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From - MOTORSPORT NETWORK LTD:
Road Race Titles Decided
Auckland’s Andrew Stroud clinched his second Production Superbike Championship, on his RCM Suzuki GSXR1000 yesterday at Ruapuna Park, just outside Christchurch.
The former world BEARS champion finished his title chase with an easy win in the Production Superbike Grand Prix.
However the road to the title was not an easy one, as he did battle with other former New Zealand Superbike champions, such as Tony Rees (Whakatane) and Chris Haldane (Auckland), along with fellow Suzuki rider Brian Bernard (Wanganui) and his team boss Ray Clee (Auckland).
This was probably the hardest fought big bike championship in years, but Stroud was \"Mr. Cool\" throughout, taking the win with Bernard second and Rees third.
The 600 Sports Production Championship was also a closely fought affair between the Suzuki pairing of Craig Shirriffs (Palmerston North) and Brendon Gare (Timaru). The lead changed hand several times, but the young South Islander, had several mishaps in the last couple of rounds, allowing Shirriffs to take a well deserved win.
The Formula Three title went to New Plymouth’s Terry Fitzgerald on his Suzuki SV650, from Hawera’s Bruce Hansen on another Suzuki, with defending champion Oamaru’s Andy Bolwell third on his Kawasaki ZXR400.
The 250cc Grand Prix crown went to Palmerston North’s Troy O’Donoghue on his Honda RS250. O’Donoghue had dominated the class finishing 90 points clear of second placed Ricky Porter (Auckland), and third went to Dr Steve Bagshaw (Wellington), both on Yamaha TZ250s.
The 125cc Grand Prix championship saw a battle develop between the young and the not so young. After an extreme hard fought series the win went to former champion Steve Ward from Christchurch. The 44 year-old finished 23 points clear of fellow Christchurch rider Cameron Horgan, with 15-year-old Aucklander Karl Morgan third.
The Bay of Plenty pairing of John Blaymires and Brett Sproull retained their sidecar title with Christchurch’s Phil Garrett and Tony Prescott second and Hamilton’s Aaron Lovell and Ryan Johnstone third.
