A trio of intrepid Kiwi bike racers are under no illusion that they will be sternly tested when they tackle the Supersport 300 class across the Tasman Sea this weekend.
But that has only served to spur on Silverdale’s Tyler King (aged 18), Lower Hutt’s Nixon Frost (14) and Whangarei’s Alvin Wu (15), who this week touched down in Australia with plans to contest a two-in-one event, the combined opening round of the Australian Superbike Championships (ASBK) and round one World Superbike Championships (WSBK) at Phillip Island, near Melbourne, set for this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
These rising young Kiwi stars have had a fantastic build-up for their fresh international adventure by impressing at national championship level in New Zealand over the past two weekends and they each arrive in Australia in a confident mood.
King is currently running 6th in the Supersport 600 class, is 5th in the Supersport 300 class and he is also running second in the Superlites class after two of four rounds in the annual New Zealand Superbike Championships after racing at Levels International Raceway, near Timaru, last weekend.
Lower Hutt’s Nixon Frost (No.99) and Silverdale’s Tyler King (No.128), hoping to make an impact in Australia this weekend. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
Another multi-class “ironman”, Frost is ranked 8th in the Supersport 300 class and he is also provisionally leading the Supersport 150 class after two rounds in New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Wu, also challenging in two separate categories in New Zealand, is positioned 19th in the Supersport 300 class and 5th in the Supersport 150 class.
It will naturally be a huge step up for King, Frost and Wu this weekend, with more than 40 riders entered in the Supersport 300 class in Australia.
King will battle under the Wet4U (fibreglass race fairings manufacturer) team banner, Frost is riding for the ESG (Evolution Sports Group) team and Wu is supported by the Addicted To Track race team.
All three New Zealand riders already have international experience, with King have previously raced in Britain and Spain, while Nixon and Wu have both raced with success in Australia in the past.
© Words and photos by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
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Whangarei’s Alvin Wu (No.83), ready to give it his best across the Tasman Sea this weekend. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com