New Zealand Superbikes Are GO

New Zealand Superbikes Are GO

This weekend January 10/11, the Castrol Power1 New Superbike Championships kick off in the Deep South at Teretonga Raceway, just outside Invercargill.

Some of the top Superbike riders such as Yamaha ‘Young Gun’ Australian Gareth Jones, ex NZ Superbike Champion Hamilton’s Andrew Stroud (Suzuki) and the Honda pairing of New Plymouth’s Hayden Fitzgerald and Feilding’s Craig Shirriffs have already been doing battle at the Tri-Series in the North Island over Xmas.

The racing has been hard and fast with different riders coming out on top in different races. They will be joined this weekend by current Champion Australian Robbie Bugden (Suzuki) which will completely shake up the mix.

In the 600 Sports Production class some of the contenders were out in the Tri-Series, Jones dominated on his Yamaha, with Hamilton based Jared Love (Suzuki) and Nick Cole (Kawasaki) hard on his heals. They will be joined this weekend by the current Champion Christchurch’s Dennis Charlett and his teammate James Smith, promising racing as good as any seen on television.

Formula Thee looks set to be exciting, with the return of 2008 Champion Palmerston North’s Glen Williams on his Suzuki, to do battle with past Champions, Foxton’s Jason Easton on his newly developed Tigcraft Aprilia and New Plymouth’s Terry Fitzgerald on another Suzuki. Also in the mix will be Hokitika’s Eric de Boer on his Kawasaki.

Racing with the Formula Threes will be the new Pro-Twin 650 class, which this season is a new ball game with the reigning Champion Auckland’s Karl Morgan moving up to 600 Sports Production. The men to watch will be Dannevirke’s Geoff Booth (Suzuki) and Christchurch’s William Montgomery (Kawasaki).

The 125cc Grand Prix class will again see some of New Zealand’s best young talent take to the track, led by reigning champion Christchurch’s Cameron Jones, along with Dunedin’s Tim McArthur, Christchurch’s Nick Cain and Hamilton’s James McKay.

At the South Island round of the Championships, we will also see the young and maybe future Champions out on the 150 Streetsport bikes, at last count this was the largest field for the event.

The weekend begins Saturday with practice and Qualifying followed by a round of races for the minor classes.

Sunday will be two races for each class beginning at 10.00 am

ENDS

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