Well, the Castrol NZ Superbike Nationals are about to start this weekend in Christchurch and I am really pumped.I have had a couple of outings on my Triple R Suzuki GSXR 1000 superbike in the last month and I am really impressed with it and the Metzler tyres.
Practice and qualifying will be on Saturday with two races, including the NZ Grand Prix, on Sunday.
If you are coming to the opening round at Ruapuna Raceway, near Christchurch, then please pop into the Triple R Suzuki tent and say hi.
Just give me time to get my helmet off after a practice or race – lol.
Well – the first round of the Castrol NZ Superbike Championship gets underway today (Sunday) with my Triple R Suzuki team mate Robbie Bugden on pole while I am on P3, with Aussie Dan Stauffer separating us.
At the end of the hectic two qualifying sessions, just 0.0860 seconds separated the top five qualifiers.
I am more than happy with my Suzuki GSXR 1000 and the Metzeler tyres and just need some final tweaks of the Ohlins suspension and hopefully some good results.
Grid qualifying:
1. Robbie Bugden, Triple R Suzuki, 1.30.070
2. Dan Stauffer, Yamaha, 1.30.812
3. James Smith, Triple R Suzuk, 1.30.871
4. Craig Shirriffs, Suzuki, 1.30.912
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Third in the New Zealand Superbike Grand Prix at Ruapuna Raceway, near Christchurch, was a great result for me and the Triple R Suzuki team.
I was absolutely wrapt as it capped off a frustrating weekend trying to get the bike set-up right.
I started from pit lane and a lap down for race one of the five-round Castrol NZ Superbike Championship after front brake problems just minutes before race start.
Race two was much better with a good start from the front row and I was in third place before slipping back to fourth. The race was then halted after a bad crash at the start of the front straight.
Officials decided to split the race in two with half points from both legs being awarded.
Another good start in the re-started race two (nine laps) saw me cross the line third in the Grand Prix.
So after a day of mixed results I am lying in eighth place on the championship ladder with plenty of hard work to do.
See you all at Timaru’s Levels Raceway next weekend – January 14-15.
Timaru Raceway. January 17-18
Sorry about the delay in my race updates. Timaru had its ups and downs. Had good grid position and
took off with my Triple R teammate Robbie Bugden, who was on a flyer in race one.
Slight arm pump took the edge off my racing and ended up about fifth.
Race two was a tight affair and little mistakes meant positional changes between riders in 3rd to 7th. Ended the
day with sixth.
Teretonga, Invercargill. January 24-25.
Invercargill was another meeting of mixed results. It is often said in racing that a $1 part can ruin races.
It was almost that in race one with my Triple R Suzuki GSXR1000 performing very well until a part broke which ended any aspirations of a good placing.
Race two and the drizzle started and it was a race where brains overcame adrenalin to keep the national championship points ticking over.
Overall, I am lying in 7th overall.
But I have four races left in the championships and I will be fighting for every point to end the season on the podium.