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MNZ - Press Release:
GROUP ONE ROAD SERIES FINAL RESULTS
Before the sixth and final round of the Motorcycle Trader and News Group One Series held at Manfield there were things we did know and things we didn’t.
Andrew Stroud (Hamilton) had an unassailable lead in the Suzuki NZ Production Superbikes but the other place getters were anything but clear.
Shaun Harris (Taranaki) had already won the Blue Wing Honda 600 Sports Production Series and was on the injured list, leaving any number of possibilities in the minor placings.
Even though betting on the winners was closed, there was still huge excitement at Manfield with close racing and course records to cap off a great season.
There were two Suzuki NZ Production Superbike races, Ray Clee and Andrew Stroud won one each. Clee got a better start then Stroud in the first encounter and with Clee recording a lap record of 1.07.65 he was too quick for Stroud and won comfortably.
Stroud gained parity by wining the second race by a small margin. Brian Bernard held onto third place in the series with a third and fourth placing. Australia bound Dennis Charlett (Palmerston North) finished fourth. Charlett had a heavy workload this season after completing all rounds in both classes.
Shaun Harris’s recalcitrant body kept him in the stands yesterday after he had already won the Blue Wing Honda 600 Sports Production Series with a weekend to spare. His chasers produced lots of drama in the curtain-closing round.
Craig Shirriff’s bike became asthmatic meaning he had to watch Charlett snatch second from him. Charlett seized his chance with a win and a second yesterday. The biggest move of the entire series came from Craig Gollop (Upper Hutt) who roared into fourth on the back of a win and a second , in the first two rounds Gollop couldn’t do better than eleventh, his late form took most by surprise. Nineteen year old Hayden Fitzgerald finished a creditable fifth in his first year in Group One.
The unofficial manufacturers championships were shared by Suzuki (Superbikes) and Honda (600 Sports Production).
Once the engines were turned off yesterday the organizers started evaluating the car/ bike race meeting concept, which was run as a trial this season.
Trevor Gill, CEO of Motorcycling New Zealand, gave the concept a preliminary \"thumbs up\".
\"Our competition series was ailing at the end of last season. We failed our own medical examination.\"
\"Having completed this year’s series the vital signs are back- sponsors, crowds and TV coverage. When things are not working you have to try something different, our Road Race Commissioner, Trevor Heaphy, championed this concept – his vision along with the superb encouragement and support from MotorSport NZ has produced a favourable series health check,\" said Gill.
Final Results:
Suzuki NZ Production Superbikes
Stroud, Clee, Bernard, Charlett.
Blue Wing Honda 600 Sports Production.
Harris, Charlett, Shirriffs, Gollop.
