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Superbike Wins Shared; Still Suzuki All The Way

Tuesday, 26 January 2010 00:00

26 January 2010

james smith A mix-up with the flag signals at Invercargill may have added spice to the day's racing at the second round of five in this season's New Zealand Superbike Championships, but it's still Suzuki 1-2-3-4 at the top of the main class.

Controversy marred the weekend's racing at Invercargill's Teretonga circuit when the white "last lap" flag was not shown as it should have been at the end of the designated 14 laps.

At that stage Suzuki's Andrew Stroud, of Hamilton, was the race leader but, when the flag eventually came out a lap later, 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 to win race two and it was he who benefited most from the flagman's error.

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's no use protesting," said Stroud. "I'll just carry on as it is and aim to finish in front of Robbie at the next rounds.

"I'm still feeling confident. The Brother Suzuki is great and the Pirelli tyres are fantastic.

"I know a lot of the crowd want 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."

Three-time defending champion Bugden agreed it had been a mixed weekend for him.

"We had our ups and downs. Qualifying was good. The races were a bit of a struggle for us ... We're happy to walk away without losing any points, though."

Bugden admitted that he would have to win both races at the next round in Timaru this coming weekend to cut back into Stroud's lead and maintain his bid for a fourth successive New Zealand title.

"We kind of have to if we want to challenge for this championship. We need to win."

Meanwhile, in the 600cc sports production class, a new leader emerged as all the stunning riding displayed by Hamilton's Nick Cole in the series first three races was undone by mechanical failure in the fourth race of the championship on Sunday.

That DNF proved very costly for Cole and, with dual class campaigner Smith winning the second race of the day at Teretonga, he now takes over the points lead in the class.

Smith is also currently in third spot, just eight points behind Bugden and four ahead of Hamilton's Sloan Frost, in the superbikes class, making it a Suzuki 1-2-3-4 in this premier division.

And Suzuki still holds 1-2 in the formula three-class as the battle continues to rage between old mates Glen Williams, of Palmerston North, and Taranaki's Terry Fitzgerald.

An unaccustomed fourth placing in the weekend's first F3 race became little more than a speed bump in William's bid to defend his 2009 title, as he came storming back to win the next two legs.

Bell Block's Fitzgerald finished runner-up in all three races and he has slipped from two to eight points behind Williams in the title chase.

In the Pro Twins class, Dannevirke's Geoff Booth (Suzuki SV650) has extended his championship lead from two to 18 points, with fellow Suzuki riders James Hoogenboezem, of Christchurch, and Kaiapoi's Jason Cameron second and third respectively.

Meanwhile, with a hat-trick of wins on his home track, Invercargill rider John Crawford (Suzuki RM-Z450) has leapt to the top of the Super Motard class, now leading the championship by 23 points from Christchurch's Trevor Chapman.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 26 January 2010 19:42

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