NZSBK News: Moment of Reckoning for Kiwi Hero
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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