Richard Lawrance, 103; Taylor/Pedersen, 94; Ian Staples/James O'Donnell (Whanganui, Staples 1000), 87.
Edmonds Painting Supermoto race 1: Richard Dibben (Whanganui, Tyresheild 450), 1; Duncan Hart (Tauranga, Mimico Yamaha YZF450), 2; Ben Dowman (Whanganui, Honda CRF450), 3; Jono Hamlin (Cambridge, Dyno Lab RMZ450), 4; Aden Brown (Wanganui, Harvey Round Motors RMZ450), 5.
Supermoto race 2: Dibben, 1; Hart, 2; Dowman, 3; Brown, 4; Hamlin, 5.
Supermoto final series points: Hart 124; Dibben, 115.5; Dowman, 103; Ashton Hughes (Bulls, KTM 450SX-F), 79; Hamlin, 67.
Lyndsay Tait & Associates Post Classic Pre ’89 Senior race 1: Glen Skachill (Wellington, i-Tools Bimota YB8), 1; Paul Pavletich (Auckland, ProRider Yamaha OW01 750), 2; Eddie Kattenberg (Napier, Fast Eddie's Cycles Bimota YB8), 3; Jay Lawrence (Lower Hutt, Carl Cox Motorsport GSX1100), 4; Sean Donnelly (Paraparaumu, Kawasaki Z1000R), 5.
Post Classic Pre ’89 Senior race 2: Skachill, 1; Lawrence, 2; Shane Richardson (Wainuiomata, Engrich Engineering NSRFT570), 3; Pavletich, 4; Kattenberg, 5.
Post Classic Pre ’89 Senior final series points: Skachill, 153; Kattenberg, 116; Lawrence, 102; Gian Louie (Hastings, Suzuki GSXR1100) & Glen Eggleton (Rotorua, Yamaha FZR1000), 89=.
Lyndsay Tait & Associates Post Classic Junior race 1: Shane Richardson (Wainuiomata, Engrich Engineering NSRFT570), 1; Dean Bentley (Lower Hutt, Yamaha FZR600), 2; Scott Findlay (Auckland, Kawasaki ZXR400), 3; Tony Sklenars (Whanganui, Honda CBR400RR), 4; Malcolm McDonald (Whanganui, Kawasaki ZX4), 5.
Post Classic Junior race 2: Richardson, 1; Bentley, 2; Sklenars, 3; Findlay, 4; McDonald, 5.
Post Classic Junior final series points: Findlay, 137; Bentley, 135; Sklenars, 106; Steven Clarke (Tauranga, Honda CBR600), 75; Steven Gregg (Masterton, Honda CBR600), 72.
Q-west Boat Builders BEARS senior race 1: Mark Perry (Sanson, Aprilia), 1; Jason Bardell (Whanganui, BMW S1000RR), 2; Colin MacGregor (Tauranga, BMW S1000RR), 3; Ashton Hughes (Bulls, Triumph Daytona 675), 4; Dwayne Bishop (Whanganui, Aprilia RSV4), 5.
BEARS senior race 2: Perry, 1; Bardell, 2; Rob Whittall (Raglan, Aprilia RSV4), 3; Hughes, 4; Jamie Galway (Masterton, Triumph Daytona 675), 5.
BEARS senior final series points: MacGregor, 130; Bardell, 117; Nick Southerwood (Auckland, BMW S1000RR) & Bishop, 103= ; Shaun Manson (Whanganui, BMW HP4S), 94.
Q-west Boat Builders BEARS junior race 1: Ashton Hughes (Bulls, Triumph Daytona 675), 1; Jamie Galway (Masterton, Triumph Daytona 675), 2; Jaden Galway (Masterton, Triumph Daytona 675), 3; Richard Markham-Barrett (Nikau Valley, i-Tools KTM800), 4; Raymond Herdman (Palmerston North, Ducati 749), 5.
BEARS junior race 2: Hughes, 1; Jamie Galway, 2; Jaden Galway, 3; Markham-Barrett, 4; Herdman, 5.
BEARS junior final series points: Hughes, 153; Jaden Galway, 126; Herdman, 104; Paul McLean (Hawera, Triumph Daytona 675), 95; Daniel McGoverin (Wellington, Triumph Daytona 675), 74
ENDS
Words by Terry Stevenson
Multi-World Sidecar Champ Returns to Whanganui
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Monday, December 19, 2016
Multi-World Sidecar Champ Returns to Whanganui
Multi-world champion sidecar driver Tim Reeves and passenger Mark Wilkes are making a special one-off appearance at Whanganui on Boxing Day.
The British pair are travelling halfway around the world to race at one place, on one day - around the world famous Cemetery Circuit.
Reeves finished second in the 2016 World Sidecar championship, although he won the title in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012, and in 2014 when he also won the World F2 sidecar Trophy, which he successfully defended in 2015. Reeves has also won an Isle of Man Sidecar TT, in 2013.
In New Zealand Reeves was unbeaten in F1 Sidecars last year over three rounds of the Suzuki Series, however Wilkes was injured before the final round at Whanganui so was replaced by kiwi Robbie Shorter. The Brits are keen to complete last year's challenge together.
Reeves says, "Mark was gutted he couldn't race at the Cemetery Circuit last year so it means a lot to both of us to be here to fulfil our 2015 challenge. We really wanted to finish what we started together last year and Carl Cox kindly offered us a deal to be able to come and do just that.
"The atmosphere and the warm welcome I received last year from all the organisers, spectators, and fans was too good to turn down a return here. I'd like to thank Allan and Julie Willacy, Carl Cox, Gavin Sokolich, and all my loyal sponsors back home for making this trip possible."
But the gloves have to come off on December 26 if they want to win, because the Brits are landing right in the middle of a huge Suzuki Series sidecar battle between the John Holden/Robbie Shorter combination, and the Barry Smith/Tracey Bryan duo. Both teams are equal with 94 points, and all three teams will want the same victory.
Two-time Isle of Man Sidecar TT winner and seventh in this year's World Sidecar championship, Holden, of Britain, is racing his Barnes Racing LCR Honda 600 F2 'outfit', while Barry Smith (Te Puke) and Tracey Bryan (Tauranga) are on a Carl Cox Motorsport Suzuki F2 sidecar, and neither want to come second to win the 2016 F1 Sidecar Suzuki Series.
Can Reeves and Wilkes complete their challenge on their world title-winning Carl Cox Motorsport LCR F1 machine during the two Collegiate Quality Inn F1 Sidecars races at Whanganui on Boxing Day?
2016 Suzuki Series schedule
Rnd 3: Whanganui Cemetery Circuit, Monday December 26
ENDS
Words & photos by Terry Stevenson
Sloan Frost leads Suzuki Series
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Monday, December 12, 2016
Sloan Frost leads Suzuki Series
Horst Saiger won both legs in windy conditions at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon on Sunday, although Sloan Frost has snatched the lead after the second round of the 2016 Suzuki Series.
The day began at record pace when Sloan Frost fired his Fujitsu TSS Red Baron Suzuki NZ GSXR1000 almost a second under the F1 Superbike race lap record to collect the vital single point for Pole position.
But it was 45 year old Saiger who crossed the line first in the opening F1 Superbike race on his Red Devil Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R. With the first five racing within a wheel length of each other and the front three riders smashing into the lead at different times, the high-speed freight train turned into a thriller and no one could predict the outcome.
2015 Suzuki Series F2 600 and current NZ Supersport champion Mettam became the sensation of the meeting when he stormed into the lead on his Team RCM Suzuki GSXR1000 mid-race. A minor mistake while passing a lapped rider caused Mettam to run wide could have robbed the 20 year old of a gallant victory.
Liechtenstein-based Saiger admits to being lucky to take the win after mid-race leader Aucklander Daniel Mettam ran wide with three laps remaining, handing Saiger a small gap over Frost until race end.
Saiger says, "In the first race everybody was on the same pace. I struggled a little bit during braking as the front felt really soft. For the second race I changed this by making the bike a little higher at the front to have more stability during braking and better grip on the rear, out of the corners. Mettam was crazy how late he was braking but I say 'thank you' to him because one time be braked too late and so I could go back into the lead. I was just lucky in the first race."
Mettam followed Frost over the line to take his first international-level podium position on a superbike. Tony Rees suffered from a poor start to finish fourth after setting the fastest time of the day on his Rider Insurance CBR1000RR. Alastair Hoegenboezem finished fifth during a one-off Suzuki Series appearance on his Triple R Superbike Team CBR1000RR, after a race-long tussle with Rees.
Mettam surprised everyone when he took the race two holeshot and lead the field until Saiger moved into the lead on the second lap, which he held to the end. While the top five race two finishers remained the same, the winner wasn't decided until Saiger took the chequered flag after Frost had clawed his way up to Saiger at the front, but was unable to make a pass on the European in the closing stages.
Frost recalls, "It's been a tough day. In race one we had a battle with Horst, I followed him for a while and managed to make the pass and just as I did that, Daniel passed us both, he was a demon on the brakes! When Horst came past me there was just nothing that I could do.
"In race two I was running a fairly good pace behind Daniel but he was proving difficult to pass. I'd set my bike up differently so that I could match him on the brakes, but I certainly couldn't outbrake him, so I shut my eyes and made a move on him. I caught up to Horst but there was nothing that I could do."
Michael Dunlop didn't finish the first race although he made amends with a solid sixth place on a Suzuki NZ GSXR1000 during race two for the Northern Irishman as he came to grips with the new bike. Dunlop chose not to race a sidecar in order to concentrate on his superbike effort.
Dunlop says, "We've had a few issues with the bike since I arrived so we just need to iron them out for Whanganui, but we'll just keep pushing on. In race two we still had some problems but everything seems to be going OK, were off to Whanganui, so that's the next race."
With 91 points Sloan Frost leads the Suzuki Series from Horst Saiger by just three points heading into the final round at Whanganui on Boxing Day. In third, Tony Rees is eight points behind Frost and cannot be discounted for overall victory as he is extraordinarily fast around the Cemetery Circuit.
Whakatane racer Damon Rees won both legs of the Suzuki Series F2 600 class on his Honda Rider Insurance CBR600RR at record pace, each time ahead of his closest challenger Shane Richardson, of Wellington. Damon is Tony Rees 21 year old son.
Aucklander Nathanael Diprose surprised the pair of them when he shot into the lead during race one, although it wasn't long before Rees and Richardson, on his Wainui Joinery Kawasaki ZX-6R, relegated the RCM Suzuki GSXR600 rider to third, which he held for the rest of the race.
Diprose was leading race two when he crashed out on the seventh lap which gifted Rees his second win of the day, and fourth of the Suzuki Series. Wellingtonian Rogan Chandler impressed the spectators by taking a fine third on his TSS Red Baron Triumph 675.
Damon Rees says, "In race one I got off to a decent start behind Nathanael into turn one, and then I knew I had to attack straight away so that Shane wouldn't tag on, so I passed Nathanael into the hairpin on the first lap. I tried my best to pull away from Shane and it worked out good. I got the holeshot for race two, I led for a couple of laps until Nathanael and then Shane came past and I thought 'I'll have to speed up now!'. I passed Shane, then Nathanael crashed at Higgins. He handed first place to me."
With 101 points Rees enjoys a 12 point buffer over Richardson heading into the final round at Whanganui on December 26.
Barry Smith and Tracey Bryan took victory in both F1 Sidecar races on their fast Carl Cox Motorsport Suzuki F1 'chair'. British sidecar rider John Holden, 60, and kiwi passenger Robbie Shorter were second in the opening leg on their visibly slower Barnes Racing LCR Honda 600 F2 machine, and were relegated to third in race two by Spike Taylor and Craig Pedersen on their Mobility Wairarapa LCR GSXR1000 sidecar. But only after a tight battle with the Smith/Bryan combination early on in the race.
The Warkworth-based Chris Lawrance/Richard Lawrance brothers came home a fighting third after a battle with the Pete 'Pirate' Goodwin/Kendal Dunlop pairing during race one on their Shorai Anderson R1 sidecar.
Originally from the UK, Barry Smith has been in NZ for 12 years. Smith, 57, said after the racing, "It was a good day for us, I'm still gelling with the bike and Tracey, but we knew we'd have a horsepower advantage over John today. In the second race I was trying to be a bit smoother for Tracey so I followed John for a while to see where the pace was being set."
John Holden/Robbie Shorter head to Whanganui tied on 94 points with Barry Smith and Tracey Bryan, who plan to race their F2 sidecar to be more competitive around the twisting Cemetery Circuit.
Holden recalls his day, "We had to try a bit harder today because we can't keep up with the 1000cc bikes on these faster circuits. We tried to do our best through the infield and try to get a gap, then jamb it down the inside under brakes. We got piped by Spike, which isn't good for the championship."
The Formula 3 class was dominated again by Glen Skachill on his i-Tools NSR300. The Wellington racer was in a class of his own although Leigh Tidman was never very far behind during each of the three races on Sunday. The days racing began with an extra F3 race to make up for the loss of one race at Taupo last week due to time constraints.
The racing would have been closer however Tidman's Jilesen Contractors RS450 had suffered a mechanical failure at Taupo during round one, leaving the Taumarunui rider with an engine some 7-8hp down on his race motor. Ashley Payne was third in the opening race while Auckland's defending Suzuki Series F3 champion Gavin Veltmeyer was third on his GVR645 in the remaining two legs.
Tidman hopes to repair his engine before the final round at Whanganui, where he is very fast. He'll need to be as Skachill holds a commanding 14 point advantage in the title chase.
Glen Skachill also won both legs of the Post Classic Senior category on his Bimota YB8 to record his fourth win in the Suzuki Series. Mathew Eggleton, of Rotorua, took his Yamaha FZR1000 across the finish line second in each race while Wellingtonian Jay Lawrence was twice third on his Carl Cox Motorsport GSX1100.
Skachill has 102 points in the series, with Eddie Kattenberg holding second on 78 points and Eggleton with 63. Aucklander Scott Finlay remains in the Post Classic Junior series lead by eight points from Dean Bentley of Lower Hutt.
Richard Dibben rode the wheels off his Tyresheild 450 Supermoto bike at Manfeild in his quest to make up for a DNF at Taupo. The Whanganui rider easily secured both victories, beating ever-consistent Duncan Hart and Ashton Hughes in the shortened first heat to earn half points, then Hart and Ben Dowman in the second 'moto'.
Russell Josiah didn't make the leaderboard but the former NZ Superbike champ rode strongly through the field on his Suzuki RMZ450 in the second race to catch then pass 23 year old son Jette Josiah, on a Yamaha. The pair battled for several laps until Scott Dowman finally wedged his CRF450 between the Taumarunui family. Russell finished sixth, Dowman seventh and Jette eighth.
Ben Dowman was lucky not to crash after hitting the back of Hart's Yamaha YZF450 mid-race.
Defending champion Hart retains the Suzuki Series Supermoto lead with 80 points, 12 points ahead of Hughes, and 15.5 points ahead of Dibben, in third. There are two races remaining at Whanganui but anything can happen in the world of Supermoto on the Cemetery Circuit.
Bulls rider Ashton Hughes won the first leg of the BEARS senior category on his Triumph Daytona 675, bettering a number of riders on larger machines including 1000cc Aprilia RSVR riders Dwayne Bishop and Stephen Leggett, who finished second and third respectively. Race two was won by Jason Bardell of Whanganui riding a BMW S1000RR, followed home by Tauranga's Colin MacGregor and Hughes.
MacGregor leads the BEARS senior series and Hughes leads the BEARS junior section.
2016 Suzuki Series schedule
Rnd 3: Wanganui Cemetery Circuit, Monday December 26
2016 Suzuki Series results from Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon, Feilding, Sunday December 11
Suzuki Formula 1 Superbike, race 1: Horst Saiger (Liechtenstein, Red Devil Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1; Sloan Frost, (Wellington, Fujitsu TSS Red Baron Suzuki NZ GSXR1000), 2; Daniel Mettam (Auckland, Team RCM Suzuki GSXR1000), 3; Tony Rees (Whakatane, Honda Rider Insurance CBR1000RR), 4; Alastair Hoegenboezem (Christchurch, Triple R Superbike Team CBR1000RR), 5.
Formula 1 Superbike, race 2: Saiger, 1; Frost, 2; Mettam, 3; Rees, 4; Hoegenboezem, 5.
F1 Superbike series points: Frost, 91; Saiger, 88; Rees, 83; Moir, 67; Mettam, 63.
Pirelli Formula 2, race 1: Damon Rees (Whakatane, Honda Rider Insurance CBR600RR), 1; Shane Richardson (Wainuiomata, Wainui Joinery Kawasaki ZX-6R), 2; Nathanael Diprose (Auckland, RCM Suzuki GSXR600), 3; Hassan (Auckland, Suzuki NZ GSXR600), 4; Hayden Fitzgerald, (New Plymouth, bLU cRU Yamaha R6), 5.
Formula 2, race 2: Damon Rees, 1; Richardson, 2; Rogan Chandler (Wellington, TSS Red Baron Triumph 675), 3; David Hall (Te Awamutu, PJ Racing & Wrecking GSXR600), 4; Avalon Biddle (Auckland, MTF Vehicle Finance Kawasaki ZX6R), 5.
Formula 2 series points: Damon Rees, 101; Richardson, 89; Chandler, 63; Fitzgerald, 62; Diprose, 60.
Bike Torque Formula 3, race 1A (carry over from round 1 at Taupo): Glen Skachill (Wellington, i-Tools Honda NSR300), 1; Leigh Tidman (Taumarunui, Jilesen Contractors RS450), 2; Ashley Payne (Whanganui, GSXR440), 3; Gavin Veltmeyer (Auckland, Coleman’s Suzuki GVR645), 4; Jordan Burley (Hamilton, SV650), 5.
Formula 3, race 1; Skachill, 1; Tidman, 2; Veltmeyer, 3; Eddie Kattenburg (Napier, Fast Eddie's Cycles ER650), 4; Roger Cathro (Upper Hutt, R450), 5.
Formula 3, race 2; Skachill, 1; Tidman, 2; Veltmeyer, 3; Josh Augustine (Auckland, Absolutely Hammered Ltd SV650), 4; Kattenburg, 5.
Formula 3 series points: Skachill, 102, Tidman, 88; Veltmeyer, 78; Kattenburg, 66; Augustine, 64.
Collegiate Quality Inn F1 Sidecars race 1: Barry Smith/Tracey Bryan (Te Puke/Tauranga, Carl Cox Motorsport Suzuki F2), 1; John Holden/Robbie Shorter (UK/NZ, Barnes Racing LCR Honda 600), 2; Chris Lawrance/Richard Lawrance (Warkworth, Shorai Anderson R1), 3; Pete Goodwin/Kendal Dunlop (Albany, mc2xs LCR/Windle), 4; Spike Taylor/Craig Pedersen (Masterton, Mobility Wairarapa LCR GSXR1000), 2;
F1 Sidecars race 2: Smith/Bryan, 1; Taylor/Pedersen, 2; Holden/Shorter, 3; Goodwin/Dunlop, 4; Chris Lawrance/Richard Lawrance, 5.
F1 Sidecars series points: Holden/Shorter & Smith/Bryan, 94= ; Chris Lawrance/Richard Lawrance & Goodwin/Dunlop, 74= ; Ian Staples/James O'Donnell (Whanganui, Staples 1000), 59.
Edmonds Painting Supermoto race 1: Richard Dibben (Whanganui, Tyresheild 450), 1; Duncan Hart (Tauranga, Mimico Yamaha YZF450), 2; Ashton Hughes (Bulls, KTM 450SX-F), 3; Ben Dowman (Whanganui, Honda CRF450), 4; John Oliver (Marton, TM 450SMX), 5.
Supermoto race 2: Dibben, 1; Hart, 2; Hughes, 3; Dowman, 4; Will Young (Wellington, Honda CRF450), 5.
Supermoto series points: Hart 80; Hughes, 68; Dibben, 64.5; Dowman, 63; Young, 51.5.
Lyndsay Tait & Associates Post Classic Pre ’89 Senior race 1: Glen Skachill (Wellington, i-Tools Bimota YB8), 1; Mathew Eggleton (Rotorua, Yamaha FZR1000), 2; Jay Lawrence (Lower Hutt, Carl Cox Motorsport GSX1100), 3; Eddie Kattenberg (Napier, Fast Eddie's Cycles Bimota YB8), 4; Duncan Coutts (Whangarei, Suzuki GSXR1100), 5.
Post Classic Pre ’89 Senior race 2: Skachill, 1; Eggleton, 2; Lawrence, 3; Kattenberg, 4; Gian Louie (Hastings, Suzuki GSXR1100), 5.
Post Classic Pre ’89 Senior series points: Skachill, 102; Kattenberg, 78; Eggleton, 63; Lawrence & Louie, 62=.
Lyndsay Tait & Associates Post Classic Junior race 1: Scott Finlay (Auckland, Kawasaki ZXR400), 1; Dean Bentley (Lower Hutt, Yamaha FZR600), 2; Steven Gregg (Masterton, Honda CBR600), 3; Malcolm McDonald (Whanganui, Kawasaki ZX4), 4; Tony Sklenars (Whanganui, Honda CBR400RR), 5.
Post Classic Junior race 2: Finlay, 1; Bentley, 2; Gregg, 3; McDonald, 4; Sklenars, 5.
Post Classic Junior series points: Finlay, 99; Bentley, 91; Gregg, 72; Sklenars, 68; Kerry Chapman (Napier, Yamaha TZR250), 58.
Q-west Boat Builders BEARS senior race 1: Ashton Hughes (Bulls, Triumph Daytona 675), 1; Dwayne Bishop (Whanganui, Aprilia RSV4), 2; Stephen Leggett (Auckland, Aprilia RSV4 S), 3; Colin MacGregor (Tauranga, BMW S1000RR), 4; Harrison Senior (Palmerston North, KTM RC8R), 5.
BEARS senior race 2: Jason Bardell (Wanganui, BMW S1000RR), 1; MacGregor, 2; Hughes, 3; Leggett, 4; Nick Southerwood (Auckland, BMW S1000RR), 5.
BEARS senior series points: MacGregor, 94; Southerwood & Leggett, 77= ; Bardell, 73; Bishop, 67.
Q-west Boat Builders BEARS junior race 1: Ashton Hughes (Bulls, Triumph Daytona 675), 1; Jaden Galway (Masterton, Triumph Daytona 675), 2; Raymond Herdman (Palmerston North, Ducati 749), 3; Paul McLean (Hawera, Triumph Daytona 675), 4; Daniel McGoverin (Wellington, Triumph Daytona 675), 5.
BEARS junior race 2: Hughes, 1; Galway, 2; McGoverin, 3; Herdman, 4; McLean, 5.
BEARS junior series points: Hughes, 102; Galway, 86; McGoverin, 74; Herdman, 72; McLean, 65.
ENDS
Words & photos by Terry Stevenson
Suzuki Series Hangs in the Balance
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Suzuki Series Hangs in the Balance
Pole position at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon on Sunday could decide who wins the 2016 Suzuki Series.
The pressure will be at boiling point on Sunday because Tony Rees is only one point ahead of defending Suzuki Series champion Sloan Frost, and both riders want to head to the final round at Whanganui on Boxing Day with the series lead.
Frost and Rees won a race each at Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park in Taupo last Sunday, where Frost secured Pole position on his Fujitsu TSS Red Baron Suzuki NZ GSXR1000. There's a slim three point advantage between winning and coming second, so the single point for Pole could make all the difference heading to the Cemetery Circuit on December 26.
Manfeild is Frost's home track, although he is hoping a few other competitors will put themselves between himself and Rees. "I love Manfeild, it has nice banking on the corners, there's good grip, I really enjoy the circuit and it's a really fast track. Hopefully we can pull back that points disadvantage because going into Whanganui I know that Tony is really fast, and I'd like to go to Whanganui not having to try so hard. So we need to get some more Suzuki's up the front."
Frost, 35, is pushing harder than ever while Rees is at the top of his game, and he will be very difficult to beat at Whanganui after taking all three wins last year. Rees says, "Sloan is just in the lead. I'm going to go to Manfeild and do my best, that's all you can do really. You can't go there protecting the lead in the three round series, you've got to go there and have a go."
Last year Liechtenstein visitor Horst Saiger won the opening race on his Red Devil Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R, with Frost second. Frost won race two - where Rees came second on his Honda Rider Insurance CBR1000RR, so it's impossible to predict Sundays outcome.
"I think we will do well again, because the bike It is good now, we found some issues, so now it is much better," Saiger said. "I don't make plans for Manfeild. Sometimes you go there and you think you are well prepared and everything is perfect - you're the fastest man on the planet. And then nothing comes together! And sometimes you go there and everything goes right and it is just so easy to win."
There are several other top riders with their own game-plan. Taupo's Scott Moir is just as fast on his Penny Homes Suzuki GSXR1000, while Toby Summer's has the skill to make the podium for his Barnes Jenkins Insurance GSXR1000 team - if he can get better starts.
Summer's Barnes Jenkins Insurance team-mate, James Flitcroft (UK), was coming to terms on his near-stock BMW S1000RR until a crash put the 20 year old international out of Sundays race two. Yamaha R1 rider Hayden Fitzgerald is also picking up his pace as the 32 year old New Plymouth racer learns the intricacies setting up a new bike.
But the headline act will be how fast Northern Irishman Michael Dunlop can learn Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon, as well as a completely new Suzuki NZ GSXR1000 superbike. Dunlop is a 13-time Isle of Man TT winner and the current lap record holder.
A great back-story to Michael Dunlop's first appearance in New Zealand will be if he decides to race a sidecar for the first time in his career. He successfully tested a sidecar last week at Taupo and enjoyed the experience. If he does race, it will be on a Carl Cox Motorsport BLR GSXR600 F2 sidecar and won't it be interesting to see how he goes, not only on three wheels for the first time, but against Isle of Man Sidecar TT winner John Holden?
Holden, of Britain, and kiwi passenger Robbie Shorter won both sidecar races at Taupo although Holden, 60, isn't so sure he'll be able to do it again at Manfeild on Sunday on his less powerful LCR Honda 600 F2 machine.
Holden says, "I've never seen Manfeild so I don't know. I think we might struggle a bit more because it is a faster circuit, so we'll see when we get there but I will do my best!"
There's also high interest in the pending F2 600 battle between Honda mounted Damon Rees and Kawasaki's Shane Richardson. Both 21 year old racers are very fast around Manfeild, however it will be Richardson who has the home track advantage.
Damon Rees, Tony Rees son, holds a seven point series lead over Richardson heading to Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon, but was unable to judge his speed against the competition at Taupo. "I couldn't tell you who was faster down the straights because I never actually got to see Shane as all weekend I was riding on my own, so I don't know," Rees says.
"We know Shane is fast at Manfeild. I know I can ride well there too, we were there a couple of weeks ago and we were on a decent pace considering we were on old tyres. So we should go well."
Richardson is also in a confident mood, "The plan is to take pole position and two wins against Damon. I'm banking on local knowledge of my home track to help me out, but Damon is a very capable rider, so it will not be an easy task. If I don't win at Manfeild, a shot at the Suzuki Series title in Whanganui will be a lot further out of reach, in my eyes. Plus throwing other fast riders in the mix will make it all that much harder."
In the Suzuki Series support classes Wellingtonian Glen Skachill leads the F3 and Post Classic categories, while Tauranga riders Duncan Hart leads Supermoto, and Colin MacGregor leads the BEARS series.
The Suzuki Series is the richest international motorcycle series in NZ with $36,550 series prizemoney, and the action continues at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon on Sunday.
Early-bird tickets for all rounds round are available at www.cemeterycircuit.co.nz and go in the draw to win a $2,995 Suzuki UK110 scooter in MotoGP colours – drawn outside Suzuki NZ headquarters at Whanganui after the racing. The winner will be notified within 6 days.
2016 Suzuki Series schedule
Rnd 2: Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon, Feilding, Sunday December 11
Rnd 3: Wanganui Cemetery Circuit, Monday December 26
ENDS
Words & photos by Terry Stevenson
Tony Rees leads Suzuki Series
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Tony Rees leads Suzuki Series
Sloan Frost and Tony Rees shared the winners spoils in perfect weather conditions at Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park in Taupo, on Sunday.
In the opening Suzuki Series race Rees rounded turn one first on his Honda Rider Insurance CBR1000RR and went on to lead all but the final half lap when Fujitsu TSS Red Baron Suzuki NZ GSXR1000 mounted Frost kept his cool, made his move, and held on to win.
Penny Homes Suzuki GSXR1000 rider Scott Moir, of Taupo, held second until the charging Frost made his way up the leader board. Moir took the final podium spot just ahead to Barnes Jenkins Insurance Kawasaki ZX-10R mounted Toby Summers and Horst Saiger on his Red Devil Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R.
The scene was set for a big race two as riders made suspension adjustments and tyre changes to lower their lap times for that all-important win. Tony Rees was one of them as the Whakatane-based racer easily lead from start to finish. His 23 year old son Mitch Rees crossed the line sixth on a similar machine to round out a good day at the races for the Rees family.
Pole sitter and defending Suzuki Series champion Frost held second for much of the race however the Wellington-based refrigeration engineer began dropping back as the laps wore on. At the same time, Liechtenstein international Saiger began moving up through the field with a spirited ride into second position by flag fall. Despite Moir's efforts Frost ended the race third, with Summers rounding out the top five after passing Mitch Rees on the last lap.
Frost recalls his victory, "It was really satisfying because I had to come from fourth place after a bad start. It is quite a tough track so you have to be quite aggressive, so it took me a while to get past everybody, so I'm happy. The bike has been great, the suspension was working well and the Pirelli tyres were good."
Frost said he ran out of grip during race two which caused him to drop a place.
Saiger ended the day with a fifth and a second position as his team improved his Kawasaki, "In the first race we made some improvements to the bike from qualifying so it better, but I lost some grip on the rear. We changed some things for the second race and the grip and braking were much better," Saiger explains.
The Suzuki Series is the richest international motorcycle series in NZ with $36,550 series prizemoney and rewards consistency as much as winning, with 25 points awarded for first place, 22 for second and 20 for third. With Frost's single point awarded for Pole position, the 35 year old heads into round two at Manfeild on Sunday just one point behind Tony Rees.
Tony Rees sums up his day, "In the first race I used a tyre that had done the end of qualifying so it was going 'off' near the end of the first race. Sloan found a gap on the corner onto the back straight that I didn't think I'd left - good on him." Rees says. "In race two Sloan got a better start but I thought 'I've got to have you now', otherwise it'd be hard work, and then I put my head down. My pit board was showing plus zero for the first six laps, then I got a one, a two, and then a three second lead, so I thought 'Right, I'm not getting jumped on the last lap this time'!"
Damon Rees owned the Suzuki Series F2 600 class all day on his Honda Rider Insurance CBR600RR after setting a stunning pole time which would have put him seventh on the F1 Superbike grid. The youngest Rees in the family lead both F2 600 heats from start to finish and was never challenged on his way to take his first national-level victories.
The next best-dressed was Wainui Joinery Kawasaki ZX-6R mounted Shane Richardson, of Wellingtonian, who was second on each occasion. Third position was locked up by Aucklander Nathanael Diprose on his RCM Suzuki GSXR600.
Damon Rees said after the days racing, "In the first race we struggled with the rear grip so we went back to the same Pirelli tyre we qualified on for the second race, and straight away we had more grip. It's pretty cool to be leading and pulling away, and quite comfortably, I could have kept doing those lap times all race. This morning was my first major race win!
Damon Rees leads Richardson by seven points and he will need each and every one of them as Richardson won both hard-fought F2 600 battles on his home track last year.
Two-time Isle of Man Sidecar TT winner John Holden (Britain) and kiwi passenger Bobbie Shorter won both legs of the F1 Sidecar races on his LCR Honda 600 powered machine, ahead of the Barry Smith/Tracey Bryan F2 combination. Third position was shared between the Pete 'Pirate' Goodwin/Kendal Dunlop pairing, and Chris Lawrance and Richard Lawrance who were third in race two.
Holden says, "We didn't expect to win against the 1000s before coming here, not at all! This track lends itself to a little bike more, apart from the long back straight, so if you can get a good start and get around the twisty corners you're not so bad." Holden started from Pole and beat all the more powerful 1000cc 'outfits' into the first corner. "This has about 130 brake horsepower and they have nearly 200hp, so I think they must get a bit anxious to get off the line, with wheel spin."
Multi-Suzuki Series F1 Sidecar champions Adam Unsworth and Stu Dawe qualified second fastest however the Auckland pair suffered a nasty crash during qualifying and didn't make the startline due to machine damage. Both riders were uninjured.
The Formula 3 class was sewn up by Glen Skachill, of Wellington, on his i-Tools NSR300 two stroke race bike. Taumarunui rider Leigh Tidman was the only rider to challenge Skachill during the single completed F3 race that day, with Tidman making some hard passes on his Jilesen Contractors RS450 during their great Wellington vs Taumarunui tussle. Auckland's Gavin Veltmeyer brought his GVR645 home third ahead of Eddie Kattenburg.
Race two was stopped after one lap due to a rider fall - fortunate for Tidman because his bike had already expired and he had to pull out. The race was not restarted due to track time constraints leaving Tidman trailing Skachill by four points in the Suzuki Series, with Veltmeyer only two points behind on 20 points, to make for an exciting duel at Manfeild this Sunday.
Glen Skachill had a good day as he also won both legs of the Post Classic Senior category on his fast Bimota YB8. Eddie Kattenberg, of Napier, placed second on a similar machine in the first heat while Rotorua's Peter Smith brought his Suzuki GSXR1100 home a fine third.
In the second race Jay Lawrence pressured Skachill for a short time however his Suzuki GSX1100 was no match for the more modern Bimota, leaving Lawrence to take second, with Kattenberg third. Lawrence failed to make the race one startline due to a battery failure.
Skachill heads to Manfeild on Sunday with a handy nine point lead in the Post Classic Suzuki Series, while Aucklander Scott Finlay leads the Post Classic Junior series by a single point from Dean Bentley of Lower Hutt.
Richard Dibben has the speed over all his Supermoto rivals however each year the Whanganui rider has difficulty translating that into series points to win the Suzuki Series Supermoto title. Such is his incredible corner speed, Dibben enjoyed a 100m lead over Tauranga's Duncan Hart by the half way stage of race one. Dibben went on to win, with Hart second. Jette Josiah looked to have third in the bag however the young Taumarunui rider crashed on the third lap which allowed Ashton Hughes, of Bulls, to grab the final rostrum position.
Dibben completed just three laps during Supermoto race two, handing Hart an unchallenged win and a handy nine point series lead over Hughes. Whanganui's Aden Brown enjoyed a better race two to record second position, with fellow Whangaui rider Ben Dowman third.
The BEARS senior racing were dominated by two BMW riders who scrapped it out on their S1000RR machines, especially during their final race. Tauranga's Colin MacGregor held out Nick Southerwood of Auckland each time, while Ashton Hughes grabbed third in both heats on his smaller 675cc Triumph after leading the opening laps of the first race. Hughes leads the Suzuki Series BEARS junior category ahead of Jaden Galway, of Masterton, ridding a similar machine.
The Suzuki Series heads to Manfeild this Sunday where 13-time Isle of Man TT winner Michael Dunlop joins the series on a Suzuki GSXR1000 superbike. 27 year old Dunlop is the fastest man ever around the Isle of Man where he set a record 215.591kmh (133.962 mph) average speed during the Senior TT on June 10. How fast will he be able to learn a new circuit and adapt to a new superbike to take on the kiwis and internationals?
After a successfully testing a sidecar last Saturday, there is a possibility that Michael Dunlop will race a Carl Cox Motorsport sidecar on Sunday at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon. If it goes ahead it will be Dunlop's first ever sidecar race.
Early-bird tickets for all rounds round are available at www.cemeterycircuit.co.nz and go in the draw to win a $2,995 Suzuki UK110 scooter in MotoGP colours – drawn outside Suzuki NZ headquarters at Whanganui after the racing. The winner will be notified within 6 days.
2016 Suzuki Series schedule
Rnd 2: Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon, Feilding, Sunday December 11
Rnd 3: Wanganui Cemetery Circuit, Monday December 26
2016 Suzuki Series results from Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park, Taupo, Sunday December 4.
Suzuki Formula 1 Superbike, race 1: Sloan Frost, (Wellington, Fujitsu TSS Red Baron Suzuki NZ GSXR1000), 2; Tony Rees (Whakatane, Honda Rider Insurance CBR1000RR), 2; Scott Moir (Taupo, Penny Homes Suzuki GSXR1000), 3; Toby Summers (Auckland, Barnes Jenkins Insurance GSXR1000), 4; Horst Saiger (Liechtenstein, Red Devil Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R), 5.
Formula 1 Superbike, race 2: Tony Rees, 1; Saiger, 2; Frost, 3; Moir, 4; Summers, 5.
F1 Superbike series points: Tony Rees, 47; Frost, 46; Saiger & Moir, 38; Summers, 34.
Pirelli Formula 2, race 1: Damon Rees (Whakatane, Honda Rider Insurance CBR600RR), 1; Shane Richardson (Wainuiomata, Wainui Joinery Kawasaki ZX-6R), 2; Nathanael Diprose (Auckland, RCM Suzuki GSXR600), 3; James Hoogenboezem (Christchurch), 4; Aaron Hassan (Auckland, Suzuki NZ GSXR600), 5.
Formula 2, race 2: Damon Rees, 1; Richardson, 2; Diprose, 3; Hassan, 4; Hayden Fitzgerald, (New Plymouth, bLU cRU Yamaha R6), 5.
Formula 2 series points: Damon Rees, 51; Richardson, 44; Diprose, 40; Hassan, 34; Fitzgerald, 31.
Bike Torque Formula 3, race 1: Glen Skachill (Wellington, i-Tools Honda NSR300), 1; Leigh Tidman (Taumarunui, Jilesen Contractors RS450), 2; Gavin Veltmeyer (Auckland, Coleman’s Suzuki GVR645), 3; Eddie Kattenburg (Napier, Fast Eddie's Cycles ER650), 4; Josh Augustine (Auckland, Absolutely Hammered Ltd SV650), 5.
There was no F3 race two.
Formula 3 series points: Skachill, 26, Tidman, 22; Veltmeyer, 20; Kattenburg, 18; Augustine, 16.
Collegiate Quality Inn F1 Sidecars race 1: John Holden/Robbie Shorter (UK/NZ, Barnes Racing LCR Honda 600), 1; Barry Smith/Tracey Bryan (Te Puke/Tauranga, Carl Cox Motorsport Suzuki F2), 2; Pete Goodwin/Kendal Dunlop (Albany, mc2xs LCR/Windle), 3; Chris Lawrance/Richard Lawrance (Warkworth, Shorai Anderson R1), 4; Ian Staples/James O'Donnell (Whanganui, Staples 1000), 5.
F1 Sidecars race 2: Holden/Shorter, 1; Smith/Bryan, 2; Chris Lawrance/Richard Lawrance, 3; Goodwin/Dunlop, 4; Spike Taylor/Astrid Hartnel (Masterton/Wanganui, Mobility Wairarapa LCR GSXR1000), 5.
F1 Sidecars final series points: Holden/Shorter, 51; Smith/Bryan, 44; Chris Lawrance/Richard Lawrance & Goodwin/Dunlop, 38; Staples/James O'Donnell, 31.
Edmonds Painting Supermoto race 1: Richard Dibben (Wanganui, Tyresheild 450), 1; Duncan Hart (Tauranga, Mimico Yamaha YZF450), 2; Ashton Hughes (Bulls, KTM 450SX-F), 3; Jono Hamlin (Cambridge, Suzuki RMZ450), 4; Ben Dowman (Whanganui, Honda CRF450), 5.
Supermoto race 2: Hart, 1; Aden Brown (Wanganui, Harvey Round Motors RMZ450), 2; Dowman, 3; Hughes, 4; John Oliver (Marton, TM 450SMX), 5.
Supermoto series points: Hart 47; Hughes, 38; Dowman, 36; Hamlin, 33; Oliver, 30.
Lyndsay Tait & Associates Post Classic Pre ’89 Senior race 1: Glen Skachill (Wellington, i-Tools Bimota YB8), 1; Eddie Kattenberg (Napier, Fast Eddie's Cycles Bimota YB8), 2; Peter Smith (Rotorua, Suzuki GSXR1100), 3; Glen Eggleton (Rotorua, Yamaha FZR1000), 4; Gian Louie (Hastings, Suzuki GSXR1100), 5.
Post Classic Pre ’89 Senior race 2: Skachill, 1; Jay Lawrence (Lower Hutt, Carl Cox Motorsport GSX1100), 2; Kattenberg, 3; Eggleton, 4; Smith, 5.
Post Classic Pre ’89 Senior series points: Skachill, 51; Kattenberg, 42; Smith & Eggleton, 36; Louie, 31.
Lyndsay Tait & Associates Post Classic Junior race 1: Scott Finlay (Auckland, Kawasaki ZXR400), 1; Dean Bentley (Lower Hutt, Yamaha FZR600), 2; Shayne Lawrey (Hamilton, Yamaha FZR600), 3; Tony Sklenars (Whanganui, Honda CBR400RR), 4; Steven Gregg (Masterton, Honda CBR600), 5.
Post Classic Junior race 2: Bentley, 1; Finlay, 2; Lawrey, 3; Sklenars, 4; Gregg, 5.
Post Classic Junior series points: Finlay, 48; Bentley, 47; Lawrey, 40; Sklenars, 36; Gregg, 32.
Q-west Boat Builders BEARS senior race 1: Colin MacGregor (Tauranga, BMW S1000RR), 1; Nick Southerwood (Auckland, BMW S1000RR), 2; Ashton Hughes (Bulls, Triumph Daytona 675), 3; Stephen Leggett (Auckland, Aprilia RSV4 S), 4; Jason Bardell (Wanganui, BMW S1000RR), 5.
BEARS senior race 2: MacGregor, 1; Southerwood, 2; Hughes, 3; David Sharp (Auckland, Aprilia RSV4 S), 4; Shaun Manson (Whanganui, BMW HP4S), 5.
BEARS senior series points: MacGregor, 51; Southerwood, 44; Sharp, 36; Leggett, 35; Bardell, 34.
Q-west Boat Builders BEARS junior race 1: Ashton Hughes (Bulls, Triumph Daytona 675), 1; Richard Markham-Barrett (Nikau Valley, KTM 800S), 2; Jaden Galway (Masterton, Triumph Daytona 675), 3; Daniel McGoverin (Wellington, Triumph Daytona 675), 4; Raymond Herdman (Palmerston North, Ducati 749), 5.
BEARS junior race 2: Hughes, 1; Galway, 2; McGoverin, 3; Herdman, 4; Paul McLean (Hawera, Triumph Daytona 675), 5.
BEARS junior series points: Hughes, 51; Galway, 42; McGoverin, 38; Herdman, 34; McLean, 31.
ENDS
Words & photos by Terry Stevenson
Note to editors; spelling of bLU cRU Yamaha R6 is correct.
Photos:
- Race 1 winner Sloan Frost in action on his Suzuki GSXR1000.
- Tony Rees leads the Suzuki Series F1 SBK pack.
- Tony & Damon Rees, F1 SBK & F2 600 race winners.
- John Holden & Robbie Shorter won both F1 Sidecar races.
- Adam Unsworth & Stu Dawe come to grief during sidecar qualifying.
For further information or high resolution photographs contact;
Press, Terry Stevenson 027 222-5656, Email; tappit@paradise.net.nz
Organiser, Allan Willacy 021 212-6873, Email; admin@cemeterycircuit.co.nz
