A man with no prior knowledge of superbike racing in New Zealand defied the odds to wrap up the country’s biggest season-opening pre-nationals competition at the third and final round in Wanganui on Boxing Day.

Racing on the notorious Cemetery Circuit, around the public streets of Wanganui, was the third new track he had tackled during his Kiwi racing debut, but, once again Liechtenstein resident Horst Saiger proved himself a fast learner.

Although he didn’t win the day at Wanganui’s final round of the Suzuki Series — that honour instead going to vastly-experienced former New Zealand superbike champion Tony Rees (Honda CBR1000RR), of Whakatane, also a multi-time previous winner at Wanganui — the Kawasaki-mounted Saiger still did enough to clinch the formula one class overall.

Saiger took his Red Devil racing Kawasaki ZX10-R to finish third in the first of two Formula One/Superbike races on Boxing Day and backed that up with a solid fifth in the next race, enough for him to win the series outright, finishing the competition three points clear of Taupo’s Scott Moir (Promoto Suzuki GSX-R1000).

Saiger also finished fifth in the Robert Holden Feature Race.

Saiger had stunned the Kiwi superbike fraternity when he scored back-to-back wins at the series opener at Hampton Downs at the start of December and then maintained his advantage with 5-2 results at round two at Manfeild, near Palmerston North, a fortnight ago.

He arrived at Wanganui with a healthy 10-point lead over Moir and, with no prior knowledge of the unique public streets circuit, he wisely decided that a cautious approach was in order.

But the likeable 43-year-old still managed to put on a show for the post-Christmas crowd.

“It was great to come here and win this series … but I was always counting up the points in my head during the races. It was hard to pass the riders, especially with me not knowing the circuit,” said Saiger.

“I pushed hard to win the final race but felt I was riding over the edge. Everything was getting a bit out of control.”

Despite this, Saiger set the fastest time of the day.

“I’d love to come back and race in New Zealand again if everything can be worked out. I really enjoyed it. I was made most welcome.”

It is interesting to note that Saiger captured the series win on exactly the same Kawasaki ZX10-R motorcycle that Hamilton’s Nick Cole had used to win the series last season.

Other class winners for the series this season were:

Manukau’s Toby Summers (F2 600cc class); Taumarunui’s Leigh Tidman (F3 Sport bikes); Feilding’s John Oliver (Bears – non-Japanese bikes); Tauranga’s Duncan Hart (Super Moto); Marton’s Jason Hulme (Junior Pre 89 Post Classics); Te Awanga’s Eddie Kattenberg (Senior Pre 89 Post Classics); Waikato’s Aaron Lovell and Tracey Bryan (F1 sidecars).

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

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