Australian rider Alex Phillis gave MV Agusta its first win in New Zealand when he took the Helicraft Racing with Mahi Capital 675 F3 to victory in the NZ Tourist Trophy at Hampton Downs on Sunday.

Phillis, son of Australia’s “Mr Superbike” Robbie Phillis, rounded off an ever-improving Supersport season with two thirds leading up to the feature TT race in the final round of the New Zealand Superbike Championship series.

“It’s been a hard season,” Phillis said. “In fact it’s been a tough two years since team owner Rod Price put the MV programme together.

“We started with absolutely nothing in the way of settings. It was a stock ex demo MV and we were about as far away from the factory and other Europeans teams in terms of information as you could get.”

What Phillis did have, however, was the determination of Price to make the project work, and the hugely experienced technical gurus David “Radar” Cullen and Phil Purdue.

“Those guys have put in so much effort. Sunday was a pretty special day. We proved we could run up the front against some very quick riders.

“The whole weekend just worked out perfectly. When we rolled the bike out on Friday it felt good and it was like a headstart to the weekend.”

The winner’s circle was a pretty emotional place, with both Price and his long-time mate Robbie Phillis choked for words.

“It was good for Alex to get this result. We all knew he could do it,” Price said. “It’s made the last two season’s worthwhile.”

Price also admitted a trip the previous weekend to the World Superbike Championship round in Australia had paid handsome dividends.

“I got speak to several of the MV teams and Ohlins and the information I picked up was invaluable.

“I’d like to think this win will lead to even greater co-operation.”