SUZUKI GSX-R1000 DOMINATES NEW ZEALAND SUPERBIKES
Scott Moir – GSX-R1000 – 1-1-1 – 1st overall
Sloan Frost – GSX-R1000 – 2-2-2 – 2nd overall
Suzuki riders Scott Moir and Sloan Frost dominated the New Zealand Superbike Championship second round at the weekend.
Racing virtually identical Suzuki GSX-R1000 bikes at Timaru’s Levels International Raceway, Moir and Frost finished first and second respectively in each of the three Superbike races.
Damon Rees had dominated the 1000cc Superbike class at the opening round of the series at Ruapuna, on the outskirts of Christchurch, a week ago, but at Timaru, it was Moir all the way and it was enough for Moir to rise from fifth in the standings to snatch the top spot.
Rees crashed out of the first of three Superbike races at Timaru on Saturday and, after repairing his bike, he did return to the race track on Sunday, but managed only two fourth-place finishes.
The riders now have seven weeks to regroup before for the three North Island rounds that will follow, starting with Hampton Downs, near Huntly, on March 2-3rd.
Alastair Hoogenboezem remains second in the Superbike class standings, 17 points behind Moir, with defending national Superbike Champion Frost improving from eighth in the table after round one to now settle-in at third in the rankings.
Rees has slipped back from first to fourth in the standings and he is just three points behind Frost.
Said Moir: “What can I say? Three wins, I haven’t done that before. Sloan Frost was pushing me all the way though.
“I like this track (at Levels). This is where I had my first Superbike race win about four or five years ago. This track has always been good to me. I was tied for first place in the championship after my first race win here on Saturday, but obviously extended my advantage after that with two more race wins.
“It feels good to be pushing on from the victory in the Suzuki Series in December. I’ll put in a bit more fitness training now before the North Island rounds coming up. Hopefully I can pick up where I left off here today.”
After round three at Hampton Downs, the nationals continue on in Manawatu on March 30-31th, before wrapping up at Taupo on April 5-7th.
2019 NZ Superbike Championships Calendar:
Round 1 – January 5-6, Mike Pero Motorsport Park, Christchurch;
Round 2 – January 12-13, Levels International Raceway, Timaru;
Round 3 – March 2-3, Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, North Waikato, Mike Pero MotoFest;
Round 4 – March 30-31, Circuit Chris Amon, Manfeild;
Round 5 – April 5-7, Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park, Taupo.