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Photo - Tony Rees:
Photo courtesy of Andy McGechan:
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Yamaha Press Release:
Yamaha is about to roll out a couple of its biggest guns for this season’s New Zealand road race championship battle. The new-look 1000cc R1 bike and multi-champion Tony Rees.
Rees may be returning to the racetrack after a season away, but he’s still considered a man to be feared and respected, especially when he’s armed with Yamaha’s new R1.
The 37-year-old married father-of-two has won five national sports production titles, a 600cc sports production crown and one superbike title (in the 2000-01 season) during a long and illustrious career and he reckons he’s got plenty more left in the tank yet.
The Whakatane-based Yamaha motorcycle dealer has also previously won the Battle Of The Streets title seven times and is a five-time winner around the streets of Paeroa – all of which makes him one of the favourites again this season, despite his year-long break from the sport.
Rees finished fourth in the superbike class when he last rode, in the 2002-03 season
Rees recently showed his motor-racing versatility when he raced a Holden Monaro in the Targa car rally in October, finishing third in the “classic class”, but he is keen to return to his first love, motorcycles.
Rees says he is looking forward to banging handlebars with his old rivals, Kiwi legends like Andrew Stroud, Ray Clee, Brian Bernard and Dean Fulton, but admits, “I may take some time to get back on the pace.
“I’ve raced the new Yamaha a couple of times now and won one race but it’s just a matter now of getting the suspension sorted to my liking.
“It’s a totally new bike this season, more horsepower and lighter too. It’s a bit of a learning curve for me because it’s not like going out and riding the old bike. She’s definitely a competitive bike and now it’s just up to the rider.
“I’d like to think I’ll be competitive this season. We’ll just have to see,” he grinned.
The 2004/05 New Zealand roadracing season kicks off at Ruapuna on December 4-5, followed by Teretonga on December 11-12. Round three is at Manfeild on February 26-27 followed by Pukekohe on March 5-6 and, finally, the series wraps up with a return to Ruapuna for round five on March 19-20.
