Waikato’s Nick Cole can’t wait to get back into the fight as the New Zealand Superbike Championships roar back into action with round four at Hampton Downs this weekend.

If momentum means anything at all then the Kawasaki ace could be expected to feature well in both superbike races on the undulating circuit near Huntly on Sunday.

Cole won the previous round of the series, the third round of five at Teretonga, near Invercargill, in January, blasting his way into title contention with a scintillating display of controlled aggression.

The Kawasaki ace won the day at Teretonga Park, elevating himself from 12th after round one and seventh overall after round two, to now sit comfortably fourth in the series standings.

Cole (Red Devil Racing Kawasaki ZX-10) is just half a point off third-ranked Christchurch rider John Ross and, with Ross now sidelined with injury, Cole is virtually assured of moving up the rankings this weekend.

“We’ve made a few gains in terms of bike set-up during the break,” said the 25-year-old Cole. “I’m really looking forward to this weekend.

“Maybe momentum is on my side, having won the previous round, and I’m sure I’ll be giving the leaders a good run for their moment on Sunday.

“My bike is great and every time I ride it I’m getting quicker and quicker. I’m in a very positive mood.”

Cole is no stranger to winning championships – he rode a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R to clinch the national 600cc supersport title in March 2010.

But it’s an entirely different story to win races on a 1000cc superbike, something that Cole is keen to develop a taste for and something that he has also now proven he is more than capable of doing.

However, he still has a lot of work to do and time is running out with just two rounds – four superbike races – to go to wrap up the season.

Australian Robbie Bugden (Suzuki) is the championship favourite and tipped to continue his push for the 2012 Superbike crown – a title he won previously in 2007, 2008 and 2009 – as he enjoys a 35-point gap over his nearest rival, Wellington’s Sloan Frost (BMW).

But Brisbane rider Bugden is also wary of the threats posed by the other leading Kiwis, men such as Cole, defending national superbike champion Andrew Stroud (Suzuki), of Hamilton, Auckland’s Ray Clee (Suzuki) and his own Triple R Suzuki team-mate, Christchurch’s James Smith.

Just 5.5 points separate the men currently ranked between second and fifth and a massive shake-up looms this weekend.

Nine-time champion Stroud has had a nightmare run so far this season and he is currently fifth in the series standings, although still in strike range of the top should Bugden strike problems and if everything clicks for Stroud on Sunday.

The 600cc class is also expected to yield high excitement with riders such as Christchurch’s Dennis Charlett (Suzuki), Wellington’s Glen Skachill (Suzuki), Christchurch’s Alastair Hoogenboezem (Suzuki) and young Australian Josh McGrath (Yamaha) all pushing hard for a podium spot.

Unfortunately for Christchurch rider John Ross, an injury has forced him out of the title hunt in both the superbike and 600cc classes.

Ross had been running second in the 600 supersport class and third in the superbike class.

Ashburton’s Bryan Hill leads the 650 Pro Twins class; Palmerston North’s Glen Williams heads the Superlites class; Paraparaumu’s Sam Croft rules the Pro Lite 250cc class and young Malaysian Hafiq Azmi is top of the 125GP category.

The fifth and final round of the championship is set for Taupo the following weekend, March 24-25.

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