THE 2022 SUZUKI INTERNATIONAL SERIES
third overall . This class was , for the first time this year , recognised as a national championship category , which meant Dibben became the New Zealand ’ s inaugural national supermoto champion . Dibben was forced to settle for two runnerup finishes in the F1 / Superbike class , but that was a remarkable performance in itself , as the racing here was dominated by the reigning Suzuki International Series champion in this class , Whakatane ’ s Mitch Rees , the rider who is also current national superbike champion . “ It was definitely a good day for me ,” said an elated Dibben afterwards , “ I couldn ’ t quite get the grip right off the start line and it took me a lap or so to adjust with the change-over between the two bikes . I guess that ’ s part of double-classing . “ The two bikes require different styles of riding – the dirt bike is a more upright position , rather than being down behind a fairing – and they need different braking points too , so all that takes some getting used to . “ The 2018-model Suzuki RM-Z450 certainly goes fast enough and I ’ ve got it going pretty good , but I ’ m disappointed I finished a whisker off my old lap record .”
Supersport 600
Cormac Buchanan Billee Fuller
34 KIWI RIDER