Guy Martin ready for Cemetery Circuit
The final round of New Zealand’s biggest and richest international motorcycle race kicks off at Wanganui on Boxing Day.
International riders from Japan, Liechenstein, Britain, the Isle of Man, and Australia are set to race the famous Cemetery Circuit in several classes, although none are more famous than TV personality Guy Martin.
The UK resident will be more prepared than last year as his Suzuki NZ GSXR1000 Superbike will be set up better to handle the difficult track this time around. He will also race a Manx Norton in the Classic category during his third visit to Wanganui.
Guy Martin isn’t the only show in town on Boxing Day as Horst Saiger leads the Suzuki Series by ten points from Taupo resident Scott Moir and his Penny Homes Suzuki GSXR1000.
From Liechenstein, Saiger has never raced at the Cemetery Circuit before, although the 43 year old has extensive road circuit experience around the globe on tracks including the Isle of Man, North West 200, and at Macau last month. He is also a member of the Bollinger Team Switzerland (Kawasaki) in World Endurance racing, finishing second in 2014.
Trailing Moir by four points is 20 year old Suzuki sensation Jaden Hassan, who won the last two F1 Superbike races at Manfeild earlier this month on his Suzuki NZ GSXR1000. Hassan, however, has elected not to race at the Cemetery Circuit.
17 points behind Red Devils Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R-mounted Saiger, and by no means out of the title hunt, is Wellington’s Sloan Frost (Fujitsu TSS Red Baron Suzuki NZ GSXR1000). A single point behind Frost is Dennis Charlett, who won the series two years ago on his Underground Brown GSXR1000.
Always a fast starter, Whakatane veteran Tony Rees is racing better than ever and has the potential to put his Tony Rees Honda CBR1000RR on the podium. Wanganui local Jayden Carrick (Wanganui Toyota GSXR1000) always goes well at his home track, while New Plymouth racer Hayden Fitzgerald raced his Team RCM Suzuki GSXR1000 to a strong second in last year’s Robert Holden Memorial.
If Saiger makes one small mistake on the tricky street circuit lined with steel manhole covers, road bumps and slippery white lines, any number of these top-line riders can win the Suzuki Series and the lions share of the $36,550 series prizemoney.
Regardless of what part of the world they are from, the big race everyone wants to win is the Robert Holden Memorial feature event. Around 40 dedicated volunteers will set the track up on Christmas Day, but for most, Boxing Day can’t come around quick enough!
Early-bird ticket holders for Wanganui are in the draw to win a $8,999 Suzuki DR650 SE after the last race – entrants must be present to win. Guy Martin will be making the draw.
2014 Suzuki Series points after two of three rounds.
Formula 1: Host Saiger (Liechenstein, Red Devil Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R), 88; Scott Moir (Taupo, Penny Homes Suzuki GSXR1000), 78; Jaden Hassan (Auckland, Suzuki NZ GSXR1000), 74; Sloan Frost (Wellington, Fujitsu TSS Red Baron Suzuki NZ GSXR1000), 71; Dennis Charlett (Christchurch, Underground Brown Suzuki GSXR1000), 70.
Words & photos by Terry Stevenson
2014 Suzuki Series schedule
Rnd 3 (final): Wanganui Cemetery Circuit, Friday December 26