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SUZUKI 1-2 AT SEASON FINALE
The New Zealand Superbike Championships went west this season, literally, with Australian Robbie Bugden (Suzuki) taking the glory.
It was the first time in New Zealand’s proud history of the championship that an Australian rider has taken the title, although, significantly, Kiwi Aaron Slight snatched away the Australian Superbike crown in 1991.
It came down to the wire, literally, for this season’s title chase with two Suzuki riders going hammer and tong at the front.
Bugden and Hamilton’s Andrew Stroud were neck-and-neck all season, the Suzuki team-mates never more than a wheel-width apart on the track and not separated by much in the pits either, but that camaraderie did not extend to either man heeding team orders.
When the flag dropped, it was all or nothing from both men.
And it was the fiercely competitive nature of both individuals that led to some of the most enthralling actions seen on New Zealand tracks in many years and led to a thrilling 1-2 championship result from the Brother Suzuki team-mates.
It had been a see-saw battle all season between the two friendly rivals, with Bugden leading after the series opener in Invercargill, until Stroud hit back to steal the points lead away at Timaru’s second round. Bugden replied by regaining the lead at round three in Christchurch and then Stroud pounced to re-take the lead again at Manfeild’s penultimate round.
The pair riding similar Suzuki GSX-R1000 machines, Stroud had enjoyed a six-point advantage over Bugden as he started the day at Pukekohe’s fifth and final round on Sunday.
With Bugden winning the day’s first of two superbike races, and Stroud managing only third, the equation was simple – whomever finished in front in the final race would take the title.
“I felt comfortable and even got in front for a while,” said Stroud of the cliff-hanger final race, with Stroud, Bugden and fellow Australian Scott Charlton (Yamaha) together at the front.
“I was behind when the white flag (final lap) came out and I thought ‘oh no, I’m not close enough’. I pushed hard and we were three abreast heading into the corner. Robbie and Scott touched and Robbie shot off the track and onto the grass. I backed off to avoid trouble and, unbelievably, Robbie stayed on, turned his bike, made the corner and came back onto the track ahead of me,” said Stroud.
“I think he must have someone watching over him.
“He deserved the win. He came over here with a job to do and he did it,” said a magnanimous Stroud.
“But I’m happy, it was still a Brother Suzuki 1-2 and I stayed on and didn’t get hurt,” said the philosophical father-of-six.
Yamaha’s Tony Rees (Whakatane) twice finished fourth in the superbike races on Sunday, a fantastic result with a one-off appearance from the former champion who has been two years away from the sport and racing at Pukekohe at the weekend “just for the sheer pleasure of it”.
Meanwhile, Pukekohe’s Sam Smith (Yamaha) won the 600cc sport production class, winning both races from dual-class man Charlton (Yamaha) on Sunday and leaving Feilding’s defending champion, Craig Shirriffs (Suzuki), contemplating his return next season.
“I had a miserable day at Pukekohe … just as I did at Manfeild (round four a fortnight earlier). I can only look ahead now to next season and I’ll definitely be back, probably just in the Superbike class,” he said.
Taranaki’s Terry Fitzgerald (Suzuki) was unbeatable in the formula three class at Pukekohe, winning all three races.
Fitzgerald (Suzuki SV650) won the one-race formula three TT title too but he had to give up his national title in the class to Oamaru’s Andy Bolwell (Kawasaki).
Similarly, in the 125GP class, teenage Aussie visitor Jackson Leigh-Smith (Honda) picked up the TT title but bowed to Christchurch’s Cameron Horgan (Honda) in the battle for class honours.
LEADING final standings after the fifth and final round of the SsangYong New Zealand Motorcycle Road-race Championships at Pukekohe on Sunday:
