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| Hamilton’s Andrew Stroud. Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.co |
He didn’t win everything but Andrew Stroud did more than enough when he wrapped up his third consecutive Suzuki Tri Series title at Wanganui’s famous annual Cemetery Circuit race meeting on Boxing Day.
The 42-year-old father-of-eight from Hamilton took his Suzuki GSX-R1000 to finish 1-2 in his two Formula One outings on Boxing Day. He fended off tenacious fellow Waikato man Nick Cole to win the first race, but he was beaten by visiting Australian Daniel Stauffer in the next race.
But it was still easily enough to give Stroud the class outright for the day and for the series too.
Three-time New Zealand superbike champion Robbie Bugden (Suzuki), the Australian making his Wanganui street circuit debut, fell victim to a first-turn crash in the second F1 race and was taken to hospital with a broken leg.
It now seems impossible for him to challenge Stroud for the national superbike crown when that series kicks off near Timaru on January 30.
“I knew Dan (Stauffer) would be a good challenge. He’s a top runner in Australia.
“It’s brilliant to win the series again and now I’m ready to concentrate on the nationals.
“It’s a pity that Robbie (Bugden) is out now. I really enjoy racing him. My confidence is high for the nationals but I’m taking nothing for granted. I will just do my best on the day but there’s still plenty of top competition out there.”
Other Tri Series class winners included Wellington’s Glen Skachill, who led a Suzuki 1-2-3 in 600 supers class with Christchurch’s Dennis Charlett finishing runner-up and Aucklander Karl Morgan coming home third.
New Plymouth’s Terry Fitzgerald took his Suzuki SV650 to win the F3 sportbikes class ahead of Taupo’s Scott Moir, with another Suzuki rider, Dannevirke’s Geoff Booth, taking third spot overall.
Wanganui pair Steve Bron and Dennis Simonsen (Suzuki) won the sidecars category.
Source: Suzuki NZ