Media information from The Expo Group Ltd
Re: 2012 CRC Speedshow
21-22 July 2012
ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane, Auckland
Media statement
8 May 2012
A-Ward’s World Record Suzuki heads to CRC Speedshow
It’s bright red, super sleek and a genuine world record holder – and it’s heading to this year’s CRC Speedshow.
The A-Ward Attachments Suzuki Hayabusa, ridden by Richard Assen, set the Federation Internationale De Motocyclisme (FIM)
world record for an open class motorcycle with a speed of 420.429 km/h or 261.243 mph on the famed Bonneville Salt Flats
last September.
Now, Assen and the A-Ward Racing Team have confirmed they’ll be at CRC Speedshow when the doors open to the annual
automotive and motorsport expo at the ASB Showgrounds on 21 July.
The striking red 1300cc Suzuki will take pride of place on the Auckland Performance Tuning stand where the team’s chief
engineer Jason Swan, team manager Simon Ward from A-Ward Attachments and Assen will happily talk about last year’s
exciting word record success.
Assen says the A-Ward Racing Team has travelled from New Zealand to the speed racing event at Bonneville every year
since 2007.
“There are only two special events every year that the FIM world records team attend to certify world records – and this
is one of them,” says Assen, who currently hold another four international records with the A-Ward Suzuki.
“Breaking this record has always been the goal for Simon and he instilled this drive into the rest of the A-Ward Racing
Team. It has taken five years to get there but we finally did it – to achieve the speed of 261.24 mph, even with a
strong headwind, meant we smashed the previous 253 mph record!”
Assen adds: “Behind every vehicle there are so many dreams, skinned knuckles, empty wallets, good mates and hard unpaid
labour – that is what defines this sport. Behind the bike is a great team and it is the team effort that makes it
happen.”
The A-Ward Attachments Suzuki Hayabusa joins an incredible line-up of fast, cool and exciting cars and motorcycles at
this year’s CRC Speedshow which runs over the weekend of 21 and 22 July.
“We love world record holders at CRC Speedshow,” enthuses Keith Sharp, the show’s promoter. “Richard Assen, who owns the
Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R, essentially took the fastest production motorcycle money can buy and with help from Jason
Swan, Simon Ward and their small team, turned it into one of the most powerful land speed racers in the world. Their
dedication to being the best is truly inspiring and we’re really looking forward to seeing their world record bike and
team at CRC Speedshow in June.”
CRC Speedshow also features Jetblack, the New Zealand-led challenge for the world land speed record with their 13-metre
long concept car, the New Zealand Hot Rod Association 50th anniversary national hot rod show and a huge line-up of new
cars and motorbikes from Mazda, Nissan, Ducati, Suzuki, Ford, Chrysler, Husqvarna, Jeep and Harley-Davidson. News and
information about CRC Speedshow is updated on the website, www.speedshow.co.nz, on a regular basis or follow the show on Facebook and Twitter.
ENDS