Castrol Power 1 NZ Superbikes Move to Christchurch and The New Zealand Grand Prix Following two amazing rounds of racing, the 2009 Castrol Power1 Superbike Championships now moves to Ruapuna Raceway, just outside Christchurch, for round three, this weekend January 24/25. This event also includes the New Zealand Road Race Grand Prix, an added attraction for the hard charging Australians contesting this year’s series Australian Robbie Bugden leads the Superbike Championship on his Christchurch based Triple R Suzuki, however he isn’t have it all his own way, with fellow Queenslander Gareth Jones (Yamaha) taking the win in race two at Levels Raceway last weekend. Also hard on their heals are Kiwi veteran Hamilton’s Andrew Stroud and Auckland’s Ray Clee on their Suzukis and the Honda pairing of Feilding’s Craig Shirriffs and New Plymouth’s Hayden Fitzgerald. The 600 Sports Production has seen some incredible battles between young Australian Gareth Jones on his Bernard Racing Yamaha and Christchurch’s James Smith on his TripleR Suzuki. Also in the skirmish are reigning champion Christchurch’s Dennis Charlett (Suzuki), Hamilton’s Nick Cole (Kawasaki), along with Wellington’s Jay Lawrence and Pukekohe’s Sam Smith both on Yamahas. The smaller classes have been dominated by a single rider so far. In Formula Three it has been Palmerston North’s Glen Williams (Suzuki), after former champion New Plymouth’s Terry Fitzgerald (Suzuki), Foxton’s Jason Easton (Tigcraft Aprilia) and Westport’s Eric deBoer (Kawasaki) all had mishaps at round one. However last weekend, the battle was back on with Easton taking a win in the final race of the day. In the Pro Twins, this year Tauranga’s Sam Love has shown everyone a clean set of heals, but charging hard behind are Dannevirke’s Geoff Booth, Blenhiem’s Neil Smith and Christchurch’s Patrick Jones all on Suzuki SV650s. In the 125cc Grand Prix class Dunedin’s Tim McArthur (Honda) leads the series, but right behind him are, Hamilton’s Kenneth Jones (Yamaha), who won the first race at Levels and set a new lap record while doing so, Auckland’s Avalon Biddle (Honda) and Jaden Hassam (Yamaha) and Christchurch’s Cameron Jones and Nick Cain both on Hondas. All five riders are still in their teens. At round two, the circus was joined by the Sidecar boys. The field included Tri-Series victor Australia’s Stacy Sellar on Cemetery Circuit Organiser Leighton Minnell’s LCR Suzuki, Wanganui’s Steve Bron (LCR), along with Auckland’s Lawrance Brothers on their Anderson Yamaha and a field of over fifteen sidecars. Bron took two wins, with the Lawrance Brothers taking the third So far this series the Australians have dominated, but this weekend things could be totally different. With the New Zealand Grand Prix trophies up for grabs the Kiwi riders will be out to win.