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After a four-week break the SsangYong New Zealand Superbike Road Race Championships resumes at Manfeild Park, Feilding this weekend February 24/25, but the class field has not been on holiday.
From the Superbike class, reigning champion Hamilton’s Andrew Stroud (Suzuki), Feilding’s Craig Shirriffs (Suzuki), young Australian Chris Seaton (Yamaha), along with New Plymouth’s Hayden Fitzgerald (Honda), have been racing on the streets of Paeroa in the second round of the "Battle of the Streets".
Meanwhile Seaton’s teammate Scott Charlton has contested the first round of the Australian Superbike Championship coming home fifth overall.
In the 600 Sports Production class again the majority of the field contested the "Battle of the Streets" round at Paeroa, but there is always an exception, that being Pukekohe’s hard charging 18-year-old Sam Smith. Although Smith was at Paeroa signing autographs, he did not race preferring to concentrate on the Championships.
The 600 Sports Production class has seen some of the closest racing in New Zealand for many years with any one of four riders capable of winning on the day.
The Formula Three battle will resume between the four-cylinder Kawasaki of Oamaru’s Andy Bolwell, the V-Twin Suzuki of New Plymouth’s Terry Fitzgerald and the single-cylinder Yamaha of local Foxton rider, Jason Easton.
The three have shared the wins so far, with more exciting racing to come.
The 125cc Grand Prix class will see the return of young Australian Jackson Leigh-Smith, Jackson had commitments in Australia over the Grand Prix weekend in January, so will be racing hard to recover the points he missed out on.
Sidecars have now contested two rounds with past Champion Taupo’s Andy Scrivener leading the way. However Wanganui’s Stephen Bron on the recently purchased Brett Gilbert’s LCR 1000 Suzuki, raced so successfully last season by Australian Stacy Sellar, has been taking the fight to Scrivener.
