Frost wraps Superbike series up
Wellington’s Sloan Frost played it icy cool to wrap up the 2018 New Zealand Superbike Championships’ premier title with a race to spare.
There was no real pressure on the 36-year-old Frost (Suzuki GSXR1000A) after he’d built a commanding lead at the first three rounds of the series, but he was taking nothing for granted in the fourth and final round at Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park, on the outskirts Taupo, just over a week ago.
Frost held a 47-point advantage over his nearest rival, Whakatane’s Mitch Rees (Honda CBR1000SP1), at the start of the weekend, and his “safe and sensible” approach to racing — qualifying fastest and then finishing fourth, sixth and third in his three Superbike races — was enough to get the job done, allowing Frost to add the 2018 crown to his first superbike title, won in 2016.
Honda’s Rees was forced to accept the runner-up spot for 2018, although a modest Frost did suggest that he would be one of several riders to keep an eye on in the future.
The 24-year-old Rees won the weekend overall at Taupo, celebrating his first Superbike class win in the weekend’s first Superbike race on Saturday, backing that up with a solid third in race two on Sunday morning and then mounting a thrilling charge through the field to win the final race of the weekend.
Glen Eden’s Daniel Mettam (Suzuki GSX-R1000A) rode consistently throughout the series — although he only finished sixth overall at Taupo — to claim the No 3 spot in this class.
“It feels like more of an achievement this year than my other win,” said Frost afterwards.
“I was so nervous. My qualifying times were really good, but, as soon as we got to racing proper, I was riding tight while the other riders had nothing to lose, so they were pushing hard.
“The first person to come up and congratulate me was Mitch’s dad, (injured 2017 champion) Tony Rees, and that was really nice. That was really special, showing great sportsmanship.”
One of Frost’s biggest threats this season had been his own Suzuki team-mate, Taupo’s Scott Moir.
“It’s a shame Scotty had such a bad run at the South Island rounds of the nationals. It affected his championship,” Frost acknowledged.
Christchurch’s Alastair Hoogenboezem (BMW 1000) was also impressive this season, but, like Moir, the victim of too many crashes — especially in a short 12-race series where even one crash can be extremely costly — and he had to settle for fourth overall.
Hoogenboezem had finished third overall last season.
Rees’ performance, in particular, showed there was a new brigade of young stars on the horizon.
“It was good to get that first win,” said Mitch Rees. “I have been battling with these top guys for a while and it was probably just a matter of time, to be honest.
“I’ve had a great coach with Dad (Tony) always being there for me. He’s a great motivator and gives me confidence that I can do this.”
In the Supersport 600 class, Canterbury’s Jake Lewis (Triumph Daytona 675) built on his 31-point advantage over fellow Christchurch man James Hoogenboezem (Triumph Daytona 675) at Taupo’s finale, to wrap up the title with a race to spare.
Lewis finished with a 1-4-1 scorecard at Taupo; his girlfriend Avalon Biddle (Kawasaki ZX6R) scoring her first 600cc class win when she ran away with the weekend’s second 600cc race.
Biddle had also impressed at the previous round at Hampton Downs and her performance in the second half of the series elevated her to third overall for the final series standings.
Other title winners this season were: Dennis Charlett (Supersport 300 class); Jordan Burley (650 Pro Twins); Nick Cain (250cc Production); Nathanael Diprose (Superlites): Blayes Heaven (125GP); Thomas Newton (GIXXER Cup); and Peter Goodwin and Kendal Dunlop (Sidecars).