News Release

Taupo Track Day

02 April 2008
The opportunity to try out their motorcycles in a controlled environment has seen literally hundreds of Suzuki owners flock to the Suzuki Track Days run at the Taupo and Manfeild racing circuits these past two years.

This summer has been no exception, with every one of the TrackFun-organised Suzuki Ride Days oversubscribed.

The last of this summer’s events is scheduled for Taupo Motorsport Park on April 26 and according to event organiser Chris Riley, it could provide the best opportunity yet for any Suzuki owner who has not yet sampled a Suzuki Track Day.

“While about a quarter of the available places have already been booked, there is still plenty of room for newcomers,” he says.

“Usually we get a rush in the last two weeks before each event so right now is the time to reserve a place for the last Suzuki Track Day before we go into recess over the winter.”

At all the Suzuki Track Days held to date, the line-up of Suzuki motorcycles has been extremely diverse.  Naturally there is a very strong representation of the GSX-R sports bike range but owners have entered on machines as diverse as commuter GN250s, boulevard cruisers such as the M109 and M50 as well as quite a few of the sporting two-strokes of yesteryear, such as RG250s, RG500s and RGV250s.

“We have had owners come along on just about every Suzuki road model sold in the last 10 years,” says Mr. Riley.  

“There has been at least one GSX1300R Hayabusa at every Suzuki Track Day we have run while a few owners have come along with their TL1000S V-twins.  There have been quite a few owners on the newer SV1000 while SV650s have also been well represented.  Then there have been owners who have come along and had an absolute blast on V-Stroms – both the 1000cc and 650cc versions,” he adds.

Taradale’s David Fair has entered his TL1000 at several of the Suzuki Track Days and still comes back for more.  To get to the Taupo track in time for the 8.00 am sign-in, he heads off over the hills on his bright red TL1000S at 6.00am.

David has had the Suzuki V-twin since 2004 and says he “enjoys it just as much today as when I first bought it.”

Then there’s Albany’s Brett Christiansen who admits that Suzuki Track Days were what finally prompted him to buy a new GSX-R600 Suzuki.  It’s been a long time since he has owned a new motorcycle: he admits to having owned a Suzuki GSX400 Impulse for 18 years before buying the new machine.

Brett rides the GSX-R600 down from Auckland the evening before each Suzuki Track Days, stays overnight and is out at the circuit bright and early in the morning.

“I love it.  It’s a brilliant bike,” he says of his Suzuki.

He says he loves the power and handling of the new bikes, but he has kept the Impulse for old time’s sake.

“It is great to be back on the track.  The 600 is so much better than my old 400.  It has more power but the big thing is that it handles in the corners!  You just pick a line and through you go.  I love it – absolutely love it.  And it’s great for touring too.  I’ve just come back from two and a half weeks in the South Island with no ‘numb bum’ syndrome at all.  It’s a terrific bike, a good touring bike too, believe it or not.”

He says he enjoys the Suzuki Track Days because they allow him to find the limits on his new bikes in a safe, controlled environment.

For more information and entry forms for the Suzuki Track Day at Taupo on April 26, contact Chris Riley: 09 416 5309 or e-mail: chris@trackfun.co.nz