    |
 |
|
|
|
The faces are getting more serious & the tension growing, as we go to the penultimate 6th round of 7 of the 2000 Suzuki Road Race Series at Taupo this Sunday (August 27th).
With only one class, the Pirelli Tyres Open Sport Production class is already bagged by Wanganui’s Brian Bernard & his Suzuki GSXR750 with a perfect score throughout the series. The other 10 classes are still up for grabs.
It’s a six pronged attack to win the first ever to New Zealand Suzuki Formula Xtreme class. These are the “big V8’s” of motorcycle racing, with the “big ones” from Suzuki, Aprilia, Yamaha & Kawasaki all taking a slice of the action. Brian Bernard leads, this time on his thundering Suzuki TL1000R, from Waikanae’s Bruce Telford on his Aprilia RSV “Mille” into which he has installed another 14 horsepower with the addition of a race kit. Hawera’s Tony Campbell has obvious been “breathing” on his Yamaha R1, with Otane’s Stephen Morris (Suzuki TL1000S) & Wellington’s Derek McAdam (Kawasaki ZX9R) always in the picture.
But the question is always asked “What would have happened if” … Sean Aitken from Wellington & his old but very fast Suzuki GSXR1100 had been in the country to contest all rounds? With an average race points average of 16, Sean could well have been the “Xtreme” winner. Sean will show us on Sunday.
Two buddies from Tauranga, Glen Tanner (Honda VFR400) & Bill van den Hoven (Yamaha FZR400) are slugging out in the Honda supported Formula 3 Plus class, sharing the spoils of victory & miseries of “DNF’s” to now have a margin of just 8 points after 18 races, both facing the “must win” ultimatum.
The Kawasaki supported Streetstock 150 class looks like a Kawasaki KR150 benefit on paper for leader Derek McAdam & 2nd placeman Graeme Parr (Auckland). BUT Feilding’s Kris Shirriffs has come onto the scene with a late charge with his Bill Ware Suzuki RG150, while having no chance of beating the Kawasaki pair overall, took 3 wins from 3 at the last round at Manfeild. This low budget, absolutely showroom stock class is proving more popular at each round.
No fewer than 7 ladies have taken up road racing in this series, with Kilbirnie’s Vicki Knight (Suzuki GSXR400) leading the Novice class from 5 other ladies & 16 men! Sally Steadman from Palmerston North, now a member of the Nelson Bays Racing Team, on a Honda RS125 GP, rides the very competitive Aprilia & Down Under Motorcycles 125GP / 250 production class, as well as holding 3rd place in the newly instigated Shaft Motorcycles D Grade class.
Big fella Danny McIndoe, the plumber from Te Kuiti has taken over the lead in the Kiwi Rider/Bike Mart B Grade class riding his big fella 1987 Suzuki GSXR1100, from Levin’s Barry Prior whose Triumph T595 Daytona has lead the way through most of the series, with Maraetai’s Ross Peden & his Honda CBR400 always on the pace.
Auckland’s Glen Williams (Kawasaki ZX6R) has made a bit of a break on the field in the Pirelli Tyres 600cc Sports Production class. Williams has pulled out a 40 point lead on Normanby’s Bruce Hansen (Suzuki GSXR600) with Palmerston North’s Troy O’Donoghue now getting to grips with his Kawasaki ZX6R, winning 2 out of 3 of this class races at the last round, after a change from a smaller Formula 3 Plus “K” earlier in the season. All the bikes in this class use the Pirelli Supersport “Evo” controlled tyres.
Racing at the Centennial Park Raceway, Taupo this Sunday starts at 10.30am, with the 27 race Red Baron Motorcycles programme expected to finish by 4pm. Admission is free for spectators, & close exciting racing is on the menu.
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, & Pirelli, the best Sports production tyre.
