Lewis Best Among the Rising Stars

Lewis Best Among the Rising Stars

OCTOBER 21, 2013: New Zealand has another motorcycling world championship hero in the making.

Rangiora’s Jake Lewis finally realised the dream after wrapping up the European Junior Cup crown with a thrilling ride at the final round at Jerez, in Spain, at the weekend.

Lewis raced a Yamaha R6 to finish third overall in the 600 supersport class at the 2013 New Zealand Superbike Championships, which wrapped up at Taupo in March, and then he immediately packed his bags to head to Europe to race in the European Junior Cup.

The European Junior Cup is the entry-level class to the World Superbike Championships and is open to riders from all around the world aged between 14 and 19.

“I raced in Europe last year too and that was a real eye-opener. These European riders are just so fast. It is such a big jump in the level of competition (compared to racing in New Zealand),” said Lewis.

Now he is the champion, the Kiwi hero finishing ahead of talented young riding stars from Britain, Italy, France, Spain, The Netherlands and all the way across Europe.

First prize for Lewis is a paid-up ride in the Superstock class for next season.

“I can’t believe it. I knew I had to give it my all from the word go and that’s what I did,” said Lewis.

“I’d like to thank everyone that helped me this year, especially my dad as I wouldn’t be here without him.”

Starting from 14th spot on the grid at Jerez at the weekend, Lewis was quickly among the leading bunch and had soon eased his way into the lead.

With eight riders bunched together, trading places everywhere around the track, Lewis controlled the race with a maturity that belied his 18 years as he responded immediately to any challenge made at the front.

The group behind kept up intense pressure, but, in the run in to the flag after a race which had a capacity Spanish crowd on their feet, it was Lewis who was crowned the winner, finishing 0.036s ahead of local hero Augusto Fernandez who claimed second position overall in the championship standings with that runner-up result.

Britain’s Josh Harland claimed third to complete the podium.

Now, with the gruelling eight-round European Junior Cup series tucked away, and with Lewis claiming the top step on the podium, he will return home to race again in the upcoming New Zealand Superbike Championships.

“I would like to say a big thank you to Tony and Amos of Stadium Finance, Stadium Cars, Race Supplies NZ, Budget MC Spares, Charlton Hurrell Drainage, John Palmer, Roger Townshend, Carol Whall, Merv Orford, Geoff Kelly, Dave Milligan, Motorcycling Canterbury and many of you in the MCC Family and Motorcycling New Zealand community for all your support.”

Lewis is actually one of four New Zealand riders who were entered in the Cup this season – the other riders were Wellington’s Sam Croft and Aucklanders Connor London and Blayes Heaven.

Croft finished 19th at Jerez, while London finished 22nd and Heaven was placed 28th of the 30 finishers.

ends

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