Kiwi Rider April 2024 Vol.1 | Page 34

Supersport 300 thirlls ... and spills
600 class winner for this event , although he was left to rue the crashes he ’ d suffered earlier in the series ( at Taupo and Christchurch ) and he had to be content with overall runner-up in this class for 2023-24 . “ It was a very special race to win ,” said the 26-year-old Chandler afterwards , “ It ’ s cool for the Rees family to create this award in memory of Damon [ Rees ].” Rees sadly passed away in the United Kingdom in June last year , aged just 28 , the former national 600cc champion ’ s death due to medical issues unrelated to motorcycling . “ The Damon Rees Memorial trophy was another added part to the TT race , which is always a great race in itself to win . “ I didn ’ t know Damon that well . He was one of those guys a little older than me , but he was a rider to admire and I ’ d feel that , if I could beat someone like him or even just match his lap times , I ’ d be over the moon . He was someone to look up to . I would gauge myself against riders the calibre of Damon Rees . “ My wet track riding has been pretty good this year ... apart from Taupo , obviously ,” he laughed , referencing the spectacular crash he suffered on the drenched track there in December . Motorcycling New Zealand road-race
Luca Durning Alastair Hoogenboezem
34 KIWI RIDER