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TAUPO's Suzuki SuperMoto on Saturday (July 6) threw up a new name to watch in motorcycle racing; Hastings up-and-comer Brent Symes.
In a devastating display in tricky conditions at the Centennial Park Raceway, Symes rattled off two wins on the trot on his Honda CRF450 on a wet and slippery circuit.
The steady drizzle that fell during the first two races gave way to clearer skies and sunshine for the third race. This saw a hectic tustle for the lead between Symes and Danevirke's Brendon Stephens (KTM 520). Eventually, Stephens gained the upper hand after a close and exciting contest and wheelied across the line to take the chequered flag just over two seconds clear of Symes.
Stephen's final race win lifted him well clear of former speedway ace Nigel Healey in the final points tally, but was not enough to close the gap significantly to the flying Symes.
"That was great racing!" Symes enthused later. "This Suzuki Supermoto is a great concept and it's good that Bike MART has got right behind it. I really enjoyed it and it was made easier by the great help I get from Dave Whittaker."
Symes had fitted Metzeler wet weather tyres to his machine for the Suzuki Supermoto meeting, and that proved a smart choice when drizzle soaked the circuit after a dry qualifying session.
One of the pre-race favourites, Auckland's Stephen Briggs, crashed in the first race, injuring his shoulder and was out for the day.
But his absence did not detract from the spectacle of some terrific duels between dirt riders and road-racers.
RESULTS
Suzuki Supermoto, Taupo, July 6
1, Brent Symes 1-1-2 (Hastings, Honda CRF450) 65 points
2, Brendon Stephens 8-2-1 (Dannevirke, KTM 520) 53
3, Nigel Healey 2-3-6 (Palmerston North, KTM 520) 46
4, Kendrick Younger 4-4-3 (Te Aroha, Kawasaki KX500) 42
5, Dave Cole, 3-5-8 (Waiuku, Yamaha WR426F) 35
6, Cloud Craig-Smith 6-9-4 (New Lynn, Yamaha WR426F) 30
7, Rodney Knapp 5-7-7 (Wanganui, Kawasaki KX500) 29
8, Peter Hewer 9-6-5 (New Plymouth, Honda XR650) 28
9, Craig Flood 7-8-0 (New Plymouth, Honda XR650) 17
10, Anthony Bradford 0-10-10 (Dannevirke, Kawasaki KX500) 12
