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The prediction was right. It wasn\'t easy to pick a winner in the Aprilia Down Under Motorcycles 125GP & 250 Production class at today\'s 4th round of the 2000 Suzuki Road Race Series at Taupo. Highly favoured Whangamata Honda RS125 rider, Kevin Brookes had a bad day, Regan Griffiths on a similar bike from Palmerston North scored a brilliant win after a dive under the leader to win the second race, but it was Brent Symes from Hastings who top scored the class with two wins and a second winning 57 points placing him now 3rd in the class overall in the series, having competed in just two of the four rounds. Griffiths now leads the class from Suzuki RGV250 rider Dean Russo from Upper Hutt.
Dennis Charlett from Palmerston North rode his Phil Turnbull Motorcycles Yamaha TZ250 GP bike brilliantly, winning all three Shoei A Grade races first one by a whisker, second by two whiskers and the third by 3 whiskers from Wanganui\'s Brian Bernard riding his Suzuki GSXR750, each time coming from behind hounding the fast starting Bernard until pouncing almost at the finish line. Derek McAdam from Wellington riding a Kawasaki 900 took a comfortable 3rd in all 3 races.
Have we got a new champion in the making? That was the question being asked as John Fallwell from Auckland riding a Suzuki GSXR600 powered away from the field in all 3 Kiwi Rider/Bike Mart \"B\" Grade races. (His first ever race was just 4 weeks ago at the 3rd round of the 2000 Suzuki Road Race Series, when he won a C grade race, moved to B Grade, and then won the 3rd race). Michael Hawkins (Ducati 900ss) from Auckland took a 2nd, 3rd & 4th place, but again, another upstart from Auckland, first time rider Jef French rode his Kawasaki ZX900 from a DNF in the first race, coming into glory in the next two races with two second places. Surely, Castrol Honda CBR600 rider Mike Amos must be wondering \"Why has all this talent got to sprout up when I start racing\"?
The Motorcycle Trader & News \"C\" grade races didn\'t become one rider dominated, as the high placing\'s were shared, to achieve an overall good result. New rider John Wingate riding a 24 year old Yamaha TZ350 won the first race, but another new rider, Trevor Bell from Morrinsville riding a Honda CBR600 won the day overall with a 3rd place, followed by two brilliant firsts. However, Palmerston North\'s Jeff Osborne leads the C class in the series on his \"mixed-up\" Honda CRS250, just from Jeff Croot from Wanganui on a Honda VFR400.
Growing pains could describe the enormously popular Streetstock 150 class, when no less than 15 riders fronted on a gaggle of Kawasaki KR150 & Suzuki RG150. Despite starting the last race with \"reverse grid\" (fastest at the back), Derek McAdam from Wellington riding a Kawasaki KR150 won all three races and continues to lead the class in the series. Graeme Parr from Auckland riding a similar bike notched up two seconds and a third, bested by Craig Sullivan in the 3rd race, by yet another KR150. The Streetstock 150 class bikes were all stripped for technical checks between races and all passed with a big tick.
Eight brand new road race riders joined the 177 strong field today, indicating the popularity of the seven round 2000 Suzuki Road Race Series. Next event is at Manfeild on Sunday July 30th.
The 2000 Suzuki Road Race Series is proudly supported by - Yamaha, Shaft Motorcycles, Blue Wing Honda, Kiwi Rider, Suzuki, Red Baron Motorcycles, Aprilia Motorcycles, Bike Mart, Kawasaki, Motorcycle Trader & News, RK Chain, Shoei Helmets, & the best Sports production tyre available - Pirelli.
