Devereux Has Big Plans For 2013

Devereux Has Big Plans For 2013

Andy McGechan

DECEMBER 18, 2012: Christchurch’s Seth Devereux has big plans for 2013 after making a huge jump in the horsepower stakes.

Devereux hopes he will again make his rivals green with envy this season, even though his distinctive green Kawasaki ZX6R bike is a big step up from the 2009-model Kawasaki Ninja 250 he raced to national glory in the New Zealand Superbike Championships in 2011 and then to runner-up spot in 2012.

It’s also a huge step up from the KRZ125 he rode to win the 125GP title last season.

“It was very hard trying to race two classes last season. Jumping from a 125 to a 250, and then back again, is very difficult because the bikes behave so differently on the track,” he explained.

“I came up just four points short of taking the Prolites 250 title again last season but I feel that was still pretty impressive, especially considering I did not finish two races because I crashed. I think you’ve got to crash now and again, otherwise you’re really just not trying hard enough,” he laughed.

He was shaded for the Prolites 250 title last season by fellow Kawasaki rider Sam Croft, of Paraparaumu.

For the upcoming 2013 nationals, Devereux will just be concentrating on the 600cc supersport class – the five-round series set to kick off near his Christchurch base, at Ruapuna Raceway, on January 5-6.

The 21-year-old bike mechanic knows it is probably “mission impossible” to expect to clinch the 600cc title at his first attempt in 2013, but there’s certainly no harm in thinking positively.

There’s no reason why the 2012 125GP champion could not finish among the top six.

“I’ve been making good progress. It is a big step-up from a 45-horsepower 125cc bike to race a 600cc bike that pumps out about 120 horsepower, but I’m getting to grips with it.”

His build-up in the pre-season has been solid, finishing 10th and fourth in his two Formula Two class races at round two of the Tri Series at Manfeild on Sunday.

That puts him eighth overall in the Tri Series, with just racing on Wanganui’s famous Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day to wrap it up.

“I’ve actually been blown away by how well I’m going after such a short time on the ZX6R. My aim is to finish among the top five at the nationals, but to get on the podium at any of the rounds would be phenomenal.”

For the season after that, who knows? Winning another national motorcycling title is certainly among his long-term plans.

Devereux is supported by Spectro Oils, Kawasaki New Zealand, Dwayne’s Service Centre, ICS Farm Machinery, Timaru Metal Recyclers, Man About Glass, Dynoworks, Leading Sign Design, RST, AGV, Falco, Supersprox, Tsubaki, EBC, Bullit Identity, Kustom Fitness, Red Devil Racing, West Auckland Massage, Race Supplies, Kiwi Suspension Services, BikesportNZ.com and Pirelli tyres.

2013 NZ Superbike Championships:

Round 1, January 5 & 6, 2013, Christchurch

Round 2, January 12 & 13, 2013, Timaru

Round 3, January 19 & 20, 2013, Invercargill

Round 4, March 16 & 17, 2013, Hampton Downs

Round 5, March 23 & 24, 2013, Taupo
ends

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