Photo: Robbie Bugden in action at ManfeildThe fourth round of the New Zealand Superbike championship was held in hot and sunny conditions at Manfeild on Sunday.
Three riders battled for the lead in the opening stages of the first Superbike race.
Defending New Zealand Superbike champion Robbie Bugden took the hole shot closely followed by Andrew Stroud, Craig Shirriffs and Hayden Fitzgerald. Castrol Hondas Shirriffs charged into second early in the race to split Bugden and Stroud’s dominating Suzukis.
Stroud then worked his way to the front of the pack and pulled a lead despite attention mid-race from Shirriffs, with Bugden riding the Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki close behind. Stroud took the win while Bugden made a pass on Shirriffs on the last lap to bring his GSXR1000 home in second.
Stroud lead the field away in race two with Bugden and Smith close in tow. Fitzgerald moved into third on lap two as the trio pulled a gap from a slow starting Shirriffs, while Smith dropped down the order after running wide on a corner. Shirriffs then picked up his pace and closed the gap to eventually pass Fitzgerald mid-race.
In the closing stages Bugden pulled out of the race with a technical issue, allowing Stroud to take the chequered flag unchallenged. Shirriffs was second with Fitzgerald third.
After a mixed day of results, Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki team manager Red Fenton said, “I’ve had three seasons which have been really good, so we’ll be at Hampton Downs to win both classes. The Superbike championship hasn’t been decided yet, unless something happens to Andrew Stroud, so we’re definitely going there to win.
It will be the first big race meet held at Hampton Downs, so it’d be nice to take two wins there, then we can carry on with the team racing in the Australian championship.”
In the ultra-competitive 600 Supersport class James Smith lead the first lap of race one from Glen Skachill. From lap two Wellington rider Skachill held his advantage until the chequered flag, with Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki rider Smith second. However both riders were penalised 20 seconds for an alleged jump start, handing the provisional win to Midge Smart. The penalty decision will be appealed.
Race two was shortened to just three laps following a crash, with half points awarded. Skachill took the win from Smart, with James Smith third.
James Smith said, “The day has been good, the bike is good, I’ve had no problems with anything. I’m looking forward to Hampton Downs, I’m going to put it all on the line as I have to finish in front of Nick.”
In the 125cc category Avalon Biddle won her first 125cc race this season, while Alistair Hoogenboezem took two victories to win the 2010 New Zealand 125GP title. In the F3 class Glen Williams earned two hard-fought wins from Jason Easton, who won race two.
Riders now take a one month break until the final round at Hampton Downs, on March 27-28, and the 600 Supersport championship remains wide open.
Provisional Results from Manfeild;
Superbike race 1: Andrew Stroud (Hamilton, Suzuki GSXR1000), 1; Robbie Bugden (Brisbane, Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki GSXR1000), 2; Craig Shirriffs, (Fielding, Honda CBR1000RR), 3; Hayden Fitzgerald (New Plymouth, Honda CBR1000RR), 4; James Smith (Christchurch, Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki GSXR1000), 5.
Superbike race 2: Andrew Stroud, 1; Craig Shirriffs, 2; Hayden Fitzgerald, 3; Sloan Frost (Cambridge, Suzuki GSXR1000), 4; James Smith (Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki GSXR1000), 5.
Superbike Series points; Andrew Stroud, 178; Robbie Bugden, 135; Craig Shirriffs, 113; James Smith, 108; Hayden Fitzgerald, 93.
600 Supersport, Race 1: Midge Smart (UK, Yamaha R6), 1; Nick Cole (Hamilton, Kawasaki ZX-600RR), 2; Sam Love (Tauranga, Yamaha R6) 3; Karl Morgan (Auckland, Suzuki GSXR600), 4; Dennis Charlett (Christchurch, Suzuki GSXR600), 5.
600 Supersport, Race 2: Glen Skachill, 1; Midge Smart, 2; James Smith (Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki GSXR600), 3; Nick Cole, 4; Karl Morgan, 5.
600 Supersport Series points; Nick Cole, 142.5; James Smith (Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki GSXR600), 140; John Ross, 118; Karl Morgan, 91.5; Jamie Galway, 71.5.
2010 Castrol Power 1 NZ Superbike Championship schedule;
Rnd 5: Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, March 27-28
