2012 New Zealand Superbike Championship The Volvo Group Suzuki Triple R Superbike team celebrates as Robbie Bugden wins a hard-fought fourth New Zealand Superbike Championship title. The final round of the Championship at the Taupo Motorsport Park last weekend has delivered a dream result for Australian Superbike rider Robbie Bugden; he claimed pole position in Qualifying, won both races, set a new Superbike class lap record, and claimed his fourth New Zealand Superbike Championship title. Despite his dominance and breathtaking pace at Taupo, it’s been a tough season for the team, something that might just make the title win even sweeter. Bugden says “It’s been a hard year….and [the win] has meant more to me this year than ever before.” Between them, Bugden and long-time rival Andrew Stroud have claimed every New Zealand Superbike Championship title over the last seven seasons, and the way misfortune has seen their points wax and wane over the five rounds is perhaps a hallmark of the 2012 Championship. At round one in Christchurch, Bugden won the first race convincingly, then suffered a DNF in the restarted New Zealand Grand Prix race later that afternoon. At the same time, Stroud was relegated to the back of the grid for the re-start, came through the field to win, and was then stripped off the victory due to a ruling which said he shouldn’t have been allowed to race. Bugden was absolutely dominant at round two in Timaru, then suffered a heavy crash at round three in Invercargill during practice, only to come back and take a win. Meanwhile Stroud made a bad tyre choice which saw him finish last in race two. At Hampton Downs for round four, Bugden’s points lead was chopped back when a chain broke during the New Zealand Superbike TT race, meaning he was a slender 10.5 points ahead of Stroud going into the Taupo round. However he never lost sight of his Championship goal, and his performance this weekend was faultless while Stroud was off the pace, the popular Brisbane rider taking the Championship by a comfortable 37.5 points. “It’s been a hell of a summer and we’ve all just worked so hard; we’ve all taken some fairly major hits but we kept getting up, we kept fighting.” Niggling mechanical issues have delivered a frustrating season for teammate James Smith from Christchurch, who has often been right at the front with Bugden, but finishes the Championship sixth overall. “Hampton Downs was the only meeting this year that I haven’t had dramas and it was good because it showed I can run with [the top three], but I just need a more consistent year next year, so that’s what I’m looking to do. Luck’s luck, isn’t it? You can’t change it.” Smith has shown genuinely impressive speed when the stars have aligned, and knows that he is on a bike capable of winning: “The bike’s awesome; just as fast as Robbie’s and hopefully next year I can beat him!” As Manager and owner of the Christchurch based team, ‘Red’ Fenton has experienced the highs and lows alongside both riders, and regards the 2012 Championship as one of the hardest but also most rewarding: “It wasn’t easy; everyone in Superbikes had issues this season….but to win like we won today with two wins and take the title is satisfying.” The Championship win also has special significance given the stresses anyone living and working in Christchurch has been under over the last 18 months: ”...especially for our sponsors down in Christchurch, because you know we’ve had quite a hard time lately, but hopefully those guys are pleased and happy.” Fenton acknowledges the efforts of all the Volvo Group Suzuki Triple R Superbike team members in helping the team secure the win this season: “All of us work hard... Hank, Nigel and Ian who help me prep the bikes at the track….it’s always a team effort, and Robbie wouldn’t be able to do what he can do without us and I couldn’t do it without them.” With the New Zealand Championship finished, Bugden and Fenton now turn their attention to the Australian Superbike Championship, with the second round at Hidden Valley in Darwin starting on 20th April. ENDS Results: Qualifying: 1st Robbie Bugden 1:28.088 2nd Nick Cole 1:28.555 3rd Craig Shirriffs 1:28.803 6th James Smith 1:29.672 Race one (15 laps) 1st Robbie Bugden 2nd Craig Shirriffs 3rd Sloan Frost 7th James Smith Race two (15 laps) 1st Robbie Bugden 2nd Craig Shirriffs 3rd Nick Cole 7th James Smith Final Championship standings: 1st Robbie Bugden 182.5 points 2nd Andrew Stroud 145 3rd Sloan Frost 124.5 6th James Smith 100 2011 April It has been quite a while since I have updated this section. What with 2 earthquakes and Robbies broken leg, it has been a very trying time. Just to let everyone know, I am finally allowed back into my building for work and have managed to also get power back on. So am slowly getting everything back to normal. Or as normal as it can be. I am just on the outter of the CBD, so work has been greatly affected. But, with time, I am sure we will get things sorted out again. I am now able to get back into building suspension, engines and bike set up, for any new or old cuctomers. The dyno work is also still going well and was not nearly as affected, mainly because the dyno is set up in a different part of town. I am back in Aussie this week, as we are racing in Perth with the Aussie V8's this coming weekend, so that will be interesting, especially since the Superbikes have not been to Perth since mid 2000's. I will be back Tuesday, 2nd of May. I can still be got hold of by my cell phone, or e-mail. Thanks. Red.   2010 Tri Series Updates... read more   Triple R is now the official dealer and Technician for the South Island. Red can now provide suspension tuning and rebuilding, along with his engine tuning dyno work I am back in Australia with Robbie again, for their Superbike Championship. We were up in Darwin for the 2nd round (1st rd was same weekend as our 4th, so Robbie did our rd and missed the 1st Australian rd), and was it warm. In their series, Robbie is on a satelite bike, of Phil Tainton's Factroy team. Phil builds the bike and then we look after it from there during each round. Then Phil Tainton Racing (PTR) transport it to the next round and also do any engine work that needs sorting out. During the Darwin Rd, it was very warm. I was drinking up to 7 litres of water a day and I was sweating it out just about as fast. Josh Waters, Shawn Giles (Factory Suzuki riders, along with Troy Herfoss on the 600) and Robbie, were losing 1.5kgs in weight, in each practice. Everyone had to keep the liquid intake up. The round went well for Robbie. A 3rd in the 1st race, which would have been a 2nd, but the red flag came out 2 laps before the end, just before he was going to pounce on 2nd place Glen Allerton. We made a couple of small changes to the rear for the 2nd race. But, it actually took grip away from Robbie, which was a real shame, because he had the pace to run at least 2nd. Josh Waters was on fire all weekend and really lead from the front. Overall, Robbie was really happy with the weekend. Our next round is at Queensland Raceway in June; Robbies home track. So we will be aiming for good results there. Robbie #6, leading Shawn Giles & Kevin Curtin at the MotoGP round, Philip Island. Phillip Island photos (photos courtesy of Terry Stevenson) Phillip Island photos (photos courtesy of Terry Stevenson) Phillip Island photos (photos courtesy of Terry Stevenson)