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The sixth & final round of the 1999 Suzuki Road Race Series will explode this Saturday 25th September, at Manfeild Park Road Race Circuit, near Feilding. 150 riders are expected.
Reputations won\'t be the only things on the line, as several new year 2000 models will also make their race track debut. What are they? You will have to be there, but one could be 1300cc of raw power!
Warren Turner from Palmerston North is in panic mode with a broken valve spring in his Yamaha R1. Turner leads the 600cc Sport Production class by a meagre 10 points from Papamoa\'s Corey Oxenham (Kawasaki ZX6-R).
Brian Bernard leads the Open Production clearly with his Suzuki TL1000, but could be looking at the back wheels of some of the \"claimed to be much faster\" new year 2000 models just what he doesn\'t need when the TV cameras are whirring.
A too close to call class will be the Pirelli Evo Dragon Tyres C Grade, where young Jared Hartstone from Papamoa & his diminutive Honda RS125 have snatched the lead from the big, burly Harley-Davidson of Upper Hutt\'s Craig Gollop. 19 points separate them & there are 60 points up for grabs on Saturday at Manfeild.
An innovation installed into the 1999 Suzuki Road Race Series has been support from CentralPower, Palmerston North to provide two \"Young Achievers\" with Streetstock 150cc Class bikes to enable them to \"dip their toe into the water\" of road racing. Fifteen year old schoolboy, Nick Parkin from Palmerston North will have his first ever race on a Phil Turnbull Motorcycles Suzuki RG150, & accomplished off road racer, 19 year old Brad Graham, also from Palmerston North, will continue his steep learning curve into road racing on his ANZA Motorcycles Kawasaki KR150.
The low budget Streetstock 150 class supported by Kawasaki has proved popular, providing close racing with relatively low powered but sports type motorcycles, for a wide range of people from schoolboys to veterans. Robbie Dean from Tauranga reportedly riding a Kawasaki KR150 for the first time, leads the class points.
In the RK Chain A Grade class, expect to see some Superbikes getting their early summer season shake down, as well as push points leader Brian Bernard (Suzuki TL1000) from Wanganui into submission.
In the 125GP/250 Production combined class, Raymond Wilson from Bulls, just back from Australia & two 19th places in the 125GP class of the Pan Pacific races at Eastern Creek, will get a hard time from up & coming Palmerston North youngster Regan Griffiths. Both ride Honda RS125, while 3rd placed man Dave Manuell from Te Atatu heads the 250cc production class with his Suzuki.
In addition to the road racing on the main 3km Manfeild circuit, \"Buckets\" (Miniature Road Race bikes) will be racing their Championship races on the back 1.5km circuit.
Saturday\'s Red Baron Motorcycles race programme starts at 10.30am, with 24 races, stunt riding & rider tuition all keyed in to a big final day.
The 1999 Suzuki Road Race Series is supported by Suzuki, Shoei Helmets, RK Takasago Chain, Shinko Tyres, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda, Kiwi Motorcycle Rider, Pirelli Tyres, Aprilia Motorcycles, Bike Mart, Red Baron Motorcycles, Motor Cycle Trader & News.
More information & full results available from
Tim Gibbes, Box 1132, Palmerston North
Phone & Fax (06) 353 0750. Mobile (025) 422 662.
E-mail : timgibbes@clear.net.nz
