Waikato warrior Andrew Stroud did not even have to show at Manfeild for the weekend’s fifth and final round of the New Zealand Superbike Championships.
The Suzuki ace had already wrapped up the national superbike title at round four a week earlier and he could have instead spent the day at home in Hamilton, perhaps entertaining his eight children.
But it was another excuse for a family road trip and, besides all of this, a special one-off “King of Manfeild” trophy was on offer on Sunday for the rider who won the day’s second superbike race, a 20-lap marathon.
When fellow Suzuki riders Craig Shirriffs, of Feilding, and Robbie Bugden, of Australia, finished first and second in the first superbike outing of the weekend – forcing early race leader Stroud to settle for a rare third place finish and making it a Suzuki 1-2-3 – the scene was set for a gripping King of Manfeild feature final, a winner-takes-all race where previous reputations and titles count for nothing.
Bugden and Stroud were hard at it from the start, Shirriffs close behind and also threatening throughout the opening laps.
When Shirriffs got “a little too eager on the throttle” and spectacularly tossed his bike away, it became a two-horse race with Bugden holding the advantage.
The crowd stood to cheer, though, as Stroud snatched the lead back from Bugden halfway through the 20th and final lap of the race, taking the flag by just a bike length.
“It was a good way to finish the championship,” beamed Stroud afterwards.
“I think the crowd would have been on their feet for that one ... I was certainly on the edge of mine. I didn’t think I was going to make it but it all worked out in the end.”
As for the championship itself, Brisbane’s three-time former New Zealand champion Bugden settled for runner-up spot overall, although a massive 67 points behind Stroud, who had not only defended his 2010 title but had with that established a record of nine superbike titles dating back to his first national superbike title in 1991.
Meanwhile, Christchurch’s Dennis Charlett wrapped up the 600cc supersport class title with a race to spare at Manfeild on Sunday.
The 42-year-old grandfather finished fifth in the day’s first 600cc outing but that was easily enough for him to seal the championship, allowing him to reclaim the title he last held in 2008.
“The team has been fantastic this year,” said Charlett afterwards. “Suzuki, Pirelli and Andrew Stroud have all supported me well and this is what made it all possible,” said Charlett, modestly downplaying the undoubted influence of his own vast racing talent.
Other Suzuki riders were also crowned at the weekend with Timaru’s Johnny Small cementing his place at the top of the 650 Pro Twins class and Christchurch’s Matthew Hoogenboezem proving himself the top man in the 150 streetstock class.
Wellington’s Glen Skachill (Suzuki) took the Gumboot Grand Prix trophy, the one-off special prize for the winner of Sunday’s second 600cc class race.
For further information contact Simon Meade, Motorcycle Sales Manager, simon@suzuki.co.nz
