The racing was incredibly fierce at the opening round of the Pro Moto Tri-Series at Manfeild on Saturday.

Round two is on the streets of Wanganui on Boxing Day, followed by the third and final round just two days later, at Taupo, on December 28.

Wellington’s Glen Skachill (Suzuki) showed a clean pair of heels to his rivals in the 600 “Supers” class, racing to an impressive hat-trick of wins.

Tauranga’s Sam Love (Yamaha), last season’s national champion in the Pro Twins class, is wasting no time getting prepared for a tilt at the 600 sports production class in 2010. He finished fourth overall in the class on Saturday.

Hamilton’s Sloan Frost (Suzuki) was sporting a new paint job  on his bike at Manfeild on Saturday. He finished fourth overall in the superbike class at the weekend, behind Craig Shirriffs, Hayden Fitzgerald and Ray Clee.

Auckland’s Steven Croad (Honda) showed he’s just as skilled on the tarseal as the dirt. Croad, a former ironman winner at the Hawke’s Bay Six-Hour Dirt Bike Challenge, finished 11th overall in the highly-competitive Super Motard class at Manfeild on Saturday.

Wellington’s Mark Bennett (Yamaha) impressed with a solid performance in the 600 “Supers” class.

Manawatu’s Glen Williams (Suzuki) and Taranaki’s Terry Fitzgerald (Suzuki) put on a devastating show of dominance in the F3 class on Saturday. The pair shared wins to finish 1-2 for the day.

Leading overall standings after round one of the Suzuki International Tri-Series:

F1 Superbikes:

1. Craig Shirriffs (Feilding, Honda CBR1000RR);

2. Hayden Fitzgerald (New Plymouth, Honda CBR1000RR);

3. Ray Clee (Auckland, Suzuki GSXR1000);

4. Sloan Frost (Hamilton, Suzuki GSXR1000);

5. Glen Skachill (Wellington, Suzuki GSXR600);

6. Joel Reed (Australia, Aprilia RSV4).

600 Supers:

1. Glen Skachill (Wellington, Suzuki GSXR600);

2. John Ross (Christchurch, Yamaha R6);

3. Midge Smart (Inglewood, Suzuki GSXR600);

4. Sam Love (Tauranga, Yamaha R6);

5. Karl Morgan (Auckland, Suzuki GSXR600);

6. Jared Love (Hamilton, Honda CBR600RR).

Supermoto:

1. Scott Moir (Taupo, Aprilia SXV550);

2. Toby Summers (Auckland, Aprilia SXV550);

3. Davide Gozzini (Italy, TM SMX450F);

4. Ivan Lazzarini (Italy, Honda CRF450);

5. Gavin Vettmeyer (Auckland, KTM 610SMR);

6. Scott Birch (Rotorua, KTM 505SXF).

F1 Sidecars:

1. Chris Lawrance/Richard Lawrance (Auckland, Yamaha R1);

2. Adam Unsworth/Stu Dawe (Wanganui, Windle Honda 1000);

3. Stu Prentis/Chris Meads (Taranaki, Suzuki GSXR1000);

4. Peter Goodwin/Gavin Manstallion (LCR Suzuki GSXR1000);

5. Des James/Darren Prentis (Suzuki Blaymires GSXR1000);

6. Darryl Dowman/Ben Dowman (Wanganui, Yamaha R1 DML Special).

Formula 3:

1. Terry Fitzgerald (New Plymouth, Suzuki SV650);

2. Glen Williams (Palmerston North, Suzuki SV650;

3. Ashley Payne (Wanganui, Suzuki SV650);

4. Scott Moir (Taupo, Honda RS450);

5. Trevor Delany (Wellington, Suzuki SV650);

6. Paul Buckley (Taupo, Suzuki SV650).

BEARS:

1. Peter Tanner (Palmerston North, Aprilia RSVR1000);

1. Joel Reed (Australia, Aprilia RSV4);

3. Jason Easton (Palmerston North, Tigcraft Aprilia 550);

4. Dwayne Bishop (Wanganui, Aprilia RSV1000);

5. Scott Healey (Auckland, Triumph Daytona 675);

6. Kevin Waugh (Wellington, Triumph Daytona 675).

Post Classics:

1. Stephen Mossman (Yamaha FZR1000);

2. Paul Wooton (Waikane, Suzuki GSXR1100);

3. Sean Donnelly (Paraparaumu, Kawasaki GPZ1100);

4. Murray Cross (Fielding, Yamaha FZR1000);

5. Michael Webster (Wellington, Kawasaki ZXR750);

6. Ernie Cudby (Lower Hutt, Yamaha FZR460).

Words and photos by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com