It was something of a reality check for visiting international star Horst Saiger at Manfeild on Sunday.

After his surreal performance at round one of the annual Suzuki Series at Hampton Down just over a week ago – where he scored back-to-back wins on a circuit he had only seen for the first time a few days earlier – there were high expectations that the professional racer would again be too slick for his Formula One/Superbike class rivals at the second round of three at Manfeild at the weekend.

It didn’t quite work out that way for Kawasaki ace Saiger, although he did manage to finish the day with a share of third overall and this was enough for him to extend his series points lead in the process.

The 43-year-old German superbike champion resides with his Swiss wife in the principality of Liechtenstein – a landlocked country which shares borders with Switzerland and Austria – and he has raced at famous circuits all around Europe.

But he struggled all weekend with the Manfeild track surface. Even late on Sunday, he still wasn’t entirely happy with his bike’s set-up.

“I couldn’t work out why my lap times weren’t improving. We probably should have left the same set-up we’d used at Hampton Downs,” he lamented. “We went around in circles trying to get the suspension right for Manfeild but, in the end, the bike was really perfect and it was just me that wasn’t quite right. We wasted a lot of time working on the bike, when really I just needed to get my head around racing on this track.

“I was not enjoying this track. If I was the leading rider, I’d have been happy. But I was only fifth fastest in qualifying.

“It worked out okay in the end. I am leading the series even better than before and I set the weekend’s fastest time at Manfeild in the last race (1 minute 05.887 seconds), so the next time I come here I’ll have no excuses,” he laughed.

Saiger finished an uncharacteristic fifth in the first of two superbike races on Sunday, but came out fighting in race two, with a more aggressive approach to his racing, and he finished that race a close second.

“I am really happy with the Kawasaki ZX10-R and it’s just a pity we didn’t have a fresh tyre on it for the second race. My grip was bad over the last few laps. I was not prepared to take big risks and try to out-brake (the day’s eventual winner) Jaden Hassan (Suzuki GSX-R1000) on the last lap. It was not worth it.

“I knew he was not going to be racing at the final round (at Wanganui on Boxing Day) and so I decided to ride safe and finish behind him. He was riding very well and I congratulate him.”

Saiger has extended his series lead from eight points to 10 over his nearest threat, Taupo’s Scott Moir (Suzuki GSX-R1000), and that takes some of the pressure off him as he looks ahead to racing the final round at the Cemetery Circuit in Wanganui on Boxing Day.

Other class leaders after Manfeild are: Auckland’s Toby Summers (F2/600cc class); Orewa’s Avalon Biddle (F3/sport bikes); Te Awanga’s Eddie Kattenberg (Pre-89 post classic senior bikes); Marton’s Jason Hulme (Pre-89 post classic junior bikes); Tauranga’s Duncan Hart (super moto); Feilding’s John Oliver (Bears/non-Japanese); Hamilton’s Aaron Lovell and Tracey Bryan (sidecars).

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

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