Tag Archives: NZ Road Racing

Hoogenboezem claims NZ Superbike lead at Hampden Downs

2020 New Zealand TT – Hampden Downs

New Zealand Superbike Championship Round Three


Heading north for the New Zealand Superbike Championship’s (NZSBK) third round at Hampton Downs, saw the Yamaha Motor New Zealand team excel – lifting the NZTT title in three classes and taking the Superbike championship lead.

In the top-tier Yamaha Racing Team (YRT) Christchurch’s Alastair Hoogenboezem bounced back from a hefty crash in the first race to take out the prestigious TT title on his Yamaha YZF-R1.

NZ SBK New Zealand TT Alastair Hoogenboezems crash Hampton Downs

NZ SBK New Zealand TT Alastair Hoogenboezems crash Hampton Downs

Alastair Hoogenboezem bounced back from a crash in Race 1 – Image courtesy of ASP

Yamaha Racing Development Team (YRDT) rider Rogan Chandler, of Wellington, had a stunning return to form, riding his YZF-R6 to three race victories, including claiming the Supersport 600’s TT trophy.

Southlander Comac Buchanan also picked up the first and third race’s silverware in the Supersport 150 class on his YZF-R15.

There were ups and downs to the Yamaha team’s racing however, as Hoogenboezem’s positive start to the weekend with a personal best time in qualifying, quickly turned terrifying in the first race on Saturday.

Alastair Hoogenboezem

“I came together with another rider – just a racing incident. Unfortunately I was the one that took most of the hit and got shunted hard left and was heading towards the wall. I managed to lessen the angle of the impact into the wall and ride out of it but by then I was on the grass and had a heavy fall. In the last race, I was sitting in fourth for the first couple of laps and just chipped away at third and second. With a couple of laps to go I was hauling in Scotty [Moir], who had led most of the race and worked my way even closer and drafted him to the line in the end to pick up an NZTT trophy.”

NZ SBK New Zealand TT Alastair Hoogenboezem Hampton Downs

NZ SBK New Zealand TT Alastair Hoogenboezem Hampton Downs

Alastair Hoogenboezem – Image courtesy of ASP

Remarkably, he escaped with only a bruised elbow and hip. while the YRT mechanics had a late night working on his R1 to get it looking sharp again for Sunday’s two races. After a tentative first few laps, Hoogenboezem regained his confidence and finished third in his second outing.

Hoogenboezem now leads Moir by 3 points in the Superbike class with two North Island rounds left to run.

Chandler had the team’s top result with his three wins allowing him to leapfrog into second in the Supersport 600 championship. He credited a change in mindset, to focus on having fun and not placing too much pressure on himself, with the positive effect on his racing results, after a tough two rounds in the South Island.

Rogan Chandler

“I was really happy to finally get a round win again this year and one that I felt like I really earned. On Sunday in the first race I was super happy to get a new lap record and then we won the TT in the afternoon.”

NZ SBK New Zealand TT Rogan Chandler Hampton Downs

NZ SBK New Zealand TT Rogan Chandler Hampton Downs

Rogan Chandler – Image courtesy of ASP

Yamaha Motor New Zealand’s Motorsport Manager Josh Coppins says it was great to see Chandler, “back to his true form and dominating all three races. It’s what we expected, after he won the Suzuki Series.”

Thirteen-year-old Buchanan also hit the asphalt over the weekend, after qualifying on pole and winning the first race by over 19 seconds. He then crashed in the warm-up session before the second race on Sunday, damaging his YZF-R15. The team worked hard to get the bike ready but unfortunately his race started ahead of schedule so he was unable to make the grid for race two.

In the final race, he worked his way to the front of the field in the first lap and clinched a satisfying win to claim the NZTT 150 SuperSport title.

Comac Buchanan

“It was wicked to end the weekend on a high note. I was determined to reward my parents, my coach Steve and the Yamaha team with the NZTT title. They all rallied to get me back out there on the track so it felt amazing to get the job done. Physically it was a real challenge and I know I’m going to be feeling this crash for a while. But as the saying goes ‘you never lose – you either win or you learn’. I banked a lot of valuable lessons this weekend which will make me stronger and even more determined for the next two rounds.”

YRT’s Jake Lewis, of Rangiora, is also in a good place heading into the last rounds after cementing some solid results in the Superbike class, with a 6-5-5 in the three races.

Jake Lewis

“The total outcome was really positive. I had a good feeling with the bike and took another step forward with it. This weekend was the closest I’ve been to the front, in terms of lap times all season. Hopefully we can make another step forward for Manfeild.”

Timaru’s Harry Parker took some time to learn the Hampton Downs’ circuit’s lines and get up to speed in the Supersport 300 class. After finishing 7th and 5th he unfortunately had a DNF in the final race.

Harry Parker

“I got an awesome start but coming into turn one another rider cut under me and pushed the front end out which tucked the front and put me in a DNF. Luckily there’s not much damage but we will be ready to rock and roll for round four.”

Josh Coppins was thrilled with the Yamaha team’s results.

Josh Coppins

“Yamaha winning the TT in the 150, 600 and Superbike classes made a great weekend. We’ve taken the lead in the Superbike championship and it’s going to be a tight battle for the remaining two rounds. This was probably the hardest track for our guys because with four out of five of them being South Island-based riders, they have hardly ridden at Hampton Downs. The next two rounds they should be able to get up to speed a little bit quicker, which is going to help our championship chances. I’m really proud of the team and couldn’t be happier with the effort from everyone involved.”


2020 NZSBK Round Three Overall

Superbike (Provisional)

  1. Scott Moir – 71
  2. Daniel Mettham – 56
  3. Alastair Hoogenboezem (YZF-R1) – 41
  4. Sloan Frost – 37
  5. Lachlan Epis – 32
  6. Jake Lewis (YZF-R1) – 32

Supersport 600

  1. Rogan Chandler (YZF-R6) – 75
  2. Richie Dibben – 61
  3. Toby Summers – 35
  4. Dale Finch – 32
  5. David Hall – 26

Supersport 300 (Provisional)

  1. Nathanael Diprose – 65
  2. Caleb Gilmore (YZF-R3) – 62
  3. Jacob Stroud – 54
  4. Jason Hearn (YZF-R3) – 29
  5. Campbell Grayling (YZF-R3) – 24
  6. Harry Parker (YZF-R3) – 20

Supersport 150

  1. Hamish Simpson (YZF-R15) – 65
  2. Jacob Pierce (YZF-R15) – 52
  3. Cormac Buchanan (YZF-R15) – 51
  4. Oliver Cotton (YZF-R15) – 42
  5. Olivia Goddard (YZF-R15) – 35
  6. Jacob Skinner (YZF-R15) – 31

2020 NZSBK Race Schedule

  • Round One – Ruapuna – 11th & 12th January 2020
  • Round Two – Levels – 18th & 19th January 2020
  • Round Three – Hampton Downs – 7th & 8th March 2020
  • Round Four – Manfield – 28th & 29th March
  • Round Five – Taupo – 4th & 5th April 2020

Source: MCNews.com.au

Yamaha NZ forms multi-tier NZ Superbike Championship squad

Yamaha New Zealand forms new road racing structure

Yamaha Motor New Zealand (YMNZ) has a breadth of experience in its 2020 New Zealand Super Bike (NZSBK) racing team structure.

With a commitment to fostering the talent of younger racers in the entry capacity categories, through to supporting its top-tier riders in their desire to claim the Superbike title, YMNZ has covered all bases.

The Yamaha Racing Team (YRT) will consist of Christchurch’s Alastair Hoogenboezem and Jake Lewis, of Rangiora. These two seasoned high-flyers will be on-board their 1000cc YZF-R1 race machines in the Superbike class and they will be managed by engine and suspension tuning guru Dave Cole and experienced team manger Peter Fenton.

Alastair Hoogenboezem
Alastair Hoogenboezem pictured here in 2015

At 27-years-old Hoogenboezem is the team’s most ‘senior’ rider and enters his fifth Superbike season. Although the thrill of hurtling down a straight at 290kmh is second nature now “it still definitely puts a smile on my face,” he says.

He has national 125cc and 600cc class titles to his name and is looking to add a third championship to his trophy cabinet this season. His team-mate Lewis (24) has the same ambition and no doubt the two Yamaha riders will spur each other on to great things on their Yamaha YZF-R1 motorcycles this season. Lewis returned from a five-year stint racing overseas in 2018, winning the New Zealand 600 Supersport title that year.

Like Hoogenboezem, he joined the YMNZ team last year and his goals are to be consistently on the podium and “represent the Yamaha brand the best I can,” Lewis says.

Jake Lewis - Image by Brian J Nelson
Jake Lewis raced in MotoAmerica, pictured here in 2017 at Road Atlanta – Image by Brian J Nelson

For the 2020 season, YMNZ has developed a satellite squad, the Yamaha Racing Development Team (YRDT) managed by Steve Lloyd. It forms the pathway for the up-and-coming younger riders to progress into the YRT when they have built up the necessary skills and speed. Wellington’s Rogan Chandler (22) will compete in the Supersport 600 class onboard his Yamaha YZF-R6 for his third year in this class. YMNZ also welcomes Timaru’s Harry Parker to the team and the 19-year-old will contest the Supersport 300 class, on his YZF-R3.

Lloyd says that since he sold his motorcycle business in 2012, he has been involved with the Off-limits Trust, which organises and runs events such as the Tussock Buster and Boundary Buster. The trust also develops young riding talent in New Zealand.

“We are excited to be able to do this now through the establishment of the Yamaha Racing Development Team. We are operating alongside the Yamaha Racing Team with the shared goal to provide an environment that allows riders to develop skills not just on the track but off the track as well. We hope that success on a national level will allow our riders to progress to being picked up by Yamaha Racing in Australia, or Asia, and even further afield internationally,” Lloyd says.

With a rule change by Motorcycling New Zealand from a single manufacturer 150cc class, to now open to all manufacturers within the Supersport 150 class, Yamaha is extending support to 13-year-old Southlander Cormac Buchanan – supported by his home-town dealership Rogers Motorcycles in Invercargill – who will be leading the charge in this class on a YZF-R15. Despite his young age, Buchanan has a packed international schedule leading into the NZSBK’s first round in January. He has been racing in Australia in the Oceania Junior Cup; was nominated to attend the prestigious Red Bull Rookies Cup in Spain last weekend; and has been selected to ride in the Asia Talent Cup in Malaysia later this month.

“I’m absolutely stoked to be part of the bLU cRU and have the chance to learn from riders the calibre of Jake, Al, Rogan and Harry. As I’m just starting my road racing career, having positive and talented role models willing to mentor me within the Yamaha teams was a massive drawcard,” Cormac says.

Cormac Buchanan
Young Kiwi Cormac Buchanan pictured in ASBK Oceania Junior Cup gear

Former international motocross star and more recently, successful team manager Josh Coppins has taken on a new management role at the helm of Yamaha’s racing programme, which will span across all disciplines.

“I’m looking forward to the season ahead. We have a great group of riders and have been able to provide them with a clear pathway and structure which we believe will help the sport, the Yamaha brand and will ultimately help the riders to get the championships they deserve,” Coppins says.

The road racing season kicks off with the Tri-Series starting on December 7 and 8 at Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park in Taupo.

The YZF-R15 v3 will be available to dealers late October and Yamaha is looking forward to seeing the support of the brand within this class. Yamaha will be offering a limited number of R15 fairing kits for racers and also have a race-ready apparel package available through Ficeda. These will be available directly via YMNZ. 

2020 NZSBK Championship Dates
  1. NZSBK Round One – 11th & 12 January 2020 (Ruapuna, Christchurch)
  2. NZSBK Round Two – 18th & 19th January 2020 (Levels, Timaru)
  3. NZSBK Round Three – 7th & 8th March (Hampton Downs, Waikato)
  4. NZSBK Round Four – 28th & 29th March 2020 (Manfeild, Palmerston North)
  5. NZSBK Round Five – 4th & 5th April 2020 (Bruce McLaren Park, Taupo)

Yamaha Motor New Zealand New Zealand Super Bike racing team
Yamaha Motor New Zealand 2020 New Zealand Super Bike racing team.

Source: MCNews.com.au

Scott Moir wins NZ Suzuki Series

Suzuki’s Scott Moir raced his GSX-R1000 to victory in won the three-round Suzuki Series Formula One class in New Zealand.

The 35-year-old was a breakthrough first-time winner last year of both the Suzuki Series’ Formula One class outright and the Robert Holden Memorial race, a 10-lapper that is the feature of the series’ final round on Whanganui’s Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day, and he came agonisingly close to winning them both again this year too.

He had arrived just three points off the lead in the glamour Formula One Superbike class – that advantage being enjoyed by Shane Richardson – and eight points clear of third-ranked visiting British rider Peter Hickman.

But then Moir clicked it up a notch, taking his Suzuki GSX-R1000 to win the first F1 race on Boxing Day, while Richardson finished second, and suddenly there was nothing in it, these two riders level on points with just one race to go. Moir was ahead of Richardson in the deciding F1 race early on and, when Richardson was forced to withdraw with mechanical problems on the third lap of 10, Moir knew a safe and sensible approach was all that was required for him to wrap up the crown.

He managed a safe fifth placing in that deciding race and this was enough for him to successfully defend his F1 title.

But then came more drama in the 10-lap Robert Holden Memorial feature race, the signature race of the Boxing Day event on Wednesday.

Moir was quick off the mark in that prestigious race and had quickly built a massive lead over the chasing bunch, setting a lap record in the process.

With Moir seemingly well in control, spectator attention switched to 2018 Isle of Man winner Hickman, the man from Lincolnshire was back in seventh position but on the charge and moving up quickly.

Hickman’s progress was stunning and, on the final lap he pounced on Moir, catching the Bay of Plenty man unaware and snatching the win just metres from the end.

Scott Moir

“I always knew it was a possibility to win the Suzuki Series F1 class. I was good last year, and I knew it was going to be tough this year, with such a stacked field, but when I knew Shane (Richardson) was out I knew I just needed to finish where I was. Then I thought I’d go all-out in the (stand-alone) Robert Holden Memorial race. I led for every lap but then celebrated too early. I was pulling little wheelies; they weren’t even that good really. My pit board said ‘4 seconds’ and I thought ‘Oh, that’s a pretty good lead’. But I slowed down a bit too much. I got a lap record in the Robert Holden race though, so that’s something. I have learned a lesson from this: Don’t celebrate too early and just race until the chequered flag.”

The Suzuki Series’ various venues – Taupo’s Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park, Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon in Feilding and then the public streets of Whanganui that make up the famous Cemetery Circuit raceway for the final round, brought out the best in all the riders, but must now surely rate as Moir’s three favourites.

If he remembers the lesson he learned at Whanganui on Wednesday, then he should surely rate among the favourites to win the premier trophy at the 2019 edition of this popular series.

Meanwhile, the crowds at Whanganui on Boxing Day were thrilled to get right behind local hero Richie Dibben, the Kiwi international making his comeback from recent injury. He delighted with his Super Motard bike prowess on the tight and twisty circuit, taking his Suzuki RM-Z450 to win both Super Motard outings.

There was strong interest also in the GIXXER Cup class – reserved for riders aged between 14 and 21 years and all on identical Suzuki GSX150F bikes – where two young men had shared the glory in the earlier rounds of the series, Zak Fuller and Jesse Stroud, the son of Suzuki’s nine-time former national superbike champion and four-time former Suzuki Series champion Andrew Stroud.

It was Fuller though that won the day outright at Whanganui’s Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day, the GIXXER Cup competition a special stand-alone two-race affair incorporated within the street race programme. The 150 Cup is a seven-round series this year, with five more rounds left to run, incorporated within the five-round New Zealand Superbike Championships, which kick off at Mike Pero Motorsport Park in Christchurch on January 5-6th.

Zak Fuller NZ GSXF Cup
NZ Gixxer Cup on GSX150F Suzuki

Words and photo by Andy McGechan

Source: MCNews.com.au

Peter Hickman marauds Manfield | NZ Suzuki Series Rnd 2

Hickman moves into contention with victory at Manfeild

The second of three rounds in this year’s Suzuki Series at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon, in Feilding, on Sunday picked up when it had left off at round one in Taupo a week earlier, again bursting with edge-of-the-seat racing.

Visiting British rider Peter Hickman is one of the series’ draw-card riders, but the Isle of Man champion didn’t really feature at Taupo. The same could not be said after his stunning performance at Manfeild on Sunday.

Hickman won both of the day’s glamour Formula One superbike races and looked comfortable doing it, rocketing up from 11th overall after the Taupo opener to now be placed third in the series standings, just eight points behind defending Suzuki Series champion Scotty Moir, of Taupo.

Moir qualified fastest in this class and he then finished the day overall runner-up, his carding of 2-4 results in the two F1 races enough to give him a one-point edge over Wainuiomata’s Shane Richardson for the day’s tally, although Richardson still leads the series standings.

Richardson finished 4-2 in his two F1 outings on Sunday, equal to Moir’s race results, but Moir’s extra point for setting the fastest qualifying time gave him the welcome boost.

Richardson’s series lead has suffered only minimal damage – he has gone from four points in front of Moir to now have just a three-point advantage over Moir.

Hickman, on the other hand, made gigantic advances after his Kiwi debut at Taupo.


Peter Hickman

“It wasn’t all doom and gloom at Taupo, but I think this (Manfeild) circuit better suited the bike than the track at Taupo did,” Hickman said.

“The level of talent here in New Zealand is actually quite good. It definitely wasn’t easy to win today,” said the 31-year-old Lincolnshire man.

“It’s my first time in New Zealand, but it has all been good. We only got to the Taupo track the day before the racing there. I only landed Friday morning and I was racing there Saturday and Sunday, so I was sort of thrown in at the deep end, but I still really enjoyed it.

“I hadn’t seen the circuit before at Taupo, but I earned a front-row start position. Then race one at Taupo I was running third when I had a coming-together with another rider and we both ended up in the gravel. It wasn’t my fault, but that’s just the way it goes sometimes.

“In the second race at Taupo, the temperature was so hot that the track became very slippery. It didn’t help my cause in any way, but I was still in touch with the front boys and I managed to finish fifth in the end.

“I didn’t have any jet lag at Manfeild and had an extra day riding here, so I went better there,” he said matter-of-factly.

“On my way to Manfeild I stopped off in Whanganui and did a couple of laps (of the Cemetery Circuit) in the car. I knew it was a short circuit, but I didn’t think it was so wide,” said Hickman, unaware perhaps that the Cemetery Circuit has never before been described as or considered by most racers as ‘wide’.

“I think there are loads of passing opportunities, so I’m feeling confident for Boxing Day. Obviously, I’m not going to get a lot of time to practice on it, which makes things a little more tough, but we’ll have some fun there and do some wheelies and skids. That’s what it’s all about.”

Peter Hickman with his trophy for winning 2018 Senior TT
Peter Hickman with his trophy for winning 2018 Senior TT – The Brit had a stellar 2018 and is looking to sign it off on a high note in NZ

There is only a little bit of respite before the series has its third at final round, the traditional public street race spectacular on Boxing Day (December 26), the bikes on that once-a-year occasion being raced around Whanganui’s iconic Cemetery Circuit.

Despite being a first-time visitor to New Zealand, Hickman is obviously a quick learner and the curbs, tight bends, railway crossings and slick painted road markings at Whanganui should present no problems for the 2018 Isle of Man winner.

There were ALSO changes near the top of several other classes also at Manfeild.

In the 600cc Formula Two class, Whakatane’s Damon Rees was again unbeatable, while his nearest challenger, Rangiora’s Avalon Biddle, dropped from the runner-up spot for the series after crashing while leading the day’s second of two F2 races on Sunday.

The new No.2 rider in this class now is Rogan Chandler, the Lower Hutt man finishing third and second inn the two F2 races on Sunday and moving from fourth to second for the series.

Rogan Chandler edged out Feilding’s Ashton Hughes, who himself moved up from fifth overall to capture third overall thanks to his 4-3 results at Manfeild.

Palmerston North’s Jacob Stroud continues to lead the Formula Three class; Auckland’s Scott Findlay still tops the Post Classics, Pre-89, Juniors class; Te Awamutu’s Gary Morgan remains in control of the Bears (non-Japanese bikes) and Formula Sport, Juniors class;

NZ Suzuki Series 2018
Series Points after Round Two

Formula One superbikes
  1. Shane Richardson (Wainuiomata) 84 points
  2. Scott Moir (Taupo) 81
  3. Peter Hickman (UK) 73.
Formula Two 600
  1. Damon Rees (Whakatane) 102 points
  2. Rogan Chandler (Upper Hutt) 78
  3. Ashton Hughes (Feilding) 71.
Formula three
  1. Jacob Stroud (Palmerston North) 102 points
  2. Leigh Tidman (Taumarunui) 84
  3. Richard Markham-Barrett (Nikau Valley) 74
GIXXER Cup
  1. Zak Fuller (Taupiri) 90 points
  2. Jesse Stroud (Hamilton) 90 points
  3. Clark Fountain (Greymouth) 88
Post Classics, Pre-89, Seniors
  1. Peter Bogusz (Paraparaumu) 89 points
  2. Gian Louie (Hastings) 87
  3. Duncan Coutts (Whangarei) 74’
Post Classics, Pre-89, Juniors
  1. Scott Findlay (Auckland) 98 points
  2. Dean Bentley (Lower Hutt) 90
  3. Chris Sales (Palmerston North) 62.
Bears (non-Japanese bikes) and Formula Sport, Seniors
  1. Steve Bridge (Ngaruawahia) 91 points; 2. Brendon Coad (Auckland) 89; 3. Malcolm Bielski (Wellington) 71.
Bears (non-Japanese bikes) and Formula Sport, Juniors
  1. Gary Morgan (Te Awamutu) 101 points
  2. Robert Lammas (Palmerston North) 86
  3. Paul Jenkins (Kaikohe) 72.
Super Motard
  1. Duncan Hart (Tauranga) 102 points
  2. Andrew Rudd (Ashburton) 80
  3. Will Young (Wellington) 72
F1 Sidecars
  1. John Holden and Robbie Shorter (England/Tauranga) 102 points
  2. Ian Staples and Mark Thompson (Whanganui) 78
  3. Peter Goodwin (Albany) and Louise Blythe (Whanganui) 62
F2 Sidecars
  1. Barry Smith and Tracey Bryan (Tauranga) 102 points
  2. Gary Bryan and Philip Hyde (Leceister, UK) 88
  3. Mark Halls (Auckland) and Darren Prentis (Taranaki) 80.

Source: MCNews.com.au

2018 NZ Suzuki Series opener | Rees boys ups and downs

2018 New Zealand Suzuki Series
Round 1 – Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park


The first of this year’s three round Suzuki Series at Taupo’s Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park on Sunday had it all – suspense, thrill-a-minute motorcycle racing and certainly drama all the way.

There were internationals stars, returning former Kiwi champions, riders making their debut rides – a few even celebrating their debut victories, plenty of passing, a couple of crashes, wheelies and slides … there was something for everyone.

There’s little time for anyone to catch their breath because more can be expected at Round 2 on the outskirts of Feilding this coming weekend too. The series will have its traditional public street race spectacular to wrap it all up on Boxing Day, racing around Whanganui’s famous Cemetery Circuit.

But there’s plenty that will happen before then and the Suzuki Series riders will no doubt arrive at Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon this weekend with the adrenaline still coursing through their veins after a frenetic series opener in Taupo.

NZ Super Series Rnd Richardson w
Shane Richardson – 2018 New Zealand Suzuki Series Round 1

Supporters of every bike brand had reason to celebrate, and possibly reason to commiserate too, with this year’s edition of the popular three-round Suzuki Series perhaps boasting more talent per kilometre of tarmac than has ever before been seen in New Zealand.

Wainuiomata’s Shane Richardson had more reason than most to break out the champagne late on Sunday, the 23-year-old taking a borrowed Kawasaki ZX-10R bike to top the premier Formula One superbike class.

He didn’t win a race but two runner-up finishes were good enough, and he will take a slender four-point advantage over defending Suzuki Series F1 champion Scott Moir (Suzuki GSX-R1000) to Manfeild this coming weekend.

Taupo’s Moir twice finished third in this premier F1 class on Sunday, a solid performance and a good platform on which to build his title defence over the coming races.

The first F1 race on Sunday was won by Whakatane’s Mitch Rees and the second F1 race by his younger brother, fellow Honda Fireblade rider Damon Rees.

It was Richardson’s debut outing on a 1000cc superbike, the man from the Wellington region more familiar to race fans as a Supersport 600 class campaigner, one who has enjoyed plenty of success over recent years, including in the United States.

Shane Richardson

“I’m more than happy with this result, my first time in New Zealand racing on a big bike. Battling with Damo (Rees) again feels like a bit of déjà vu from the 2017 season. The racing was so tight. It was good. It’s such a good class right now and I’m over the moon. I didn’t expect to be leaving this track with the points lead. Obviously I would have liked to win both races today and that was my goal, but, realistically, being my first time on a superbike, I didn’t think it was possible.”

Interestingly, it was also Damon Rees’ Suzuki Series debut on a superbike. With three wins from four starts, it’s probably fair to say that the 23-year-old Rees was the most dominant individual racing on Sunday.

The Team Rees Racing Honda man impressed by taking his Carl Cox Motorsport-backed Honda CBR600RR to qualify fastest and then win both races in the Formula Two (600cc) class on Sunday, setting a new F2 lap record in the process.

NZ Super Series Rnd Start w
2018 New Zealand Suzuki Series Round 1

On both occasions he finished ahead of fellow Kiwi international Avalon Biddle (Kawasaki ZX-6R), from Waimakariri, with Manukau’s Toby Summers (Kawasaki ZX-6R) claiming third overall for the day.

Then, perhaps even more remarkably, Whakatane’s Rees qualified fastest in the 1000cc Formula One superbike class. Rees’ elder brother, Mitch, then took his Team Rees Racing Honda CBR1000SP1 to win the first of the day’s two F1 races, but it was rising star Damon who stepped up to win the next race, his first ever victory on a superbike.

Unfortunately for the two Rees brothers, they were both unable to finish one of their two F1 outings. Damon ran off the track in the first F1 race and, because he was deemed by a marshal to have dropped the bike, was not permitted to continue. Mitch failed to start the second F1 race when his bike threw a chain during the warm-up lap.

Instead it was Richardson who was credited with the overall win in the F1 class, with Taupo’s Moir taking the runner-up spot and Rangiora’s Jake Lewis (Yamaha YZF-R1) completing the F1 podium.

Damon Rees will complete this series racing both classes, but, for the upcoming nationals, he will concentrate solely on the superbike class.

Damon Rees

“Mitch celebrated his first superbike race win here at Taupo last year and now it was my turn, maybe there’s something about the Rees family and this track, eh?  Back-to-back wins in the F2 class was awesome… that was certainly my plan at the start of the day. I earned pole position and I was reasonably comfortable winning those races. Avalon (Biddle) was riding exceptionally and she certainly pushed me to begin with. But I had just the little bit more. The first time I’d hopped back on a 1000cc superbike was only about three weeks ago. First race didn’t finish so well for me but the second one did. I holeshot the race and led from start to finish. So that was three wins from four starts for me today… we’ll just quietly forget about the one where I got no result. I’m feeling so at home on the superbike now and I think I’m only going to get faster.”

NZ Super Series Rnd Rees Damon w
Damon Rees – 2018 New Zealand Suzuki Series Round 1

Though F1 and F2 race wins eluded the Suzuki camp, they did still have plenty of reason to smile on Sunday. Taupo’s Brad Groombridge loves the power of his Suzuki dirt bikes, but he discovered there was a whole new level of bravery required when he made his debut at the weekend on a 1000cc superbike.

More accustomed to racing his Suzuki RM-Z450 or Suzuki RM-Z250 dirt bikes in motocross, enduro and cross-country events, his main focus at the weekend was in actually avoiding any encounters with the dirt and staying in control of a Suzuki GSX-R1000 superbike.

The reigning New Zealand enduro and cross-country champion, who is also ranked No.2 in the national MX2 motocross class, jumped at the chance to try a different motorcycling code… and no, he wasn’t able to avoid a little accidental off-track dirt biking.

Groombridge raced in the Formula Sport class, the 28-year-old finishing second and eighth in his two outings, good enough for third overall, behind experienced road-racers Brendon Coad and Steve Bridge. A podium finish on his road-racing debut probably better than Groombridge could have dreamed of.

Brad Groombridge

“I received a call about a week ago from (Suzuki’s national superbike champion) Sloan Frost and he said he had a spare bike for me if I wanted to give it a go on a superbike. I went down to Wellington on Thursday (just last week) to pick the bike up and I managed to have a ride on a ‘bucket’ bike at a local kart track for about 40 minutes, so that was my first road-bike experience. I have ridden a road bike up and down the road before, but no significant distance. The transition went pretty well and my track times were pretty good, straight off the bat. It was a learning experience trying to find my braking markers at 260kmph and not using any rear brakes … it’s all front brake really. There were a few different things I had to figure out. The first few times at full throttle down the main straight were a bit scary, but then I got used to the speed and I was okay. I did have one ‘off’, when I low-sided the bike and slid into the ‘kitty litter’, but it was nothing too major. I am committing to doing the whole Suzuki Series and also now will do the 2019 New Zealand Superbike Championships too. None of the dates clash with my enduro, motocross or cross-country events, so I’m free to race the superbike.”


Standings following the 2018 NZ Suzuki Series Round 1

Formula One Superbike

  1. Shane Richardson (Wainuiomata) 44 points
  2. Scott Moir (Taupo) 40
  3. Jake Lewis (Rangiora) 36

Formula 2 600

  1. Damon Rees (Whakatane) 51 points
  2. Avalon Biddle (Waimakariri) 44
  3. Toby Summers (Manukau) 38

Formula 3

  1. Jacob Stroud (Palmerston North) 26 points
  2. Leigh Tidman (Taumarunui) 22
  3. Glen Skachill (Wellington) 20

GIXXER Cup

  1. Jesse Stroud (Hamilton) 48 points
  2. Zak Fuller (Taupiri) 47
  3. Shane Miller (Sanson) = Clark Fountain (Greymouth); 38

Post Classics, Pre-89, Senior

  1. Duncan Coutts (Whangarei) 51 points
  2. Peter Bogusz (Paraparaumu) 44
  3. Gian Louie (Hastings) 40

Post Classics, Pre-89, Junior

  1. Scott Findlay (Auckland) 51 points
  2. Chris Sales (Palmerston North) = Dean Bentley (Lower Hutt); 42

BEARS (non-Japanese bikes) and Formula Sport, Seniors

  1. Brendon Coad (Auckland) 51 points
  2. Steve Bridge (Ngaruawahia) 40
  3. Brad Groombridge (Taupo) = Malcolm Bielski (Wellington) = Glen Eggleton (Rotorua); 35

BEARS (non-Japanese bikes) and Formula Sport, Seniors

  1. Gary Morgan (Te Awamutu) 45 points
  2. Stephen Bates 44
  3. Paul Jenkins (Kaikohe) = Robert Lammas (Palmerston North); 36

Super Motard

  1. Duncan Hart (Tauranga) 51 points
  2. Jette Josiah (Taumarunui) 44
  3. Russell Josiah (Taumarunui) = Andrew Rudd (Ashburton) = Will Young (Wellington) 36

F1 Sidecars

  1. John Holden and Robbie Shorter (England/Tauranga) 51 points
  2. Chris and Richard Lawrance (Warkworth) 42
  3. Ian Staples and Mark Thompson (Whanganui) 38

F2 Sidecars

  1. Barry Smith and Tracey Bryan (Tauranga) 51 points
  2. Gary Bryan and Philip Hyde (Leceister, UK) 44
  3. Mark Halls and Darren Prentis (Auckland) 40

Words & Images Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

Source: MCNews.com.au