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From - Ray Witham:
Tune into `Motor Sport Half Hour`
STROUD PICKED AMID THE CONTROVERSY
The chase for the NZ Production Superbike and 600 Sports Production titles resumes at Levels Raceway, Timaru, this weekend amid a flurry of controversy within the sport. Motorcycling\'s two premiere classes, labelled Group 1, will share their round-two programme at Levels with Motorsport NZ\'s Mike Pero Mortgage Series nationals, including Trucks in a move that will showcase them in front of an expected capacity crowd, with TV coverage.
While mixing motorcycles and trucks at the same meeting has met with dismay from many of the top riders the biggest grumble about the class split has come from the Group 2 riders disappointed at the poor rider and spectator turnout at Manfeild a few weeks ago when they contested their part of the second round of the championship.
Many however see the opportunity to perform on the bigger stage and on TV as a boost to the road racing champs while the four-wheel fans should not be disappointed with the expected close-action bike racing.
Wanganui\'s Brian Bernard (Suzuki) pole-setter at Pukekohe in the season opener, has since had a successful outing on the tight Cemetery Circuit, where incidentally Jason McEwen (Suzuki) and Chris Haldane (Ducati) each suffered machine problems. Both these former title winners will be looking for better results at Levels while the in-form Bernard will be looking for a win.
Pukekohe winners Andrew Stroud and Ray Clee, both on Suzuki and both absent from Wanganui, will however still start at Timaru as favourites with Stroud, defending champion and lap-record holder at Timaru, the most likely to be the first rider to score two wins in this years championship. When spoken to at Pukekohe he was very motivated about retaining his title, and he knows his way around Levels better than most, a legacy of his time resident in the South Island.
Isle of Man double-TT winner Shaun Harris (Honda) has an 11-point lead in the 600 Sport Production but the tighter Timaru circuit will keep the competition very close. Defending champion Craig Shirriffs, team-mate Dennis Charlett, and Pukekohe winner Jared Love (all Suzuki-mounted) will provide the fans with some of the best racing of the weekend.
Hot, sunny weather is forecast.
