There are a few questions that we’re hoping to see answered at this weekend’s final round of the New Zealand Superbike Championships at Hampton Downs.

Can Pakuranga’s Daniel Mettam snatch another superbike race win? His stunning final-lap pass on Rees in one of the races at Taupo last weekend certainly hinted that it’s possible.

His first chance of achieving this will come today with the first of three superbike class races of the two-day event and he’ll get two more chances with the other races set down for tomorrow.

Can New Plymouth’s Hayden Fitzgerald overtake Te Kauwhata’s Chris Defori and earn runner-up spot in the 1000cc Superstock class? Despite contesting just one of the three rounds thus far, Fitzgerald is third overall and only 2.5 points adrift of Defiori.

Can Upper Hutt’s Rogan Chandler continue his winning momentum and force his way onto the championship podium in the Lightweight Production class? Despite contesting just two rounds thus far, he is fourth overall and only five points adrift of Christchurch’s Brendan Booth.

In the coming weeks we’ll know if Wainuiomata’s Shane Richardson, the 600cc supersport class leader at the start of this weekend’s racing at Hampton Downs, can impress at the (200-mile) Daytona 200 race, in the United States.

Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until next season to discover if 48-year-old Christchurch legend Dennis Charlett will push on and win the New Zealand formula three class title? If he does, he will have completed a grand sweep of Kiwi title wins, adding that title to the Pro Twins crown he collected last weekend and his Superbike, 600cc supersport, 125GP and Lightweight Production title wins from previous seasons.

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

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STANDINGS AFTER 3 of 4 ROUNDS:

Superbikes: 1. Tony Rees (Whakatane, Honda) 191.5 points; 2. Sloan Frost (Wellington, Suzuki) 149; 3. Alastair Hoogenboezem (Christchurch, Honda) 140.

1000cc Superstock: 1. Jeremy Holmes (Invercargill, Honda) 190.5; 2. Chris Defiori (Te Kauwhata, Kawasaki) 76; 3. Hayden Fitzgerald (New Plymouth, Yamaha) 73.5.

600 Supersport: 1. Shane Richardson (Wainuiomata, Kawasaki) 202.5; 2. Damon Rees (Whakatane, Honda) 182; 3. Jake Lewis (Rangiora, Triumph) 134.

Superlites: 1. Leigh Tidman (Taumarunui, Yamaha) 188; 2. Gavin Veltmeyer (Auckland, Suzuki) 147; 3. Nathan Jane (Whangaparoa, Yamaha) 134.

Lightweight: 1. Andy McLaughlin (Christchurch, KTM) 188; 2. Sam Goulter (Ashburton, Yamaha) 141.5; 3. Brendan Booth (Christchurch, KTM) 112.

250 Production: 1. Campbell Grayling (Opunake, Kawasaki) 185.5; 2. Rob Gibson (Tauranga, Kawasaki) 152.5; 3. James Squire (Timaru, Kawasaki) 150.

Pro Twins: 1. Dennis Charlett (Christchurch, Suzuki) 228; 2. Josh Augustine (Auckland, Suzuki) 144; 3. Jordan Burley (Hamilton, Suzuki) 133.

125GP: 1. Matthew Hoogenboezem (Christchurch, Honda) 212; 2. Chris Wallinger (Christchurch, Honda) 157; 3. Matthew Reichenbach (Auckland, Honda) 109.

Development class (Senior): 1. Paul Skinner (Ashburton, Kawasaki) 156; 2. Phillip Lowe (Hastings, Suzuki) 153; 3. Vanessa Woodley-Gill (Christchurch, Suzuki) 119.

Development class (Junior): 1. Jacob Pierce 133; 2. Jack Condon 118; 3, Ben Wilson 98.

Sidecars: 1. Spike Taylor (Masterton) and Robbie Shorter (Tauranga) 213; 2. Barry Smith and Tracey Bryan (Tauranga) 175; 3. Peter Goodwin and Kendal Dunlop (Albany) 164.