Summers the Plumber Makes a Splash on a Dry Day

Summers the Plumber Makes a Splash on a Dry Day

DECEMBER 9, 2014: Auckland plumber Toby Summers loves making a splash and even managed to do so on a scorching hot weekend at Hampton Downs.

And, although a bit of bad luck meant he “leaked” a few too many points at the opening round of the Suzuki Series at Hampton Downs on Sunday, the Yamaha rider reckons he could be on target to win the Formula Two (600cc) class crown for a second time.

With 1-10 results in his two races on Sunday, he didn’t think he’d have too much to celebrate ... until he saw how the points stacked up at the end of the day and he realised he actually owned a share of the lead.

The 41-year-old convincingly won the F2 crown last season, the first time the Manukau man had won a major trophy in the 600cc class, but coming in just his second season of contesting the class.

Now he’s into his third year racing the Yamaha R6 and he’s no longer considered a rookie, but perhaps regarded more as the series favourite.

As the 2014 edition of the series heads to round two at Manfeild this coming weekend, Summers is locked in a three-way tie for the lead.

Summers has 36 points to his credit, putting him alongside Wainuiomata’s Shane Richardson and Katikati’s Rhys Holmes, at the top of the standings. Richardson finished 2-7 on Sunday and Holmes registered a 4-4 score-card.

“How I finished up at the end of the day with a share of the points lead I don’t know,” said defending champion Summers.

“I had a huge battle with Christchurch’s Alistair Hoogenboezem and figured, seeing as he’s not doing the whole series, I could just let him go and not risk anything. Next thing I know, I come over a brow of a hill and I see Al Hoogie and another rider off the track and in the gravel. Hoogie lost the race; I didn’t win it.

“In the second race I had a perfect start and settled for second behind Al Hoogie but was then told I was being penalised 20 seconds for apparently jumping the start. That put me back to 10th position. I disputed that decision but it didn’t change anything.

“So, to come out of what became a bad day with a share of the lead is quite remarkable really.”

The series continues at Manfeild this coming Sunday, with the third and final round of the series set for the public streets of Wanganui, the famous Cemetery Circuit, on Boxing Day.

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