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New Zealand Road Race Champion Tony Rees from Kawerau, riding his brand new Yamaha R1 1000cc came, saw & conquered all nine races he contested at todays final round of the Suzuki Road Race Series.
Starting from grid positions near the back, as he had not contested earlier rounds, Tony took a lap or two on most occasions to get to the front, but then blitzed the field in three classes – Formula Xtreme, Pirelli Sports Production Open & Shoei Helmets A Grade.
But the overall win in all these three classes belonged to Wanganui’s Brian Bernard and his “old” Suzuki’s, as he wanted to run the new model in more, nevertheless winning the Suzuki GSXR750 Gold Cup. However, Taranaki’s Shaun Harris flew the “new flagship” Suzuki GSXR750 to take two third places & one second in the Open Sport Production class.
Regrettably the Honda CBR900RRY Challenge didn’t materialize when Timaru’s John Hepburn did not arrive, & Auckland’s Ray Clee did not find form.
Jared Love made his return to racing on a Kawasaki ZX9R with 8th, 7th & 5th places, a great confidence boost for the young man.
The Pirelli Tyres 600cc Sports Production class saw 3 straight wins for New Plymouth’s Ivan Smith and his Suzuki GSXR600, while second place honours were shared by Troy O’Donoghue (Kawasaki ZX6R), Palmerston North’s Warren Turner (Yamaha R1) and eventual class winner, Auckland’s Glen Williams and his trusty Rowes Tyres Kawasaki ZX6R. Hawera”s Bruce Hansen won the coveted Suzuki GSXR600 Gold Cup.
The Fomula Three Plus class supported by Blue Wing Honda, was where all the drama happened.
Glen Tanner & Bill van den Hoven were separated by just one point going into this final round. First race saw contenders for the series title Glen Tanner, who had changed horses for the final to a Kawasaki ZXR400, and Bill van den Hoven (Yamaha FZR400) become separated by a rider out in the wrong class. The errant rider sped down the straights on the bigger bike, but blocked the lines of the leading three. Scott Griffiths became a victim a fell, while Tanner & Van den Hoven tried in vain to put up with the mobile chicane. Eventually Tanner took the win, after the blockage was disqualified, van den Hoven second with a third BOP rider Malcolm Bell (Ducati 900SL third.
The battle between Tanner & Van den Hoven spilled out into the second race, but again Tanner came out in front, this time Bell taking second & van den Hoven 3rd. All Tanner had to do in the third race was keep in touch with van den Hoven, which he did, while Timaru’s Brendon Gare (Kawasaki ZXR400) ran off with the win. Tanner was more than happy to take the title from his Tauranga compatriot, who had beaten him last year.
Sally Steadman from Palmerston North riding her NBR Honda RS125 always had the feminine section of the crowd yelling, as she really wanted to win the Shaft Motorcycles D Grade class. She & eventual winner Mark Hay from Raumati Beach riding a bike nearly 9 times larger in engine capacity – a Suzuki GSXR1100, battled every race, Hay just getting the in the first two races. The overall result hung on the result of the last race. Sally needed another second place to win overall. Try as she could, she was “out-grunted” by three bigger bikes, eventually finishing the last race in 5th, dropping her 5 points behind in the overall series, to take a very popular second place to Hay, with new starter to road racing, Palmerston North’s Joshua Sage 3rd.
As always the Streetstock 150cc class provided close racing. Derek McAdam from Wellington took two wins & a second to consolidate his already secure win in the class, while Stoke’s Daniel Jansen won the other race on his pretty Honda NSRR150. Kris Shirriffs from Feilding took three second placings on his Bill Ware Suzuki RG150. Overall it was McAdam, Auckland’s Graeme Parr (Kawasaki KR150) second and Bay of Plenty’s Grant Waddicor (Suzuki RG150) third.
Always good for some humour, Te Kuiti’s Danny McIndoe who was leading the Kiwi Rider B Grade classs until then, had his Suzuki GSXR1100 expire in the first race, fell off in the second, so obviously his pit crew laid down the law to him for the final. “Take it easier & get points to win” was the message. He did, & secure the B Grade class overall win from Levin’s Barry Prior (Red Fox Triumph) & “Rookie” Myles Cosgrove (Suzuki GSXR1100, Silverstream) in third place.
All in all a very big day at Manfeild for the final round, a record 228 riders competing, with a very large crowd taking in a day full of action.
