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Motorcycle road racing this Sunday (July 11th) at Manfeild will see battle royals in almost every class at the fourth of six rounds of the 1999 Suzuki Road Race Series. After a reshuffle of A, B & C grade classes at the last round at Taupo, the Shoei Helmets B Grade will be an opportunity for four riders to make it to the top of this class. Jarrod Wintle from Newlands, riding a Honda NSR250 GP bike starts the day with just a one point lead over Pukekohe’s Shaun Potter riding a Yamaha YZF R1, while Napier’s Tony Bond riding the all-muscle Buell 1203cc S1 “White Lightening” is right there too. The Pirelli Tyres C Grade class sees another close fought duel, this time amongst relative newcomers, on a wide range of bikes!
Michael Smith from Tuakau riding a Yamaha TZ250 has a point advantage over Upper Hutt’s very aggressive all-muscle & cubic inch Harley-Davidson “Sportster” ridden by Craig Gollop. Trevor Bell from Morrinsville adds variety to the field using his Honda CR500 motocross bike just a few points in arrears, while Jared Hartstone from Tauranga ridding a Honda RS125 is just one point behind Bell. Raymond Wilson (Honda RS125) from Bulls, in his first year of road-racing, but having graduated from “Buckets” (Miniature Road-Race) is showing a clean pair of heels to lead the Aprilla Motorcycles 125GP & 250cc Production combined class, but behind him the competition for minor placing’s is hot.
OB Wilson from Glen Eden lies 2nd on his Honda RS125, just one point ahead of Kendric Younger from Te Aroha. No doubt “OB” will be pleased to learn on the day that Younger moves out of this class to ride the Open Sports Production class, riding a Boyd Honda CBR900RR.
In the Sports Production 600cc class, Corey Oxenham from Papamoa riding a Kawasaki ZX6R has retaken the lead from Palmerston North’s Warren Turner & the Phil Turnbull Motorcycles Yamaha R1. Expect fireworks between these two. Riding a Suzuki TL1000 V-twin, coach of the series Brian Bernard from Wanganui leads the Open Sports Production class, from Rotorua’s Daniel Coughey (Tony Rees Yamaha R1) who will be looking to make ground up this Sunday, after a DNF in one of the races at the last round. But, if Jared Love from Hamilton arrives this time, he could the class winner on the day, riding his mighty Suzuki GSXR750. Racing starts a 10.30 a.m. & the 21 race Red Baron Motorcycles will be open all day.
More information from Tim Gibbes, Box 1132 Palmerston North.
Phone & Fax (06) 353 0750,
Mobile (025) 422 662,
email timgibbes@clear.net.nz
