This year’s New Zealand Superbike Championships are just two-fifths of the way along and already it has been jam packed with thrills and spills.

Fortunately for Rangiora’s Jake Lewis, he has kept his cool among the carnage and that’s made all the difference, the Yamaha ace second-equal overall in the tight 600 Supersport class after two of five rounds.

Round three is set for Teretonga, on the outskirts of Invercargill, this weekend and it is here that Lewis hopes to continue his thrust towards winning a third consecutive national crown.

The 17-year-old Lewis won New Zealand 125GP title in 2011, then collected the 600 superstock crown last season, and he’s keen to make it three national titles in successive seasons with another outright victory in 2013.

“I was third overall and 16 points down on the series leaders (Christchurch’s John Ross and Auckland’s Jaden Hassan) heading into last weekend’s round at Timaru,” said Lewis.

“But the Jaden crashed in qualifying on Saturday and that put him out. It gave me a chance to make up some ground in the points and I just had to make the most of that opportunity.

“It rained for race one at Timaru. That was tough and I finished fifth but, most importantly, I came in ahead of John Ross in that one, so that was a positive result for me.”

Lewis and his Stadium Finance Bob McCleary-sponsored Yamaha R6 managed second in the next outing, narrowly avoiding a last-lap collision between two other riders and finishing just behind fellow Yamaha ace Rhys Holmes, of Katikati.

Significantly, Lewis was again ahead of series leader Ross, shaving his rival’s championship advantage down to just five points.

“I’ve had a bit of good luck, being able to avoid most of the carnage on the track, but I have also been very consistent and always been inside the top five (finishing third and fourth in the two 600cc races at Christchurch’s round one).

“All I have to do is keep it up among the top five and continue to score good points. I love Teretonga … it is very fast and flowing, a lot like the European tracks I raced on last year. My experience from racing overseas should help me.

“But you never know with Invercargill. It can be four seasons in one day down there. John Ross is fast on that track and won at Teretonga last year but you just never know.”

Practice and qualifying is set for Saturday with racing on Sunday, starting at about 10am.

The series takes a short break after this weekend’s action at Teretonga, resuming at Hampton Downs, near Meremere, on March 16-17. It wraps up with round five at Taupo Motorsport Park on March 23-24.

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