GP TITLE IN THE BAG | Bikesportnz

Auckland’s Jaden Hassan is determined to make this a truly golden summer.

Fresh from winning the big Suzuki Tri Series, which wrapped up on the public streets of Wanganui on Boxing Day, the 18-year-old is now positioning himself perfectly to go on and win the 600cc Supersport crown at this season’s New Zealand Superbike Championships.

He took his Homebuyers Reports Yamaha R6 to finish second and first in his two outings at the first round of five in the series at Ruapuna Park Raceway, on the outskirts of Christchurch, on Sunday, stealing away with the stand-alone New Zealand Grand Prix trophy in the process.

But Hassan did not have it all his own way and had to share the spotlight with Christchurch rider John Ross.

Ross (Repsol Suzuki GSX-R600) won 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 R6), Christchurch’s Daniel Ornsby (Man About Glass Yamaha R6) and Invercargill’s Jeremy Holmes (Castrol Honda CBR600RR) rounding out the top five.

However, Hassan won the second race, meaning that, although they both ended the day level on championship points, Hassan won the second leg and, significantly, claimed the NZ 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 Westmere teenager 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 GSX-R600), Lewis and Holmes filling out the top five.

Also impressive on the day was Auckland’s Avalon Biddle (Repsol Suzuki) and Katikati’s Rhys Holmes (John Tuhoe Yamaha).

But the day belonged to Hassan and Ross.

“I couldn’t be happier with my day,” said Hassan.

“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.”

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.

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