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ANDREW STROUND WINS INAUGURAL JOHN BRITTEN MEMORIAL SUPERBIKE RACE

Hamilton based Superbike rider Andrew Stroud etched his name in the record books by winning the inaugural John Britten Memorial Superbike Event at Christchurch’s Ruapuna Raceway last weekend. The five time New Zealand Superbike Champion chose to bide his time in both races, twice waiting behind Auckland’s Ray Clee before scorching through on the last lap to win.

The John Britten Memorial Superbike Event is the brainchild of Christchurch motorcycle racing enthusiast Peter Fenton and boasts the richest prize fund in New Zealand motorcycle racing. Fenton expressed himself pleased at the spectator turnout for the meeting – held in honour of the late John Britten, an artist, engineer, inventor and innovator who was responsible for the design of the world beating Britten V1000 racing motorcycle.

On this occasion the leading riders were all aboard Suzuki GSXR1000 machines, with Wanganui’s Brian Bernard stepping up to take third place behind Stroud and Clee in both Superbike races.

For his efforts Stroud claimed an impressive $15,000 in prize money and the magnificent John Britten Memorial Trophy.

Fenton will be in a position to announce his plans for the event, and possibly a series in a month or so.

Stroud, Clee and Bernard were the class of the Superbike field, with Hamilton’s Jared Love and Palmerston North’s Jason McEwan each claiming a fourth placing – McEwan crashing out of the first race in a cloud of dust.

The powerful Suzuki GSXR 1000 machines dominated the Superbike racing, but Auckland’s Chris Haldane, now a veteran of many years motorcycle racing competition, chased hard on his Ducati 999S. In the first race the Ducati stalled while well placed, and in the second Haldane diced with McEwan before settling for fourth, the Italian machine a little down on top end power compared to the Suzukis.

As usual, the 600 Production class provided plenty of excitement. The first race was red flagged after a crash involving New Plymouth’s Hayden Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was not seriously injured and at the restart Palmerston North’s Craig Shirriffs battled with Love before gaining the upper hand.

In the second 600 Production race Shirriffs retired with mechanical problems, leaving team boss Bernard to come from behind and head off Love at the chequered flag. Suzukis also dominated the 600 Production class.

In the Pro Twin races, which contained two classes, Haldane was supreme, his Ducati being too fast for John Hepburn aboard an Aprilia 1000. Hepburn nevertheless chased hard and the wily veteran is looking forward to the delivery of a newer and faster Aprilia for next season.

Relieved at seeing his son Hayden escape his crash with only minor injuries, New Plymouth’s Terry Fitzgerald was dominant in the B section of the Pro Twin class. Fitzgerald on a Suzuki SV650 headed off Hamilton’s Steve Bridge (Ducati 900) in both races.

Results: John Britten Memorial Superbike Event Ruapuna Raceway.

Superbikes
(Race 1): Andrew Stroud (Suzuki GSXR, Hamilton) 1, Ray Clee (Suzuki GSXR, Auckland) 2, Brian Bernard (Suzuki GSXR, Wanganui) 3, Jared Love (Suzuki GSXR, Hamilton) 4, Jon Lowther (Timaru, Yamaha R1) 5, Dean Fulton (Honda RC45, Tauranga) 6. (Race 2): Stroud 1, Clee 2, Bernard 3, Jason McEwan (Suzuki GSXR, Palm Nth) 4, Chris Haldane (Ducati 999S, Auckland) 5, Brendon Marshall (Suzuki GSXR, Christchurch) 6.
Points: Stroud 50, Clee 44, Bernard 40, Love 30, Lowther 29, Michael Smith 25.

Sports Production
(Race 1) Part 1: Craig Shirriffs (Suzuki GSXR, Palm Nth) 1, Love 2, Hayden Fitzgerald (Suzuki GSXR, New Plym) 3. Part 2: Shirriffs 1, Love 2, Bernard 3. Race 2: Bernard 1, Love 2, Craig Gollop (Yamaha YF, Upper Hutt) 3.
Points: Love 44, Bernard 43, Gary Cunningham 34.5.

Pro Twins
(Race 1): Haldane 1, John Hepburn (Aprilia 1000, Timaru) 1, Mark Brown (Ducati 996, Christchurch) 3. (Race 2): Haldane 1, Hepburn 2, Chris Savin (Ducati 996, Christchurch) 3.
Points: Haldane 50, Hepburn 44, Peter Fenton /Graham Scott 34.

Class B
(Race 1): Terry Fitzgerald (Suzuki SV, New Plym) 1, Steve Bridge (Ducati 900, Hamilton) 2, Jason Nairn (Suzuki SV, New Plym) 3.
(Race 2): Fitzgerald 1, Bridge 2, Chris Boyle (Ducati 900, Palm Nth) 3.
Points: Fitzgerald 50, Bridge 44, Boyle/Nairn 38.

Class 4 Group 1
(Race 1): Brent Hall (Suzuki GSXR, Christchurch) 1, John Crawford (Suzuki 400, Invercargill) 2, Mark Wigley (Muzskorpian, Mt Roskill) 3.
(Race 2): Kevin Brookes (Honda RSGP, Whangamata) 1, Hall 2, Wigley 3. (Race 3): Brookes 1, Hall 2, Andrew Graham (Aprillia, New Plym) 3.
Points: Hall 69, Graham 53, Brookes 50.

Class 4 Group 2
(Race 1): Troy O’Donoghue (Honda RS250, Palm Nth) 1, Terry Fitzgerald (Suzuki, New Ply) 2, Jay Lawrence (Yamaha TZ 250, Paekakariki) 3. (Race 2): O’ Donoghue 1, Fitzgerald 2, Andy Bolwell (Kawasaki, Oamaru) 3. Race 3): O’ Donoghue 1, Bolwell 2, Stephen Briggs (Aprilia RS250, New Ply) 3.
Points: O’Donoghue 75, Fitzgerald 62, Briggs 56.

Full Race Results Click HERE

For further information:

Erin Jamieson
Convergence Communications & Marketing
PO Box 125
CHRISTCHURCH
B- (03) 337 6667
M- 0274 323 440
erin@conv.co.nz