Mitch Rees, Mettam, Bugden, Christchurch’s
Alastair Hoogenboezem (BMW), Ree’s younger
brother Damon Rees (Honda) and Lower Hutt’s
Jay Lawrence (Suzuki) each crashed out of a
race at Hampton Downs, costing them dearly.
Perhaps the Superbike class title chase could
be considered a battle of attrition and, with
that in mind, Frost said he was “taking nothing
for granted” and would be careful not to make
any mistakes at the final round in Taupo.
Meanwhile, the points leaders in each of the other
championship classes look relatively safe, although
the intensity of the racing at Hampton Downs
would surely suggest that nothing is guaranteed in
KR’s Zac Fuller in
the Gixxer Cup
TRIUMPH FOR LEWIS AT HAMPTON DOWNS
They are great mates off the track, but fierce
rivals on it, and the battle for New Zealand
Superbike Championship honours became
even more heated for Jake Lewis and James
Hoogenboezem at Hampton Downs.
The two Supersport 600 class riders were
separated by just 10 points at the start of
the third round of four of the superbike
nationals at Hampton Downs on March
3-4, Hoogenboezem leading the way.
But, by late Sunday afternoon, the order had
been reversed and, although the Triumph
team-mates from Christchurch were still
hogging the top two spots, Lewis had
turned the tables on Hoogenboezem and
was now leading his friend by 31 points.
By qualifying fastest – and gaining a bonus
point for doing that – then taking three
wins from three starts at Hampton Downs,
Lewis could not have done any better.
But there was also the matter of Lewis’
girlfriend, former FIM European Women’s Cup
champion Avalon Biddle (Kawasaki), upsetting
things with her own brilliant performance.
Biddle was outstanding at the weekend, twice
finishing second, boosting her from fifth to
fourth overall in the standings. On both those
two occasions, she obviously finished ahead of
Hoogenboezem, costing him valuable points
and adding further to his misery. Unfortunately,
Biddle finished 14th in her other race.
For a 10-point advantage to disappear and
be replaced by a 31-point deficit, it shows just
how quickly the dynamics of any title chase
can change and, when the series wraps up at
Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park in Taupo on
March 17-18, even more high-intensity action is
promised across all the various bike classes.
“I have won national titles before, but never
in the Supersport 600 class, although I have
twice finished third in this class, in 2013 and
last season too,” said the 22-year-old Lewis.
“I have a nice buffer now, but I’m
taking nothing for granted.
“I was surprised to see it was Avalon right
behind me on the track. I owe her big time
for twice finishing second and helping me
gain points over James. I think I must owe
her a night out... maybe two,” he laughed.
KIWI RIDER 85