Just because we can … and that’s all the justification we really need, to be honest, we have chosen to drag out these old pictures from the BikesportNZ.com archives.
We hope we don’t upset anyone or ruffle any feathers, because that’s certainly not our intention, but we decided now was as good a time as any – as the New Zealand Superbike Championships are in full swing – to dust off the archive folders and share with our followers a few classic snaps from our vast photo storage locker.
Some of these individuals are no longer with us and perhaps this can also be a tribute to them, a way to remember them and thank them for the powerful contributions they made to the sport we all love.
The motorcycling community is, when all is said and done, a big (and mostly happy) family and we’re all brothers (and sisters) in arms.
Whakatane’s Mitch Rees, pictured at Pukekohe Park motor racing circuit in 2008, with injuries sustained while racing motocross. He went on to become the national superbike champion in 2021 and he is also leading the current 2022-23 New Zealand Superbike Championships at the series’ halfway stage. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
We can all reminisce and recall some of the individuals pictured here and be thankful that we were able to share a few moments with them over the years.
Many of these people are still kicking around in the sport, maybe aged a few years since these photos were taken, lost some hair, grown a little taller (or rounder) or, in perhaps a couple of cases here, have developed from novice and fledgling riders into championship contenders today … but, sadly, a few of them have also moved on to other things, simply retired or even passed away.
Rangiora’s Avalon Biddle, at Levels International Motor Raceway near Timaru in 2007. Just 12 years later, in 2019, she became the first female to win the New Zealand 600cc Supersport Championship title. It’s interesting to note that Biddle won the Women’s European Cup back-to-back in 2015 and 2016 and she also won the national Superlites title in 2015. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
We do imagine one or two of these people will likely be at Teretonga Park Raceway this weekend, participating in some way or another at round four of the 2022-23 New Zealand Superbike Championships.
Anyway, hats of to all those pictured here. The great memories you have contributed to will live on forever in our hearts.
MAIN PHOTO ABOVE: Canterbury’s Cam Jones, with a couple of his friends and rivals, sitting on the pit wall at the Pukekohe Park motor racing circuit in 2009.
Jones (right) was national 125GP class champion in 2008. He was aged just 15 when he won that title, becoming New Zealand’s youngest ever road-race champion.
Sadly, four years later, when aged just 19, Jones crashed while racing in the 600cc class at the nationals round at Levels International Motor Raceway near Timaru in January 2012. In a coma and in hospital, he passed away 26 days later.
Sitting with him in this 2009 photo are fellow Christchurch riders Alastair Hoogenboezem (left) and Eric Maxwell (centre). Hoogenboezem was a 125GP rival of Jones and Maxwell in 2008 and he progressed on to become national superbike champion, 12 years later, in 2020. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
© Words and photos by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ
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Christchurch’s Hunter Charlett, pictured here having fun in the pits at Ruapuna in 2012. He is currently the leader in the Supersport 150 class in the 2022-23 New Zealand Superbike Championships and will be on the race track again this weekend, battling to defend his position at Teretonga Park Raceway. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
Pukekohe’s Sam Smith, pictured in 2006. A year later, in 2007, and as a just-turned 19-year-old, he became New Zealand 600cc Sports Production Champion. He was also named Motorcycling New Zealand’s “Most Promising Newcomer (on-road)” that same year. He couldn’t defend that title and was forced to spend much of 2008 on the sideline with injury, although he did return to the podium again soon after, finishing third in the 600cc class at the nationals in 2009. Sadly, Smith passed away in 2019. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
Westmere’s Jaden Hassan, pictured here in 2008. He went on to become New Zealand Superbike Champion in 2015. Sadly, he has been unable to compete at the nationals this year after sustaining an injury at a pre-season race meeting. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
New Plymouth’s Terry Fitzgerald, see here in 2009. A multi-time national road-racing champion, a NZ TT and NZ GP title winner and a hero on the streets of Paeroa and the Cemetery Circuit too, Fitzgerald passed away in 2015 after a long battle with cancer, aged 56 years. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
