KIWI RIDER 10 2018 VOL.2 | Page 76

“I’m pretty pleased with that,” said Rees matter-of-factly. “I started off the season with a stock engine and was three seconds a lap off the pace of the leading guys. But I progressed through the season and, at the end, I was going 1.8 seconds a lap quicker at Phillip Island than I was at the start of the year. That’s amazing progress. “I was always there or thereabouts for a podium finish, but a DNF when I crashed at the previous round at Winton cost me dearly... certainly cost me a podium finish for the championship. But that’s racing I suppose. Even so, I finished the year in Australia strong and I’m happy with that.” Rees said he was now looking forward to racing both a Honda CBR600R and a Honda CBR1000SP1 in the upcoming Suzuki Series pre-nationals competition in New Zealand, contesting both the Formula Two (600cc) and Formula One classes. He will then tackle the four-round New Zealand Superbike Championships, starting in Christchurch on January 5-6, racing in the Superbike class only. “I feel it’s going to be a good summer season in New Zealand,” smiled the Honda man. The Rees Racing Team is supported by Blue Wing Honda, Carl Cox Motorsport, Darbi Accessories, Pirelli, K-Tech Suspension, BikesportNZ.com and Tony Rees Motorcycles.