able to learn from the masters. Several of New
Zealand’s most successful riders have said they’d
be keen to guide and coach the young ones.”
The GIXXER Cup will have a prize pool of more
than $7000 and will again form an integral part
of the popular three-round Suzuki Series, while
that competition undergoes a branding change
this year – it will now be known as the Suzuki
International Series, in reflection of the worldwide
status it enjoys and the respect that it is shown by
so many renowned overseas racers who visit New
Zealand to take part in it each year.
The 2019 Suzuki International Series is set to
kick off at Taupo’s Bruce McLaren Motorsport
Park on December 7-8 with round two to follow
a week later at Circuit Chris Amon, Manfeild, on
December 14-15, and the traditional final round
is the world-famous public street race event on
Whanganui’s Cemetery Circuit on Boxing Day
(December 26).
While the sport’s purists will perhaps still focus on
what’s happening in categories such as the 1000cc
superbike or 600cc Formula two bike classes, for
example, there is no denying that some of the
closest and most exciting racing witnessed in the
Suzuki Series (International Series) last season
was in the GIXXER Cup.
TRIUMPH ROCKET III TFC SELLS OUT
A
t our first glance of the all-new Triumph
Rocket III TFC, we knew that the British firm
wouldn’t have any trouble finding homes
for the 750 examples of the bike set to be made.
That’s exactly what happened, with Triumph
Motorcycles confirming that all 750 examples of
the limited edition Rocket III TFC (Triumph Factory
Custom) have sold out.
The new Rocket reworks the original Hinkley
Rocket III with an even larger engine – now a
whopping 2458cc! – and a much more modern
aesthetic.
Triumph Motorcycles New Zealand General
Manager, Leigh Beckhaus, confirmed to Kiwi
Rider that the bikes set aside for the New Zealand
market all sold out.
“The NZ allocation is sold out, but the bikes won’t
be in the market until early next year,” she said.
The exact number of bikes heading our way
is still yet to be released, but with the Triumph
18 KIWI RIDER
factory allocation selling out it’s likely we’ll get
the chance to see one of these stunning power
cruisers in person.
Triumph’s other TFC model, the equally limited
edition Thruxton TFC has already arrived in
country with bikes making their debut at Triumph
dealerships this month.
The Thruxton TFC further adds to the
performance credentials of the Triumph Thruxton
with a bump in power to the tune of 10hp over
the Thruxton R.