KIWI RIDER 07 2019 VOL.1 | Page 21

Y YAMAHA TENERE 700 TO TOUR NZ amaha Motor NZ has announced that the highly-anticipated Tenere 700 will tour key New Zealand locations ahead of the model’s official launch later this year. The bike will be touring the country in mid- August, starting in Auckland with an event at Blush Studios in Freemans Bay on the 16th before heading to Wellington’s QT Museum Hotel on the 18th. The tour concludes in Christchurch on Wednesday August 21 at Passengers & Co. While it is free to attend these events, numbers for each are strictly limited and Yamaha encourages those keen to be one of the first riders in the country to check out the Tenere 700 in person to register at the yamaha-motor.co.nz website to ensure they aren’t turned away. The Tenere 700 is based around the CP2 parallel twin engine which debuted with the MT-07. With a bespoke chassis and tuned specifically for adventure riding, the Tenere 700 is priced in New Zealand at a sharp $16,999 plus on roads with the bikes expected to arrive in dealers before Christmas. GIXXER CUP CHAMP EYES ASBK POINTS F ormer Gixxer Cup Champion, Tom Newton, is making the jump to the Australian Superbike Paddock for the final four rounds of the ASBK season in the Supersport 300 class. Backed by Kiwi team Bike Sport Promotions (Team BSP), Newton is looking forward to pitching his skills against the Australian competition. “Competing in the 300 class is going to be a new challenge for me but with Team BSP behind me I’m confident that we can put together a good package for the remainder of the 2019 season,” he said. Newton will be joining up with Kawasaki BCperformance with a race-prepped Ninja 400 at his disposal. “We are looking forward to having Tom on a BCperformance prepared Kawasaki Ninja 400, says team principal Kelvin Reilly. It will be interesting to see how he goes and what he can achieve.” Team BSP General Manager Robbert Adriaansen, who’s focus is moving talented and skilled riders into competitions around the APAC region is pleased with Newton’s progress into the Aussie championship. “I’m very happy to see Tom taking on the remaining rounds of the Australian Superbike Championship, he said. “All of us at BSP are looking forward to seeing Tom perform in those rounds. I would especially like to thank Kelvin Reilly from BCperformance for making the bike available.” Newton’s first race in the Australian Superbike Championship will take place at Queensland’s Morgan Park Raceway, which is the first meeting back following the winter break and tests. KIWI RIDER 21