It doesn’t get any more comprehensive than this.
It is now Suzuki 1-2-3 at the top of the glamour superbike class after another inspiring performance at the weekend by defending national champion Andrew Stroud, three-time former champion Robbie Bugden and rising star James Smith.
Racing at the third round of five in the New Zealand Superbike Championships at Ruapuna Park, just outside Christchurch, at the weekend, Stroud (Documentary Channel Pirelli Suzuki GSX-R1000) further stamped his authority on the class with another pair of wins.
He was chased to the chequered flag by Australian visitor Bugden (Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki GSX-R1000) in the opening superbike race but then Bugden lost some of his forward momentum after a wrong choice of tyres for the day’s second damp outing and ended up a disappointing, unexpected and unaccustomed 12th overall.
It was Taranaki’s Hayden Fitzgerald, previously not a feature in the championship, who finished runner-up to Stroud in that fateful second outing.
Even with that minor set-back for Bugden, the man from Brisbane and his Christchurch-based Triple R team-mate Smith (Elf Oils Suzuki GSX-R1000) are now lining up for a crack at the No.1 spot, each of them hoping to knock Waikato’s Stroud off the top of the podium with two rounds remaining.
Smith enjoyed a very productive time at Christchurch’s Ruapuna Park circuit at the weekend, moving his Suzuki up from fifth in the championship standings to third overall after finishing fourth and sixth in his two outings on Sunday, now just 19 points behind team-mate Bugden.
Stroud continues to lead the title chase, now a massive 44 points clear of Bugden.
“It was a great day at the office,” Stroud confirmed afterwards.
Rain threatened the second superbike race of the day and, although some riders opted to change their tyres from ‘slicks’ to ‘wets’, Stroud kept with the un-grooved slicks and that proved to be the right choice.
“It was one of the trickiest races I’ve ever done because you couldn’t see where the traction was on the slippery track surface. I didn’t know whether I’d find traction or not in some corners. It was all a bit of a gamble.”
In the 600cc class it was a similar story of double glory for Christchurch’s Dennis Charlett (Avon City Suzuki GSX-R600).
The 42-year-old Charlett won both 600cc races at Ruapuna and now enjoys a 22-point lead at the top of the championship standings.
“It was an absolutely brilliant weekend. Even the crowd gave a standing ovation after the racing,” said Charlett, now well on target to reclaim the national 600cc title that he previously won in 2008.
“I’m still not counting my chickens before they’ve hatched but perhaps I just need to ride consistently to the finish of the series now.”
Meanwhile, Timaru’s Johnny Small (Blastcraft Suzuki SV650) has stretched to more than 50 points his lead in the Pro Twins class over fellow Suzuki riders Daniel Kempthorne (Palmerston North) and Terry Fitzgerald (New Plymouth); Winton’s Phillip Mair (Suzuki RG150) continues to lead the street stock 150 class; Palmerston North’s Glen Williams (Redpath Greenhouses Suzuki SVR650) maintains his strong challenge for championship honours in the superlites class and Wanganui pair Stephen Bron and Dennis Simonsen (Suzuki) scored a hat-trick of wins at Ruapuna to further increase their lead in the sidecars division.
The series now heads north for round four at Hampton Downs, near Meremere, on March 26-27, with the fifth and final round at Manfeild, near Palmerston North, on April 2-3.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
For Further Information Contact
Simon Meade
Motorcycle Sales Manager
e simon@suzuki.co.nz
