News Release

Stroud Extends Superbikes Lead

02 March 2010
It was good news and bad for the top title contenders at the weekend's fourth round of five in this season's New Zealand Superbike Championships at Manfeild.

Suzuki riders still top the podium in the glamour superbikes class but it probably won't be New Zealand superbike crown No.4 for defending champion Robbie Bugden this year.

The day went from bad to worse for the likeable Australian at Manfeild on Sunday.  

He had no answer for fellow Suzuki star Andrew Stroud in the opening superbike race, forced to settle for second spot, and he then had to withdraw from the second leg as his bike "mysteriously lost power" nine laps into the race.  

Hamilton's Stroud (on the Brother Suzuki GSX-R1000) was therefore untroubled in claiming back-to-back wins on Sunday and he now enjoys an almost unbeatable 43-point lead over Bugden at the top of the championship standings.  

Just 50 points are still available, at the fifth and final round at Hampton Downs at the end of the month.   

“Winning was what I had in mind coming here and that’s also what I plan to do at Hampton Downs. I can afford to settle for seconds and thirds now but I wouldn’t be a real racer if I was happy to do that,” said Stroud.

"To tell the truth, I don't actually like leading races. I find it hard to concentrate. I prefer to have someone to chase but, I suppose, I'm the one everyone's been chasing this year."  

Bugden was philosophical about his misfortunes.  

"I made a couple of errors in race one … no excuses really. I just got beaten by Andrew fair and square. The second race was just one of those things. You sometimes have bad days and this was one of those bad days for me," said the 29-year-old.  

Meanwhile, Bugden's Triple R Suzuki team-mate James Smith, of Christchurch, has slipped from third to fourth in the superbike standings after he could only manage a pair of fifth placings on Sunday.  

It was bad luck all around for Smith as he also lost his grip on the lead of the other class he is contesting, the 600cc sports production class.  

Smith and Wellington’s Glen Skachill (Museum Hotel Suzuki) were each penalised 20 seconds after allegedly jumping the start of race one.

That decision by track officials elevated Hamilton's Nick Cole from fifth to third in race one and also handed him the championship lead.  

The response from Skachill and Smith was punishing, the Suzuki pair finishing first and third respectively in the next race, but, sadly, the damage had been done and Smith will now have to wait until Hampton Downs to snatch the title.  

The battle for formula three honours continued between Manawatu friends and rivals Glen Williams and Jason Easton, with defending champion Williams edging further ahead in the championship chase after he won the day.

He took his Suzuki SV650 to 1-2-1 in the three races and Williams is now 16 points ahead of Easton with just the final round to come.

Dannevirke’s Geoff Booth (Suzuki) was untouchable in the 650 Pro Twins class, winning all three races in the class at Manfeild. He is now 36 points ahead of Christchurch’s James Hoogenboezem (Suzuki).  

In the sidecars class, Wanganui men Stephen Bron and Dennis Simonsen (Suzuki) finished 2-1-1 at the weekend, further boosting their lead in the championship.   

…ends…