MOTORSPORT NETWORK LTD
Press Release
For Immediate Release:
Road Race Champs Ready to Go
This weekend, January 13/14 will see the cream of New Zealand’s road racers descend on Ruapuna Park, just outside
Christchurch, for round one of the Castrol New Zealand Superbike Road Race Championships.
This season will be truly international with riders from New Zealand, Australia, the USA and UK competing for the New
Zealand titles.
Reigning Superbike Champion, Australian Robbie Budgen, is returning to defend his title on a Suzuki, but riding this
year for Christchurch based TripleR Racing. He will by no means have it all his own way, with challenges coming from the
likes of Hamilton’s Andrew Stroud and Auckland’s Ray Clee on similar Suzuki’s, the Australian duo of Damien Cudlin and
Gareth Jones on a brace of Yamaha R1s, New Plymouth’s Hayden Fitzgerald on his Honda and Palmerston North’s Derek McAdam
on a Kawasaki. Not forgetting reigning 600 Sports Production Champion, Pukekohe’s Sam Smith, who has moved up to the big
class also on a Yamaha R1 and former 600 Champion Feilding’s Craig Shirriffs, who will this year be concentrating on
Superbikes on his Suzuki.
The 600 Sports Production class also seems set to be a great battle with the return of Dennis Charlett from Australia to
partner Christchurch’s James Smith on Suzukis. Along with the Sadowski Brothers from the USA on Bernard Racing Yamaha
R6s and Midge Smart (UK) on the ex-Sam Smith R6, this field looks set to deliver some exciting racing.
We will also see the return of the Formula Three boys , some up and coming talent in the 125GP class and the NEW 650cc
Pro-Twin class is shaping up to be a real crowd pleaser as all the machines are basically stock and it will be the best
rider who will take out the win.
The boys on three wheels will also be turning heads with the arrival not only of several brand new rigs, but Wanganui’s
Steve Bron will be campaigning the World Championship winning LCR raced this year by Englishman Tim Reeves.
So This Sunday Ruapuna Park will be the Place to Be
Prepared by Motorsport Network Ltd for motorcycling NZ Inc
ENDS