With three rounds complete and just one to go, it’s a mad scramble to find the New Zealand Superbike Champion in the premier grade for 2026.
Yes, Whanganui’s Luca Durning and Upper Hutt’s Rogan Chandler are in a frantic battle to decide which of them might be crowned national champion in the premier class in Taupo this coming weekend and, what’s more, for whomever does take the silverware, it will be their first outright win at this level.
Both these BMW riders are first-timers in the superbike class this season and, with almost unbeatable father-and-son duo Tony and Mitch Rees (both Honda) taking a break from the NZSBK series this year to focus instead on racing internationally, it really has left the way clear for Durning and Chandler for put on a splendid show.
Mitch Rees, the New Zealand Superbike Champion in the 2021, 2022-23 and 2025 seasons, is preparing to tackle the legendary Isle Of Man public road races in May and June, but, before that, he will race a couple of rounds of the British Superbike Championships in early May and also the North-west 200 in Northern Ireland that same month.
But, back to the domestic series – this will wrap up with round four in Taupo this coming weekend and Durning and Chandler are locked together on 184 points each, with Durning marginally favoured on the countback rule.
Only six riders have contested every round of the superbike class so far this season and Christchurch’s Alastair Hoogenboezem is third in the standings after round three, 57 points adrift of the BMW pair, so it does seem to be a two-horse race for the No.1 plate this season.
Meanwhile, in the other classes, defending 600 Supersport champion Jake Lewis (212 points) leads the title chase from Bulls rider Ashton Hughes (140) and Auckland’s Haydn Fordyce (132); Christchurch’s Hunter Charlett leads the 300 Supersport class; Taupiri’s Zak Fuller leads Auckland’s Tyler King in the new Sportbike class; Canterbury’s Dennis Charlett holds a solid 51-point Pro Twin championship lead over Orere Point rider Azlan Blackwell, while Masterton pair Spike and Bubba Taylor have stretched their lead in the sidecars class to 190, followed by Tokomaru’s Barry Smith and Vaughan Maine (163).
© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
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