Australian Robert Bugden has picked up where he left off last season.

The Brisbane man took a Suzuki GSX-R1000 to win the New Zealand Superbike Championship title in 2007, 2008, 2009 and again last season and he looks well on target to make it Kiwi title No.5 this year.

The Triple R Suzuki team rider won both the superbike races at the opening round of the 2013 edition of the New Zealand Superbike Championships at Ruapuna, on the outskirts of Christchurch, on Sunday, taking  the NZ GP crown in the process and also positioning himself perfectly for another successful title defence.

He had a fight on his hands with fellow Suzuki aces Craig Shirriffs, of Feilding, Dennis Charlett, of Christchurch, and New Plymouth’s Hayden Fitzgerald to keep him honest – Charlett managing to edge past Bugden early in race two and Shirriffs putting a wheel in front for a short period too – but, in the end, Bugden was just too slick.

“We are very happy with that, but we know we can improve,” said Triple R Suzuki team manager Red Fenton.

“I know we can get faster yet. Robbie rode brilliantly and it’s looking good for next weekend at Levels Raceway (for round two on the outskirts of Timaru).”

Bugden was more than satisfied with his day.

“It was a tough old weekend, but I got through it in the end,” said the 32-year-old. “I have not been able to win the GP title since 2007, so it’s been a long time between drinks for that one. It was certainly nice to get it again today.”

Shirriffs finished the day in runner-up spot, with Charlett third, Fitzgerald fourth, and Hamilton’s Nick Cole (Red Devil Racing Kawasaki) rounding out the top five.

Meanwhile, in the 600cc Supersport class, it was the John Ross and Jaden Hassan show.

Christchurch’s Ross took his Repsol Suzuki GSX-R600 to win the first of two 15-lap 600cc class races, closing in and passing Aucklander Hassan at the start of the final lap.

And that’s how it finished, with Rangiora’s Jake Lewis (Bob McCleary Yamaha), Christchurch’s Daniel Ornsby (Man About Glass Yamaha) and Invercargill’s Jeremy Holmes (Castrol Honda) rounding out the top five.

However, Hassan (Homebuyers Reports Yamaha R6) won the second race, meaning that, although they both ended the day level on championship points, Hassan won the second leg and, significantly, this means he claimed the stand-alone New Zealand GP crown for 2013.

“I’m absolutely stoked to win the GP race,” said a breathless Hassan afterwards.

“I think John (Ross) was a little tired in the second race because he was racing the superbike class as well,” the 18-year-old Westmere rider said.

“I got a bit of a surprise from John when he passed me and I made a couple of mistakes and was unable to get him back.

“In the second race I got a reasonable start and was fourth or fifth into turn one. I had the lead by lap two and just put my head down after that.

“I stretched it out to a seven-second lead over John Ross at one stage but then backed it off a bit at the end.”

Hassan eventually finished the race 5.8 seconds ahead of Ross, with Christchurch’s Alastair Hoogenboezem (Suzuki), Lewis and Holmes filling out the top five.

“I couldn’t be happier with my day. We head to round two at Levels Raceway (just outside Timaru) next weekend. I like Levels, even though I crashed a broke my back there last season,” said Hassan.

Despite last year’s misfortune, Hassan still finished the 2012 championship ranked No.5 in New Zealand, but, on current form, he looks likely to move a few places up the rankings by the time the five-round 2013 series wraps up on the outskirts of Taupo in March.

© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

Results from round one of the 2013 New Zealand Superbike Championships at Ruapuna:

Superbikes race one:

1. Robbie Bugden 25

2. Craig Shirriffs 20

3. Dennis Charlett 16

4. Hayden Fitzgerald 13

5. Nick Cole 11

6. John Ross 10

7. Sloan Frost 9

8. Ryan Hampton 8

Superbikes race two (GP title):

1. Robbie Bugden 25

2. Craig Shirriffs 20

3. Dennis Charlett 16

4. Hayden Fitzgerald 13

5. Nick Cole 11

6. James Smith 10

7. Ryan Hampton 9

8. John Ross 8

9. Aaron Scott 7

10. Warren Hudson 6

11. Dillon Telford 5

12. Sloan Frost 4

Superbikes championships points:

1. Robbie Bugden 50

2. Craig Shirriffs 40

3. Dennis Charlett 32

4. Hayden Fitzgerald 26

5. Nick Cole 22

6. John Ross 18

7= Ryan Hampton and James Smith 17

9. Aaron Scott 13

10. Sloan Frost 9

11. Warren Hudson 6

Supersport 600cc race one:

1. John Ross 25

2. Jaden Hassan 20

3. Jake Lewis 16

4. Dan Ornsby 13

5. Jeremy Holmes 11

6. Avalon Biddle 10

7. Alastair Hoogenboezem 9

8. Rhys Holmes 8

9. Daniel Kempthorne 7

10. James Hoogenboezem 6

11. Dave Manuell 5

12. Seth Devereux 4

13. Connor London 3

14. Chris Gifkins 2

15. Brendan Price 1

Supersport 600cc race two (GP title):

1. Jaden Hassan 25

2. John Ross 20

3. Alastair Hoogenboezem 16

4. Jake Lewis 13

5. Jeremy Holmes 11

6. Adam Chambers 10

7. Cameron Hudson 9

8. Avalon Biddle 8

9. Rhys Holmes 7

10. James Hoogenboezem 6

11. Daniel Kempthorne 5

12. Seth Devereux 4

13. Robbie Stokes 3

14. Shay Williams 2

15. Connor London 1

16. Chris Gifkins

17. Brendan Price

Supersport 600cc championship points:

1= Jaden Hassan and John Ross 45 points

3. Jake Lewis 29

4. Alastair Hoogenboezem 25

5. Jeremy Holmes 22

6. Avalon Biddle 18

7. Rhys Holmes 15

8. Daniel Ornsby 13

9= Daniel Kempthorne and James Hoogenboezem 12

11. Adam Chambers 10

12. Cameron Hudson 9

13. Seth Devereux 8

14. Dave Manuell 5

15. Robbie Stokes 3

16. Chris Gifkins 2

17. Shay Williams 2

18. Brendan Price 1

Superlite championship points:

1. Neil Smith 72.5

2. Richard Newbery 62.5

3. Jason Nairn 48

4. Glen Orwin 34.5

5. Glenn Agate 30

6. Steve Rutherford 24.5

7. Tim Gray 21.5

8. Gavin Veltmeyer 19.5

9. Michael Sullivan 18

10. Nigel Lennox 16.5

NZ Pro Twin championship points:

1. Hamish Murphy 75

2. Nathanael Diprose 58

3. Nick Southerwood 50

4. Jason McMillan 38

5. Dean Bentley 34

6. Greg Page 30

7. James Knowles 25.5

8. Geoffrey Kelly 21.5

9. Nicki Smith 21

10. Phil Denovan 18

11. Dean James 16.5

12. Sarah Elliot 14.5

13. Graham Boyd 1.5

250 Production championship points:

1. Luke Burgess 75

2. Bailie Perriton 60

3. Grant Ramage 41

4. Chris Sutcliffe 38

5. Richard Willetts 36

6. Alex Bowers 33

7. Connor London 27

8. Brent Garven 26

9. Ricky McKay 19

10. Sam Davison 18

11. Sarah Elliot 17

12. Darcy Prendergast 12

13. Lewis Dray 8

14.  Neville Glynn 7

125GP championship points:

1. Troy Guenther 75

2. Scott Kinder 41

3. Scout Fletcher 40

4. Matt Hoogenboezem 36

5. Tyler Lincoln 36

6. Aaron Hassan 35

7. James Jarman 21

8. Kyle Hammond 10

Sidecar championship points:

1. Taylor/ Hartnell 75

2.Goodwin/ Prentice 60

3. Waters/ Gibbs 48

4. Harris/ Grace 34

5. Bryan/ Mickleson 31

6. Wolland /Skilton 30

7. McDonald/ McDonald 30

8. Roberts/ Bilby 24

9. Winter/ Shepherd 15

10. Matthesius/ Monro 15