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Andrew Stroud won his third successive New Zealand Suzuki International Tri-Series at Wanganui on December 26. The Suzuki GSX-R1000-mounted Stroud didn’t have it all his own way on the famous Cemetery Circuit however as rivals pushed the Hamiltonian in each of the premier F1 Superbike races.
To win the title, Stroud only needed to finish ahead of street circuit rookie – but main rival – Robbie Bugden. Instead, the 42-year-old father of eight went straight to the front in the opening F1 Superbike race to make a statement of intention. Within a few laps however Kawasaki mounted Nick Cole stormed into the lead, which he held for several laps until Stroud made his winning move and went on to take the checkered flag.

An average start left Craig Shirriffs (Suzuki GSX-R1000) to claw his way up to and then past Australian Dan Stauffer, on a Yamaha, to cross the line third and fourth respectively ahead of BMW’s Sloan Frost. Bugden, a three-time NZ Superbike champion, had a slow start but worked his way up to sixth by race end, leaving Stroud with a more comfortable 14-point buffer before the final race.

The second restart of the final leg proved disastrous for Bugden, who was taken out – along with Nick Cole – by another rider at turn one. Bugden suffered a broken right leg (tibia and fibula) which saw an end to his title aspirations, although Cole made the delayed re-start. With the race underway Stroud lead for the first two corners when a brilliant Stauffer took control of the race to win his debut street race, finishing ahead of Stroud and a charging Shirriffs, with Frost and Cole further back.

Stroud’s second place secured his third successive Suzuki Tri-Series title for Suzuki. Consistent riding from Frost earned second place for BMW, with an injured Bugden third, also for Suzuki.

“It’s good to be winning, and the whole family appreciates it as well, cheering me on – they’re my biggest fans,” said Stroud. “In the first race Nick (Cole) had the pressure on the whole time, and the in the second race Dan Stauffer got in front of me early on and pulled a gap straight away. I was pushing reasonably had trying to catch him but it wasn’t happening, so that was it.”

The Robert Holden Memorial feature race was a thriller between Stroud and Stauffer, with the Australian retaking the lead on the last corner to become the first ever Australian to win the prestigious Robert Holden Memorial trophy.

In the F2 600 category Glen Skachill and his Suzuki GSX-R600 remained unbeaten in all six Suzuki Tri-Series races to win that title, ahead of Dennis Charlett and Karl Morgan.

The massive Wanganui crowd weren’t disappointed with Davide ‘Speedy’ Gozzini’s two 450 Supermoto wins. Gozzini was pushed hard by fellow Italian Andrea Occhini and Kiwi Jayden Carrick in each race yet wrapped up his second championship in as many years. Toby Summers was second in the series with Carrick third.

The Steve Bron/Dennis Simonsen pairing scored two good wins aboard their Suzuki LCR1000 sidecar, ahead of the Adam Unsworth/Stu Dawe and Darryl/Scott Dowman combinations. Bron and Simonsen’s victories were enough to win the series title from last year’s winners Unsworth and Dawe. Des James/Jonathan Shaw were third.
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Waikato’s Andrew Stroud is the No.1 superbike racer in New Zealand once again. The 42-year-old father-of-seven convincingly won both the premier superbike races at the fifth and final round of this year’s Castrol Power 1 New Zealand Superbike Championships at the new Hampton Downs circuit on Sunday, giving him a record eighth national title, and his first since 2006. Stroud seemed untroubled in winning the day’s first 15-lap superbike race – leading in from start to finish — but it was a different story in the second leg, the 20-lapper that also counted as the national TT title race.

In the second outing, Stroud had to power his Brother Suzuki GSX-R1000 through the field after a bad start, eventually snatching the lead from defending champion Robbie Bugden (Suzuki) at about the midway point.
Brisbane rider Bugden had no answer for Stroud, although he kept the Kiwi hero honest and harried him to the end, finishing less than a second behind Stroud.

“I didn’t get a great start and got pushed around a bit at the beginning,” said Stroud. “But I didn’t panic and when I saw the gap widening, I just put my head down a bit.  I beat Australian Shawn Giles to take the New Zealand superbike title in 2006 but, for the past three years, it’s belonged to Robbie (Bugden). It’s good to have it back … to take it back for New Zealand.”
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Hamilton’s Andrew Stroud could be forgiven if he seems a little preoccupied this weekend.

Though normally the friendliest of faces around the road-racing pits, the 42-year-old father-of-seven is likely this weekend to have no interest in idle chit-chat.

Waikato’s Andrew Stroud (Suzuki), ready to reclaim the national superbike crown this weekend. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

The fifth and final round of the Castrol Power 1 New Zealand Superbike Championships hit the new Hampton Downs circuit, near Meremere, this Saturday and Sunday and Stroud is perfectly positioned to reclaim the national superbike crown he last held in 2006.

For the past three seasons the premier title has crossed the Tasman with Australian Suzuki star Robbie Bugden, but this year it’s the Kiwi Stroud who holds the balance of power, a massive 43 points in front of Bugden with just two races on Sunday to decide where the trophy goes this season.

Stroud took his Brother Suzuki GSX-R1000 to two commanding wins in the class at the previous round at Feilding’s Manfeild race circuit, while an electrical glitch meant Bugden failed to finish one of the day’s two superbike races and this may have ultimately crippled Bugden’s title defense.
“I have a good points advantage but I’m not taking anything for granted,” said Stroud this week.
“I need to finish only eighth or better in the first race and that should do it but that doesn’t mean I’ll be riding conservatively. I always race to win. ”
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Andrew Stroud (Suzuki) leads Craig Shirriffs (Honda) at the front of Sunday's Superbike race.

Hamilton’s Andrew Stroud is possibly less than two races away from reclaiming the New Zealand superbike crown he last held four seasons ago. The Brother Suzuki rider raced to two commanding wins in the class at the weekend’s fourth round of five in this year’s Castrol Power 1 New Zealand Superbike Championships at Feilding’s Manfeild race circuit. Stroud’s double race victory in the Manawatu on Sunday means the 42-year-old has stretched his lead to 43 points over the defending champion, Brisbane Suzuki rider Robbie Bugden, with just 50 points still available, at the fifth and final round at Hampton Downs, near Meremere, in March. Stroud’s massive points advantage came about thanks to two key factors – his own fantastic talent on a motorcycle and the incredible bad luck that struck main rival Bugden when his bike mysteriously ran out of power nine laps into the 14-lapper and he was forced to withdraw.

“Winning was what I had in mind coming here and that’s also what I plan to do at Hampton Downs. I can afford to settle for seconds and thirds now but I wouldn’t be a real racer if I was happy to do that,” said Stroud.

Second best superbike class rider on Sunday was home-town favorite Craig Shirriffs (Honda), while his team-mate, New Plymouth’s Hayden Fitzgerald was third overall. With Shirriffs finishing 3-2 at Manfeild, he has moved to third in the championship standings, with Christchurch Suzuki rider James Smith slipping to fourth and Fitzgerald remaining in fifth spot. It was bad luck all around for Smith as he also lost his grip on the lead of the other class he is contesting, the 600cc sports production class. Hamilton’s Nick Cole (Kawasaki) was one of the beneficiaries after Smith and Wellington’s Glen Skachill were each penalized 20 seconds after allegedly jumping the start of race one. That decision by track officials elevated Cole from fifth to third in race one. Cole backed that up by placing fourth in race two, that battle abbreviated to just three laps following a serious crash. So, finishing 3-4 on the day was enough for Cole to zoom into the championship lead, now 6.5 points clear of Smith.

“This was a better weekend for me that I had expected,” said Cole. “Manfeild is not one of my favorite tracks.”

The day’s outright winner in the class was Inglewood’s Midge Smart (Yamaha), making his first appearance in the championship and stunning with his 1-2 results.

The battle for formula three honors continued between Manawatu friends and rivals Glen Williams (Suzuki) and Jason Easton (Tigcraft Aprilia), with defending champion Williams edging further ahead in the championship chase thanks to his 1-2-1 results.

Easton had to settle for 2-1-2 at Manfeild and was disappointed to learn he is now 16 points behind Williams with just the final round to come.

Dannevirke’s Geoff Booth (Suzuki) was untouchable in the 650 Pro Twins class, winning all three races in the class at Manfeild. He is now 36 points ahead of Christchurch’s James Hoogenboezem (Suzuki).

Meanwhile, Hoogenboezem’s bother, Alastair (Honda), overcame problems racing without a foot peg when it fell off on his warm-up lap before race one in the 125GP class on Saturday, still managing third place and then bouncing back to win both his races the following day. He is now a massive 90 points in front of Auckland teenager Avalon Biddle (Honda).

In the sidecars class, Wanganui men Stephen Bron and Dennis Simonsen (Suzuki) finished 2-1-1 at the weekend, further boosting their lead in the championship.

Leading standings after round four of the Castrol Power 1 New Zealand Superbike Championships at Manfeild on Sunday:

Superbikes:
Andrew Stroud (Hamilton, Suzuki) 178 points;
Robbie Bugden (Australia, Suzuki) 135;
Craig Shirriffs (Feilding, Honda) 113.

600cc Sports Production:
Nick Cole (Hamilton, Kawasaki) 146.5 points;
James Smith (Christchurch, Suzuki) 140;
John Ross (Christchurch, Yamaha) 106.

125GP:
Alastair Hoogenboezem (Christchurch, Honda) 266 points;
Avalon Biddle (Auckland, Honda) 176;
Jaden Hassan (Auckland, Yamaha) 172.

Formula Three:
Glen Williams (Palmerston North, Suzuki) 264 points;
Jason Easton (Palmerston North, Aprilia) 248;
Terry Fitzgerald (New Plymouth, Suzuki) 185.

650 Pro Twins:
Geoff Booth (Dannevirke, Suzuki) 260 points;
James Hoogenboezem (Christchurch, Suzuki) 224;
Jason Cameron (Kaiapoi, Suzuki) 188.

Sidecars:
Stephen Bron and Dennis Simonsen (Wanganui, Masterton) 220 points;
Dave Annan and Warwicks Demmocks (West Melton, Rangiora) 164;
Peter Goodwin and Pion Weedon (Bay of Islands, Papakura) 136

Stroud can’t afford to relax

by Andy McGechan www.BikesportNZ.com

With just four races to go to decide where the national superbike title heads this season, it is not the time to back off and play it safe.  Quite the contrary, as championship leader Andrew Stroud (Brother Suzuki) would tell you.

Robbie Bugden leads Andrew Stroud and Craig Shirriffs. Photo by Andrew Bright, Championship Digital

The Hamilton rider is just 13 points in front of defending champion Robbie Bugden (Triple R Suzuki) at the top of the superbike standings and he’ll be pushing hard for more wins at the series’ penultimate event, the fourth round of five in this season’s Castrol Power 1 New Zealand Superbike Championships at Manfeild this weekend.
“I’m not far enough in front to be relaxing just yet,” said the 42-year-old Stroud, determined to win back the title he last held in 2006.

Stroud knows Australia’s Budgen is a fierce adversary. The Brisbane rider is used to winning races – having won the New Zealand title for the past three seasons – although he hasn’t had it all his own way in 2010. There are two races for the superbike class at Manfeild on Sunday and a further two at the final round at Hampton Downs, near Meremere, to wrap up the series
“If I finish behind Robbie in these final four races, he’ll be leading the championship at the end … I know I can’t afford to let that happen,” said Stroud.

Meanwhile, Christchurch rider James Smith is on target for double celebration as he sits in a podium position in two classes, third overall in the superbikes class and on the top step in the 600cc Sports Production class. The 30-year-old printer shared the day’s overall honours with Hamilton’s Nick Cole (Kawasaki) at the previous round at Levels Raceway, just outside Timaru, last month and was therefore able to maintain his six-point advantage at the top of the standings. But, like Bugden, Cole is not a rival to be taken lightly. Cole has actually won more races in the 600cc class than Smith. Cole has won four of the six races thus far but a DNF thanks to a broken drive chain at round two has proved very costly in the Waikato man’s drive to nail down his first championship.

Foxton’s Jason Easton (Aprilia Tigcraft) is within just 11 points of defending champion Glen Williams (Suzuki), of Palmerston North, in the Formula Three class, while Dannevirke’s Geoff Booth (Suzuki) continues to lead the 650 Pro Twins class, albeit now by just three points from Christchurch’s James Hoogenboezem. Meanwhile, Hoogenboezem’s bother, Alastair (Honda), is still the man to beat in the 125GP class, a massive 69 points in front of Auckland teenager Jaden Hassan (Yamaha).

In the sidecars class, Wanganui men Stephen Bron and Dennis Simonsen (Suzuki) comfortably lead from Canterbury pair Dave Annan and Warwicks Demmocks (Suzuki).

A mix-up with the flag signals at Invercargill may yet have a long-term impact on this year’s national superbike championship.

There was a tinge of controversy to the weekend’s racing at the weekend’s second round of five in this year’s Castrol Power 1 New Zealand Superbike Championships at Invercargill’s Teretonga circuit when the white last-lap flag was not shown to the race and championship leader, Suzuki’s Andrew Stroud, at the end of the prescribed 14 laps.  Instead it was waved after the 15th lap and, soon after that, there was a new man in front, defending champion Robbie Bugden (Suzuki).

Stroud had won the day’s first 15-lap superbike race, finishing ahead of Australian Budgen and Christchurch’s James Smith (Suzuki).  But Brisbane rider Bugden fought back in race two — Bugden, Stroud and Feilding’s Craig Shirriffs (Honda) battling furiously in a three-way fight at the front.  When race leader Stroud had a “moment at the hairpin” on the “extra” lap 16, Bugden pounced and crossed the line first.

After much deliberation, Bugden’s win was confirmed and it was an extremely disappointed Stroud who left the track at day’s end, his championship lead still intact, but with Bugden now up to second in the title chase, albeit still 13 points behind Stroud.

Bugden will have renewed confidence as the riders head to round three at Timaru’s Levels circuit next weekend.

“It has been recommended to me that I could protest this (flagging mistake),” said Stroud.  The same thing happened in a 125GP race on Saturday and they wound it back to the rider order on the previous lap. I filled out a protest form but then drew a line through the whole lot. I always race to the flag and to the spirit of racing, so I’ve left the situation as it is and I’m not protesting.  I’ll just carry on as it is and aim to finish in front of Robbie at the next rounds.  I blew it in that second race. On the lap I went in too hot in the last corner before the flag and overshot the bend and lost all my drive coming out.  But I’m still feeling confident. The Brother Suzuki is great and the Pirelli tyres are fantastic. I know a lot of the crowd are wanting to see the title come back to New Zealand (after Bugden has won it the past three seasons), and I hope I can satisfy their wants.”

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Australian Robbie Bugden won’t be sitting back and taking it lightly in Invercargill this weekend.  The Suzuki rider from Brisbane, AU has won the New Zealand Superbike title for the past three seasons, winning the title last year by a solid 29 points over fellow Suzuki man Andrew Stroud of Hamilton.  But now the boot is on the other foot and it’s Stroud who is on top after the series opener at Christchurch on Sunday.  Stroud leads fellow Hamilton rider Sloan Frost by two points, with defending champ Bugden back in fifth spot overall and 13 points behind Stroud.  But the series has a long way to go yet and the action is only just starting to warm up.

Robbie Bugden will need to act fast if he hopes to hold off an early season charge by Andrew Stroud

It’s round two at Invercargill’s Teretonga Park this weekend, followed by the Timaru International Motor Raceway event the following Sunday. Then the riders head north to round four at Feilding’s Manfield Circuit and, finally, the new track at Hampton Downs, near Meremere.

So a lot is likely to happen before the championship reaches Hampton Downs on March 28 and Bugden has plans to catch and overtake the four men ahead of him.

Bugden’s race team manager, Red Fenton, is confident his man can do the job.
“Robbie always goes very strong at Teretonga and I’m sure he will get amongst it and come away from there with the gap a lot closer.  We always go out to win and that’s what we’ll be trying to do this weekend.”

Andrew Stroud has come on strong and looks to open up a points lead this weekend

Bugden’s teammate, Christchurch’s James Smith, is enjoying his debut season in the Superbike class, and he is currently third in the standings. Smith is also racing in the 600cc Sports Production class and hoping to improve upon his runner-up finish of last season.  That might be a difficult proposition, though, for Smith, after the sparkling performance of Hamilton’s Nick Cole (Kawasaki) at round one.  Cole looked comfortable in winning both 600cc races at Christchurch, and he has a solid 10-point lead over Smith and 21-point gap over third-ranked John Ross (Yamaha) after that opening round.

Racing is also close in the other classes, with more exciting action expected in the Formula Three, Pro Twins, 125GP, Super Motard and Streetstock categories.

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This could be Andrew Stroud’s year. The Suzuki rider from Hamilton won the day at the opening round of this year’s Castrol Power 1 New Zealand Superbike Championships at Christchurch’s Ruapuna Park on Sunday, instantly signaling to his rivals that he means to take back the superbike crown he last held in 2006.

Andrew Stroud looks to take back the New Zealand Superbike title that he last held in 2006

For the past three seasons it has been Australian interloper Robbie Bugden who has crossed the Tasman to steal away the coveted Kiwi title and he was hoping to make it four in a row this year. It certainly looked a distinct possibility when the Suzuki rider from Brisbane won the first of two superbike races on Sunday — albeit less than a second ahead of Christchurch Suzuki rider James Smith — and Stroud crossed the line in a disappointing fourth spot. But the 42-year-old Stroud, a seven-time former champion, is possibly as fast now as at any time in his career and the balance of power swung convincingly in the Waikato man’s favor when he ran off to an impressive victory in the next outing, winning the race by a whopping 15.9 seconds.

That race win also gave Stroud the New Zealand Superbike GP title. Bugden, meanwhile, found had himself stuck in traffic and his bid to break free ended in disaster as he crashed his bike on the opening lap. Bugden was unable to finish the race and those lost points may prove costly for the defending champion as the five-round series progresses, with round two set for Invercargill’s Teretonga circuit next weekend. “The pack seemed half a lap behind me,” said Stroud afterwards. “I guess you could say the weekend worked out good for me. I struggled a bit in the first race and it took me a while to work out how much traction I could find on the wet surface. It all turned back in my favor in race two though.” Fellow Hamilton rider Sloan Frost (Suzuki) finished 3-2 to take second overall for the day, while Smith’s 2-4 placings gave him the third step on the superbike podium.

One of very few riders to tackle two classes this season, Smith had his work cut out to keep sight of Hamilton’s Nick Cole in the 600cc sports production class. Kawasaki-mounted Cole was simply sensational, winning both 600cc races by a comfortable margin with Smith runner-up both times. “I won both races by quite a large margin. I’m rapt, of course, and taking the GP title was great too,” said Cole. Another Christchurch rider, Yamaha’s John Ross, finished the day in third spot overall after posting 4-3 results.

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