Three-time champ braces for top rivals

Mark Dawson | Friday, December 9, 2011 8:05

HOT PURSUIT: Andrew Stroud leads Nick Cole and Dan Stauffer round Wanganui's Cemetery Circuit last December.PHOTO/TERRY STEVENSON

The $30,000 Suzuki International Tri-Series will kick off tomorrow at Hampton Downs and culminate on Boxing Day at Wanganui's famous Cemetery Circuit and three-time champion Andrew Stroud is still the man to beat.

Nine-times New Zealand Superbike champion, 43-year-old Stroud will be on board his Suzuki GSX-R1000 and setting the benchmark for three meetings of spectacular, high-octane action, which includes the second leg at Manfeild on December 17.

Stroud wrapped up testing his bike at Hampton Downs last weekend knowing it'll take something special to make it four straight Tri-Series titles.

"I'm looking forward to going racing again, though I have no doubt there will be some very tough competition," he said.

Last year three men were fast enough to beat him, with Kiwi Sloan Frost firing the first shot by winning the opening race at Hampton Downs on his BMW 1000RR. Australian top runner Robbie Bugden won race two for Suzuki, however, Stroud retaliated with a pair of wins at Manfeild.

But the father of eight got more competition than he expected during Wanganui's final round on Boxing Day. Stroud held off strong challenges by Nick Cole (Kawasaki) and Craig Shirriffs in race one, then Australian Dan Stauffer (Yamaha) surprised everyone by taking victory in the final race during his first visit to the Cemetery Circuit.

That wasn't enough to stop Stroud claiming the crown, with Frost in the runner-up spot - however, Stauffer also had the final say. In Wanganui's feature event, the Robert Holden Memorial race for the fastest 30 racers across categories, Stauffer claimed an exhilarating win after a long duel with Stroud.

With $30,000 prize money up for grabs, those big names will be back in action this month.

"Robbie Bugden will be in fine form coming off the back of a very competitive Australian Superbike Series plus, riding for the factory team over there, he's bound to have some new tricks up his sleeve that could be applied to his bike, which is being built here," said Stroud."Craig Shirriffs is also in good form, as is Nick Cole, Sloan Frost, Ray Clee and others."

Stroud may also feel a little pressure from one of the younger contestants - his 13-year-old son Jacob will race tomorrow at the same event as his father for the first time, riding a Suzuki RG150 in the Ultra Lites class.

Wellington's Glen Skachill was unbeaten in all six 2010 races on his Suzuki GSX-R600, and would be a strong bet to take home his second F2 600 Sport title.

International motocrosser Daryl Hurley and former NZ Superbike champ Russell Josiah will ride Suzuki RMZ450s in the 450 Moto category, won last year by Italian Davide Gozzini. It's a class where Wanganui will hope for some success with young local riders Jayden Carrick (Suzuki) and Richie Dibben (Honda) in the mix.

F1 Sidecars is always a crowd favourite and Wanganui's Adam Unsworth/Stu Dawe partnership will be a tough act to beat for the rest of the popular sidecar field.

Allan Willacy, the man organising the 59th running of the Cemetery Circuit showpiece, said entries were at the same level as last year's record.

"This is our biggest motorcycle road race series, and all the top New Zealand riders are confirmed in the premier classes," Willacy said.

"We want the Suzuki Tri-Series to continue growing and perhaps join the national series on one or two tracks next year.

"This year we have delayed TV coverage on TV1, and Sky Sport is covering all three rounds with a highlights package for Hampton Downs and Manfeild, with full coverage at Wanganui.

"We also have live streaming for a worldwide audience via our cemeterycircuit.co.nz website."

The Boxing Day extravaganza, which attracts up to 12,000 fans, will feature 18 races, and Willacy has an army of 200 volunteers geared up to make sure it runs like clockwork.

Tickets for Wanganui are available online at www.cemeterycircuit.co.nz and can also be bought at the Wanganui I-Site or at Joe Lett Ltd in Churton Street. Cost is $25 ($30 on Boxing Day).