News Release
Suzuki Leads Both Main Classes
22 January 2008
It looks increasingly likely that this year’s New Zealand Supercross Championships will finish with Suzuki 1-2 in both the premier classes.
Team Suzuki leader Daryl Hurley was again untouchable as he swept all before him in the open class at Tokoroa on Saturday night.
Hawera’s Hurley (Suzuki RM-Z450) leads the open class from his Queenstown team-mate Scotty Columb (Suzuki RM-Z450), while dual-class ironman Columb (this time on the Suzuki RMZ-250) has a narrow one-point buffer over a third Suzuki team-mate, Luke Burkhart (Hawera, Suzuki RM-Z250), in the lites (small bike) class.
Hurley is confident he can add the national open class supercross crown to the 500cc motocross title he picked up last November.
If he can achieve that -- and the odds strongly favour the 31-year-old Kiwi international -- then he would be the country’s best dirt bike rider this season in both the outdoor and stadium versions of the sport.
Hurley dominated at round one of the supercross series near Motueka a fortnight ago, winning all three races in the big bike class, and he has established a solid nine-point buffer over Columb.
He doubled that advantage to 18 points over his Suzuki team-mate Columb after the second of four rounds at Tokoroa on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, Columb also continues to have a fight on his hands in the lites class, where he remains locked in a battle with fellow Suzuki rider Burkhart.
Burkhart won the night at Tokoroa and sliced into Columb’s class lead, his advantage now just a solitary point as the series reaches the halfway point.
“The team is doing really well,” said Hurley in classic understatement, modestly deflecting the spotlight away from his own personal glory.
But there’s no ignoring Hurley’s total dominance of the premier class.
“I am unbeaten so far in six open class races and it looks like the Suzuki team could finish 1-2 in both senior classes,” he agreed.
Meanwhile, Burkhart said he was happy to have eaten into his team-mate’s lead in the lites class and acknowledges there is still a long way to go with two rounds remaining, at the TelstraClear Events Centre, Manukau, on February 16 and at Wanganui’s Cook’s Gardens on March 1.
“If I had won the last race, it would be me in the championship lead,” lamented Burkhart afterwards. “But I’m happy with how my night went. I won the night (in the lites class, finishing 1-1-2) and gained some good points.
“With us two Suzuki riders finishing 1-2 in every race, it is hard to make up significant ground on Scotty (Columb).
“I feel good on the bike. My only frustration was making that mistake in the final race … but that’s racing.”
Hurley, Burkhart, Columb and the crew of Team Suzuki thank their sponsors: Suzuki, Shift, Scott, Elf, Bridgestone, Asplundh, ilabb, Total Paints, PPG, DID, Tag Metals, Alpinestars Boots, Pro Circuit, One Industries, Trooper Helmets, Acerbis, E-Z up, JT Sprockets, Talon Hubs, Vortex Ignitions.
LEADING STANDINGS:
New Zealand Supercross Championships standings after round two: Open class:
Daryl Hurley (Hawera, Suzuki) 150 points;
Scott Columb (Queenstown, Suzuki) 132;Nick Saunders (Taupo, Kawasaki) 112.
Lites class:
Scott Columb (Queenstown, Suzuki) 133;
Luke Burkhart (Hawera, Suzuki) 132;Jesse Wiki (Hamilton, Kawasaki) 106.
CALENDAR:
New Zealand Supercross Championships:
Round one: 6 January 2008, Motueka
Round two: 19 January 2008, Tokoroa
Round three: 16 February 2008, Manukau – TelstraClear Events Centre
Round four: 01 March 2008, Wanganui – Cook’s Gardens
