ROAD NEWS
overall for the series . “ My first year of racing was in the Suzuki International Series in December 2022 ,” Wintle explained . “ I finished second overall in the GIXXER class that year , first-time out , so I was pretty happy with that . “ The competition is a lot harder this season ... the boys at the front go really fast . My riding has developed and changed drastically , and I ’ ve learned a lot in a short time .” First created by Suzuki New Zealand in December 2017 with the aim of providing a starting place and a pathway towards “ growing future champions ”, the GIXXER Cup class was slotted into the Suzuki International Series and it proved to be a runaway success . These days it ’ s also included in the New Zealand Superbike Championships programme . Many of the young riders who had their first taste of motorcycle road-racing with the inaugural GIXXER Cup contest in 2017 are now out on the track and racing in some of the bigger bike classes – Supersport 300 , Formula Three , Supersport 600 and even the premier Superbikes class – proving what an inspired and imaginative decision it was to introduce this class in the beginning . The young man who wrapped up the GIXXER Cup title in the 2023 Suzuki International Series , Hamilton ’ s Joseph Stroud , is the son of Suzuki ’ s nine-time former national superbike champion Andrew Stroud , also an internationallyrecognised former road-racing star .
Words and photo : Andy McGechan , BikesportNZ . com
INDIANS DESCEND UPON HANMER SPRINGS
The 2024 edition of the Indian Rider Rally set upon the idyllic Canterbury town of Hamner Springs with over 100 Indian Motorcycle riders and their bikes rolling into town . With a cap on entries set at 200 riders , the Indian Motorcycle Riders Club saw over half of those spaces filled with riders preregistering for the event , with registration fees including two nights ’ accommodation , two dinners and some drinks , a goodie bag , and a t-shirt . A solid weekend and kit in anyone ’ s books . On offer was a wide range of activities including group rides both to and from the event , cash spot prizes , a free Show n Shine on Saturday in Hanmer town , with a group ride through the town and out to Mt Lyford for lunch . Currently , the Indian Motorcycle Riders Club is run by Indian Motorcycle ’ s parent company , Polaris . Part of this year ’ s rally will focus on discussion at the rally about building the club up and getting a few more rides and events happening around the country . Head to www . indianmotorcycleridersanz . com to find out more .
90 KIWI RIDER