Series blasts off in style
The New Zealand road-racing season is under way and the long wait was worth it.
This popular three-round Suzuki International Series has again attracted a huge number of top-calibre riders, particularly this year with New Zealand virtually free of Covid-19 restrictions.
The racing at Sunday’s opening round at Taupo¯’s Bruce Mclaren Motorsport Park offered an appetising foretaste of the brilliant racing to come.
Manfeild in Feilding hosts round two this Sunday and the series wraps up on the public streets ofwhanganui, with riders tearing around the world-famous Cemetery Circuit on Boxingday.
Bike fans in Taupo¯ fizzed at being a part of the first major motorcycle road race in New Zealand since the lockdown, with Sunday’s racing under a warm, clear sky perfect for thrilling handlebar-to-handlebar action through the 12 categories.
This three-round competition traditionally signals the start to the new season and always attracts the cream of the motorcycling community.
Riders are keen to show off and test their bikes and skills ahead of the national championships, in the South Island next month and the North Island in March.
‘‘The crowdswere great and the racing was fantastic,’’ series organiser Allanwillacy said.
‘‘There were a few upsets among the results and a few crashes too, so I think there will be a few riders with a point to prove at rounds two and three.
‘‘The GIXXER 150 class racing was particularly good to watch. Actually, across the board, all the racing was splendid.
‘‘We are looking forward to Manfeild this coming weekend, where we anticipate it will again be tight battling at the front of the fields.’’