Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki Superbike Team Three times NZ Superbike champion Robbie Bugden conceded the 2010 NZ Superbike title to Andrew Stroud at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park. With the title almost wrapped up by Stroud after Manfeild, Bugden wanted to return to Australia on a high note with two wins at the new Hampton Downs circuit before competing in the Australian Superbike championship. The Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki rider qualified his GSXR1000 on pole for final round of the Castrol Power1 Superbike championship, and was confident of putting in a top result before Sunday’s two races, except nobody told Stroud. The first of Stroud’s two wins sealed his eighth career NZ Superbike championship, although he was forced to work for his money in both races. Bugden’s Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki team-mate James Smith set the pace for the opening laps in each heat, followed by Bugden, however the pattern was the same as Hamilton-based Stroud worked his way through the field by mid-race for his victories. Bugden was second in the championship. Smith is a front runner in the smaller 600 Supersport category and treated the Superbike class as a relaxed lead-in for next year. But there was nothing relaxing at the end of race two as Smith and Craig Shirriffs crossed the line side-by side for third position in the race. Just two points separated the pair and whoever secured that coveted third spot behind Stroud and Bugden, also earned third in the championship. With so much at stake, and the braking point for turn one several metres before the start/finish line, both riders elected not to brake to steal that third position! The consequences were high as both riders expected to and did crash at turn one as a result – a finish line position safety issue which may need to be addressed for future race meetings. The electronic timing system gave Shirriffs third placing, mere fractions of a second ahead of Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki rider Smith. Still a respectable fourth in the title chase, Smith would like to concentrate on the Superbike class for 2011. In the 600 Supersport class Smith trailed series leader Nick Cole by just 6.5 points (pending an appeal from Manfeild last month) heading into the weekend. Smith was second in the NZ 600 Supersport championship the past two years and, appeal notwithstanding, had to win both races if Cole was second in each to secure his first title. The Christchurch-based rider got the required holeshot on his Suzuki GSXR600, closely followed by Glen Skachill until turn four when Skachill misjudged his braking and crashed into Smith. Forcing the unlucky Smith out of the race, and almost handling race winner Cole the championship, with one race remaining. The Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki rider suffered a poor start in the final 600 Supersport race of the season and had difficulty getting past a number of fast mid-pack riders. When he did it was too late and Smith had to settle for ninth position (on corrected time after a 20 second jump start penalty) in a race won by Skachill, with the title going to Hamilton’s Nick Cole. Smith reflected after the event, “The season has been pretty good, we managed to stay near the Superbike podium, and on it. I was feeling pretty confident about today and I was really determined to win the 600 Supersport championship, but unfortunately things can happen so we just have to take second and move on for next year. Getting taken out in the first race is not the way I wanted to loose the championship, I didn’t even get a shot at it as it was totally out of my control. “I really wanted that third in the Superbike. We both ended up crashing because you’re braking before the start/finish line, but I didn’t want to shut off. We (Craig Shirriffs) were side by side and I think he was thinking the same and we both went in the way too fas! There was a lapper in the way too, and I chose to run it (the sand trap) in because there was no way I was going to be able to stop! Luckily it was a nice soft landing.” Bugden says, “It was quite a good day today and it’s good to be at a new circuit. It is quite a challenging and technical circuit. We had a fair go at it but unfortunately today Andrew had a little bit extra. We can do a handful of laps really quickly but when we get into the race a bit we seem to be struggling with some braking issues. No excuses, Andrew rode great all day, he had a good package and he used it to his best advantage. “It has been a roller coaster season and the Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki team have been working real hard to give me the best bike they can. I go from here to Darwin for our first test in Australia and in a fortnight I’ll be racing there.” Team manager Red Fenton says, “A lot of the credit goes to Suzuki to let me bring Robbie over! James has been with me for four years, and when I first saw James I thought he has a lot of potential. I believe James is one of the quickest Kiwis out there at the moment.” In the support races Alistair Hoogenboezem had already wrapped up the NZ 125cc title last month at Manfeild, although that didn’t stop the Christchurch rider from winning all three heats over the weekend. Orewa racer Avalon Biddle worked hard for her two podiums to close the season in second position, 13 points ahead of Jaden Hassan (Westmere), in third. Glen Williams of Palmerston North won the closely contested F3 title from Jason Easton (Foxton) and Terry Fitzgerald of New Plymouth. Steve Bron (Wanganui) and Dennis Simonsen (Masterton) took home the NZ Sidecar championship after winning all three races on their LCR Suzuki F1 sidecar. Dave Annan/Warwick Demmocks were second in the title chase, ahead of the Peter Goodwin/ Dion Weedon combination. Results from Hampton Downs; Superbike race 1: Andrew Stroud (Hamilton, Suzuki GSXR1000), 1; Robbie Bugden (Brisbane, Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki GSXR1000), 2; James Smith (Christchurch, Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki GSXR1000), 3; Hayden Fitzgerald (New Plymouth, Honda CBR1000RR), 4; Ryan Hampton (Christchurch, Honda CBR1000RR), 5. New Zealand Superbike TT: Andrew Stroud, 1; Robbie Bugden (Brisbane, Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki GSXR1000), 2; Craig Shirriffs, 3; James Smith (Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki GSXR1000), 4; Sloan Frost (Hamilton, Suzuki GSXR1000), 5. Superbike final standings; Andrew Stroud, 228; Robbie Bugden, 175; Craig Shirriffs, 139; James Smith, 137; Hayden Fitzgerald, 116; Sloan Frost, 92. 600 Supersport, Race 1: Nick Cole (Hamilton, Kawasaki ZX-600RR), 1; Midge Smart (UK, Yamaha R6), 2; Dennis Charlett (Christchurch, Suzuki GSXR600), 3; Sam Love (Tauranga, Yamaha R6) 4; John Ross (Christchurch, Yamaha R6), 5. New Zealand 600 Supersport TT: Glen Skachill (Wellington, Suzuki GSXR600), 1; Nick Cole, 2; Midge Smart, 3; Karl Morgan (Auckland, Suzuki GSXR600), 4;. John Ross, 5. 600 Supersport final standings (provisional points); Nick Cole, 187.5; James Smith (Triple R Mack Truck Suzuki GSXR600), 147; John Ross, 140; Karl Morgan, 104.5; Glen Skachill, 95.5; Dennis Charlett, 95.