    |
 |
|
|
|
First win by New Zealand\'s own BSL-500 Grand Prix contender was the big news of the day at the 3rd round of the 2000 Suzuki Road Race Series.
After 3 years development of this V3 radical totally New Zealand bike, Bill Buckley himself saw the BSL-500 take the checker flag with Auckland Steven Briggs, while Scott Buckley took two 3rd places on the second BSL-500, in the hotly contested Shoei Helmets A grade class.
Nevertheless, Brian Bernard from Wanganui riding a Suzuki GSXR750, still leads this class overall with 168 points from former Cantabrian Dennis Charlett (Yamaha TZ250) and Aucklander Glen Williams (Kawasaki ZX6R).
In the Formula Xtreme races, wins were shared by 3 makes & 3 riders. Derek McAdam from Wellington, riding a Kawasaki ZX9R, won the first bout, Brian Bernard, this time riding a Suzuki TL1000 won the second, while the consistently fast Bruce Telford from Waikanae, riding an Aprilia RSV1000 \"Mille\" won the 3rd round. Glen Williams rode the Robbie Dean Aprilia Motorcycles \"Mille\" in the second and third races to get 3rd & 2nd places, a great show for first time on the bike, indicating both the ability of both Williams & the big Aprilia.
Going to the budget end of the race classes, the always growing Streetstock 150cc class by Kawasaki attracted 14 riders, but again Derek McAdam from Wellington & Graeme Parr from Auckland, riding Kawasaki KR150\'s took out the class with 3 wins for McAdam & two 2nds & a 4th for Parr. Craig Shirriffs from Palmerston North riding a Suzuki RG150 with 3 third places was third, while newcomer to the class, Craig Sullivan from Motorad KR150 Kawasaki Wellington signalled his arrival with a strong 2nd place in the 3rd race.
Palmerston North\'s rising star Troy O\'Donoghue, riding a Kawasaki ZX6R heralded his arrival in the Pirelli 600cc Sport Production class with a second place followed by 2 wins. Series leader Glen Williams also riding a Kawasaki ZX6R won the first bout, but had to give O\'Donoghue & Taranaki\'s Andrew Bretherton (Suzuki GSXR600) best after that. Bretherton was a bit rusty from a few months rest in the first race, but made amends after that with seconds.
Brian Bernard from Wanganui kept up his win, win, win in the Open Sport Production class to record for the 3rd time in 3 rounds, perfect scores, leaving the minor placing\'s to Bruce Telford (Aprilia) & Lance Lowe (Auckland) on another GSXR750.
A change in fortunes in the Formula 3 Plus Blue Wing Honda supported class, saw series leader Bill van Den Hoven take a tumble in the second race, after winning the first. Another Bay of Plenty rider, Glen Tanner riding a Honda VFR400 took advantage of his friends demise to win the class for the day, as well as taking a handy 18 point lead in this class for the series. Relatively new to road racing, Russell Watson from Palmerston North, riding a Kawasaki ZXR400, by consistently placing well, has moved to third in the series.
A big spectator audience, absolutely beautiful autumn weather and 166 riders were never disappointed at the calibre of today\'s racing at Manfeild, which undoubtedly will follow the series as it moves on to Centennial Park Raceway at Taupo for June 25th.
More information & complete results are available from series coordinator Tim Gibbes,
The 2000 Suzuki Road Race Series is proudly supported by - Suzuki, Shaft Motorcycles, Blue Wing Honda, Kiwi Rider, Red Baron Motorcycles, Aprilia Motorcycles, Bike Mart, Kawasaki, Motorcycle Trade, RK Chain, Shoei Helmets, & best Sports production tyre available - Pirelli.
Box 1132, Palmerston North,
phone/fax (06) 353 0750,
e-mail : timgibbes@clear.net.nz
