Game on, mate
It could again be mate versus mate when the Suzuki International Series kicks off in five weeks.
Suzuki threesome Daniel Mettam, Sloan Frost and Scott Moir have dominated New Zealand’s superbike scene over the past couple of seasons. It’s likely this terrific trio will again be at the pointy end of the field at the three-round Suzuki International Series in December and the fiveround New Zealand Superbike Championships that begin early in 2020.
Of course there are others who fancy their chances — such as Whakatane’s 2017 champion Tony Rees (Honda), with his talented sons Mitch and Damon lining up alongside him; Kiwi international Shane Richardson (Kawasaki) from Wainuiomata, back home for a domestic campaign; Christchurch’s Alastair Hoogenboezem (Yamaha); and Wellington’s Glen Skachill (BMW) who returns to racing after a number of years away from the sport.
But they will have to beat defending 2019 national superbike champion Mettam, two-time former superbike champion Frost and twotime and defending Suzuki International Series champion Moir.
The Suzuki International Series starts at Taupo’s Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park on December 7-8, with Manfeild’s Circuit Chris Amon, on the outskirts of Feilding, as host venue a week later.
The action wraps up with Whanganui’s Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day. For this popular series, title contenders will be challenged by visiting internationals Richard Cooper (UK, Suzuki) and Ireland’s Lee Johnston (BMW).
Cooper, in particular, could be a threat. He is the British Superbike Championships Superstock Champion for 2019 and his performance as a newcomer at this year’s North West 200 was a highlight of that iconic event.
But Moir, the Suzuki International Series champion in the Formula One class in 2017 and 2018, holds no fears of a foreign invasion.
“I certainly think I can win,” said 36-year-old Moir. “Surely the competition couldn’t get much harder than it was for me racing against [UK rider] Peter Hickman last year. I’ve raced before against Lee Johnston, and I beat him on that occasion. But I don’t know about
Richard Cooper, except I know he’ll be fast.
“I know these New Zealand tracks well, though, so that gives me an advantage.”
The Suzuki International Series in December also offers races for Formula Two (600cc), Formula Three, Classics (pre-89), sports bikes, super motard bikes and sidecars.
The Gixxer Cup class, reserved for riders on identical 150cc Suzuki GSX150F model bikes, returns to the
Suzuki International Series programme this year with the rider age-limit restriction lifted, meaning individuals such as Mettam, Frost and Moir will compete against talented youngsters such as Jesse Stroud (Hamilton) and Caleb Gilmore (Whanganui).
The 2020 NZSBK series features 10 bike classes, from superbikes to sidecars, and opens at Mike Pero Motorsport Park, Ruapuna, near Christchurch, on January 11-12.