News Release
Never Say Never For Stroud
29 January 2008
There’s a long way to go yet before Hamilton’s Andrew Stroud throws in the towel.There’s a long way to go yet before Hamilton’s Andrew Stroud throws in the towel.
The many-times New Zealand superbike champion is starting to lose sight of the lead in the 2008 championships, but he’s not yet ready to concede the title to fellow Suzuki star Robbie Bugden.
It’s a matter of pride and, now that Stroud’s slipped to third in the points standings after the weekend’s third of five rounds near Invercargill, it’s important to the Kiwi icon that the season does not end up an Aussie 1-2 double punch in this elite category.
Bugden (Suzuki GSX-R1000) and Stroud (Suzuki GSX-R1000) have been battling back and forth throughout the series so far but now another Australian, Yamaha rider Gareth Jones, has joined the party and that has made it very hot indeed at the front of the field. Throw into the mix former 600cc champion Craig Shirriffs, on yet another Suzuki GSX-R1000, and you have an amazing four-way battle for superbike glory.
There has been very little to separate these riders on the track this summer with barely a second between the men in qualifying and in the races themselves. All of them have gone under the lap record at the various tracks they’ve struck so far.
“The pace is just so hot this year,” said Stroud. “Robbie has obviously taken a liking to the new Suzuki but I feel there are probably four or five of us still capable of taking races from him.
“I still feel like I’m right there to win races but it looks like Robbie is now in a comfortable position to retain his title,” said the 40-year-old father-of-six, as he looks ahead to the next round at Manfeild, just outside Palmerston North, in just over three weeks’ time.
“Robbie is a great rider and very focussed and he’s in a strong position, but I’m not giving up. I’m not that far behind him and I beat him in both races at Manfeild last year. I’m feeling very strong at the moment but, I admit, it’s been jolly hard work. The pace is simply incredible.”
Meanwhile, in the 600cc sports production class, Christchurch Suzuki rider Dennis Charlett (Suzuki GSX-R600) produced another flawless display at the weekend, delivering another 1-1 double whammy in winning both races and extending his series lead to 53 points, ahead of fellow Suzuki rider James Smith, of Christchurch, at the top of the standings.
Aucklander Karl Morgan (Suzuki SV650) scored another hat-trick in the 650cc pro-twin class, extending his lead to 85 points over Dannevirke’s Geoff Booth, on a similar Suzuki SV650, with yet another Suzuki rider, Invercargill’s Anthony Stephens, now up to third overall.
Palmerston North’s Glen Williams (Suzuki SV650) has meanwhile pushed his lead in the formula three class out to 65 points over the new No.2 rider in the championship, Blenheim’s Steven Wood (Suzuki SV650). New Plymouth’s former national F3 champion Terry Fitzgerald (Suzuki SV650) has now moved up to third in the standings, 17 points behind Wood.
The five-round national championships series continues at Feilding’s Manfeild circuit on February 23-24 and, finally, Pukekohe on March 8-9.
LEADING STANDINGS AFTER ROUND TWO OF THE NEW ZEALAND ROAD-RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Superbikes points:
Robbie Bugden (Australia, Suzuki) 150; Gareth Jones (Australia, Yamaha) 102;
Andrew Stroud (Hamilton, Suzuki) 98. 600cc sports production class points:
Dennis Charlett (Christchurch, Suzuki) 147.5;
James Smith (Christchurch, Suzuki) 94.5; Jay Lawrence (Wellington, Kawasaki) 88.5.
Formula three class points:
Glen Williams (Palmerston North, Suzuki) 210;
Steven Wood (Blenheim, Suzuki) 145;
Terry Fitzgerald (New Plymouth, Suzuki) 128. 650 pro twins class points:
Karl Morgan (Swanson, Suzuki) 225;
Geoff Booth (Dannevirke, Suzuki) 140; Anthony Stephens (Invercargill, Suzuki) 137. 125GP class points:
Cameron Jones (Christchurch, Honda) 184;
Tim McArthur (Dunedin, Honda) 169;
Adam Chambers (Clive, Honda) 108.
CALENDAR:Round One: January 12&13 - Ruapuna - including the NZ Grand Prix
Round Two: January 19&20 - Levels
Round Three: January 26 & 27 - Teretonga
Round Four: February 23 & 24 - Manfeild
Round Five: March 08 & 09 – Pukekohe – including the NZ TTs
