OMINOUS WORDS | Bikesportnz

Australian superbike star Robbie Bugden had some ominous words for his opposition after qualifying on pole for today’s New Zealand Motorcycle Grand Prix in Christchurch.

“It’s good to be on pole but I think we can make some improvements to the bike and go faster,” Bugden, the reigning New Zealand Superbike champion, said. “I’d like it to steer a little bit better.

“But considering I hadn’t ridden the bike until Thursday, it’s going well.”

Suzuki riders took the first five places, with Feilding’s Craig Shirriffs second fastest ahead of Taranaki’s Hayden Fitzgerald and local riders Dennis Charlett and John Ross.

Ross also qualified his other Suzuki fastest in 600cc Supersport, just ahead of Aucklander Jaden Hassan on a Yamaha.

It was a great day for Australian riders as teenagers Troy Guenther and Luke Burgess won races in 125GP and 250cc Production respectively.

Other championship races today were won by: Superlite, Neil Smith (Blenheim, Yamaha); Pro Twins, Hamish Murphy (Wellington, Suzuki); Sidecars, Spike Taylor (Masterton)/Astrid Hartnell (Wanganui).

Each class has two races today with the final race in each class counting as the Grand Prix for that category.

NZ Motorcycle Grand Prix meeting, Ruapuna, Christchurch, day one:

Superbikes qualifying: Robbie Bugden (Australia) Suzuki 1; Craig Shiriffs (Feilding) Suzuki 2; Hayden Fitzgerald (New Plymouth) Suzuki) 3; Dennis Charlett (Christchurch) Suzuki 4; John Ross (Christchurch) Suzuki 5; James Smith (Christchurch) Honda 6.

600cc Supersport qualifying: John Ross (Christchurch) Suzuki 1; Jaden Hassan (Auckland) Yamaha 2; Alastair Hoogenboezem (Christchurch) Suzuki 3; Daniel Ormsby (Christchurch) Yamaha 4; Cameron Hudson (Christchurch) Yamaha 5.

Superlite race: Neil Smith (Blenheim) Yamaha 450, 1; Richard Newbery (Balclutha) Kawasaki 450, 2; Gavin Veltmeyer (Auckland) Suzuki SV650, 3.

Pro Twins race: Hamish Murphy (Wellington Suzuki SV650, 1; Nathanael Diprose (Auckland) Suzuki SV650, 2; Nick Southerwood (Auckland) Suzuki SV650, 3.

125 GP race: Troy Guenther (Australia) Honda 1; Scout Fletcher (Christchurch) Honda 2; Scott Kinder (Geraldine) Honda 3.

250 Production race: Luke Burgess (Australia) 1; Bailie Perriton (Ashburton) 2; Chris Sutcliffe (Timaru) 3. All rode Kawasaki Ninjas.

Sidecars race: Spike Taylor (Masterton)/Astrid Hartnell (Wanganui) LCR 1000, 1; Peter Goodwin/Darren Prentice (Bay of Islands) Windle 1000, 2; Grant Waters (Timaru)/Matthew Gibbs (Christchurch) Windle 1000, 3.

Words by Bernard Carpinter

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