NZ Superbike NationalsWell, I can finally report on my season which saw me finish second (again) in 600 Sports Production and fourth (by a mere two points) in my first season on a Suzuki Superbike.
Manfield's report was held up because of a rider protest alleging I had jumped the start, which the team subsequently appealed and won.
But by then the damage had been done heading to the new Hampton Downs circuit which, to say the least, was both exciting and very different to any other track in New Zealand.
In the first Sports Production race I could not avoid being hit while in the lead and that ruined my chances of winning the championship as I had to sit on the tyre wall and watch after failing to exract my Suzuki GSXR 600 from the "kitty litter".
The pressure was on to win and regain some points in the second race, but unfortunately, I anticipated the lights too early and jumped the start.
Then it was onto the Superbikes which was a real adrenalin rush as I got the hole-shot and lead for a few laps before being overtaken by Andrew Stroud and my team mate Robbie Bugden. I managed to hold Craig Shirrifs at bay to clinch third.
The second Superbike race was just as exciting as I battled Shirrifs for third spot. Coming over the finish line we were neck and neck as we both wanted the valuable points for third overall in the championship. Unfortunately, the finish line was well past out braking point for the off-camber right hander and we ended up unhurt standing in the "kitty litter" laughing and shaking hands. Craig won the honours by a split second.
Now I am looking forward to a full season in Superbikes next year.
My grateful thanks to wife Jen, pit crew, Triple R Suzuki and owner Red Fenton, sponsors Suzuki, Whites, Ohlins suspension guru Robert Taylor, Waimate's March Hare organisers and Timaru Metal Recyclers John Hepburn. And to those people who had faith in me and supporters.
See you at a track during the year and when riding or driving think ahead and stay safe.
Cheers
James Smith
Round four - Manfield February 27-28
I apologise for the delay, but a Manfield report will be updated as soon as possible.
James
Round three - Levels January 29-30
I had a good weekend on my Triple R Suzuki GSXR600 taking a second and a first in the two races which still leaves me at the top of the overall championship leaderboard by 6 points over rival Nick Cole. I had a great start to the weekend in practice leading the Sports Production and Superbike times which eventually put me on pole and grid four respectively.
Racing in the Sports Production on the twisting Levels Raceway, Timaru, was just as fierce and competitive as the previous two rounds with Cole and John Ross keeping me company. Cole got past me in the first race and then I had to pass Ross, but Cole had too much of a lead despite hunting him down.
In the second race it was head down as I lead the whole race despite Cole trying to out-brake me on the last lap only to run off the track.
A stomach bug on the Sunday meant I was short on energy for the Superbike races finishing with a fourth and fifth onmy Suzuki GSXR1000, but still lie third overall in the Superbike championship.
Round two - Teretonga January 23-24
Round two proved another successful weekend and finally a win in the Sports Production.
My Triple R Suzuki GSXR600 is performing well on Dunlop tyres as we dial in a new bike.
The first Sports Production race was a real dice the whole race and my best man (John Ross) claimed bragging rights by pushing me into third place. Race two was a good result with a win. So we come away from Round two leading the championship points six points ahead of Nick Coles and Ross.
The Superbike races were another torrid affair and hard battling. I had a third in the first race and fourth placing in the second race. I am placed third overall in the Superbike championship points ladder behind my team mate Robbie Bugden (2nd) and Andrew Stroud who is leading.
One thing I am finding is how important it is to keep up the energy levels riding two premier classes. Each race is 15 laps, so by the end of the day I have ridden twice the number of laps as my competitors, plus two qualifying sessions and four practice sessions.
First round - Ruapuna January 16-17
Well, the New Zealand Superbike Championships got underway with the first round at Ruapuna Raceway, near Christchurch, and it was a pretty successful weekend for me.
While qualifying on Saturday was a bit of a lottery because of on-again, off-again rain, I qualified second on my Triple R Suzuki GSXR600 in the Sports Production class.
Qualifying for superbikes was made more difficult as the rain had set in and it was a matter of just getting around on my Triple R Suzuki GSXR1000 and posting a time, ending up on the third row of the grid.
Sunday the weather had not changed and the meeting was declared wet. Got good starts and finished second in both Sports Production 600 races, (including the NZ GP)but had to bow to Hamilton's Nick Cole on the day.
But I secured valuable points and am second on the Sports Production points table after the first round.
In the Superbikes I had a great start from the third row to head into the first corner in second place and stayed there following my team mate Robbie Bugden across the finish line.
Race two in Superbikes was another flyer from the third row to again head into the first corner in second behind Andrew Stroud (Suzuki), but then came under pressure from Sloan Frost, Ray Clee and Hayden Fitzgerald and dropped back to fifth spot. With Stroud clearing away and Frost following, I diced with Clee and Fitzgerald, managing to get past Hayden and take fourth in the New Zealand Superbike GP.
My second and fourth places in my first Superbike outing put me in third place on the championship points table.