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NZ ROAD RACE GP - HARRIS AND STROUD WIN
The Motorcycle Trader and News Group One Series and the Group Two bikes contested the third round at Ruapuna, Christchurch, on Saturday and Sunday. The GP Titles were run on the last race of each class.
Defending Champion, Andrew Stroud (Suzuki GSX R1000) retained the Suzuki NZ Production Superbike GP Title and the championship series lead. Now based in Auckland, Stroud’s knowledge of the circuit and his fine record helped him to his third GP in a row. After eight races in the series Stroud has surrendered only one, that was to his mechanic and fellow Aucklander Ray Clee who holds second overall. Brian Bernard (Wanganui) is third after a disappointing weekend through ill health.
The Blue Wing Honda 600 Sports Production also went according to the form book. Shaun Harris (New Plymouth) added the GP Title to his string of recent success and remains unbeaten in the series on the Honda CBR 600. Dennis Charlett (Palmerston North) got second in the GP and jumped a place in the consolidated results. Defending champion Craig Shirriffs (Palmerston North) has come back into contention after the weekend. A technical protest, which doesn’t affect Harris, could change the series standings once it has been resolved.
There was a minor surprise in the 250 GP. Few were picking Invercargill\'s Jeremy Holmes after he hadn’t had a podium finish in eight outings. Holmes’s overall position is still sixth, Auckland’s David Manuel leads the class.
The closest racing was provided by the teenagers in the 125 series. English rider Midge Smart has the GP title and the series lead but he was pressed hard for both. The next three places are occupied by MNZ High Performance Squad members. They are Dominic Jones (Invercargill), Steven Wood (Blenheim) and Robbie Wynn -Parke (Auckland) respectively.
Andy Bolwell (Oamaru) and Terry Fitzgerald (New Plymouth) were expected to fight out the Formula Three battle. In the end the honours are even - Bolwell took the GP but Fitzgerald retains a 24 point series lead.
The Wairarapa pairing of Simonsen and Taylor won the sidecar title and leads the series.
Results:
Production Superbike:
Race 1 A Stroud, R Clee, C Haldane
Race 2 Stroud, Clee, Bernard, McEwan
Race 3 GP Stroud, Clee, McEwan
Points - Stroud 195, Clee 165, Bernard 117
600 Sport Production
Race 1 S Harris, Charlett, C Gollop.
Race 2 Harris, Sherriffs, Charlett.
Race 3 GP Harris, Charlett, Sherriffs.
Pts Harris 197.5, Charlett 127, Sherriffs 116
F3
Race 1 T Fitzgerald, A Bolwell, N Smith
Race 2 Bolwell, Fitzgerald, Huddlestone
Race3 GP Bolwell, Fitzgerald, Smith
Pts Fitzgerald 190, Bolwell 166, Hill 88
250 GP
Race 1 D Manuell, H Laing, T Hosokawa
Race 2 Brookes, Manuell, Hosokawa.
Race 3 GP J Holmes, Manuell, Brookes
Pts Maneull 160, McCarthy 117, Brookes 115, Laing 112
125 Gp
Race 1 M Smart, D Jones, S Wood
Race 2 Jones, Smart, S Smith
Race 3 GP Smart, Wood, Wynn-Parke
Side Cars
Race 1 Taylor/Simmonsen, Law/Ravenwood, Wyeth/Mitchelmore
Race 2 Law/Ravenwood, Taylor/Simmonsen, Wyeth/Mitchelmore
Race 3 GP Taylor/Simmonsen, Law/Ravenwood, Wyeth/Mitchelmore.
Pts Taylor/Simmonsen 161, Law/Ravenwood 156.5, Wyeth/Mitchelmore 97.5
Round four of National Points Series takes place at Teretonga in the deep south this weekend.
