Triple R Superbike team race report, Tri Series (2010) round 3, Cemetery Circuit, Whanganui, Sunday 26th December 2010

A setback for the Triple Superbike R team at the Cemetery Circuit fails to dampen spirits.

Whanganui’s Cemetery Circuit has a history of delivering both good and bad luck to riders who compete at the iconic Boxing Day event, and Triple R Superbike rider Robbie Bugden #2 was unfortunately the receiver of bad luck when he was taken out at the start of race two for the headline F1 Superbike class.

On his first visit to the track, Robbie adjusted quickly to the tight street circuit during practice and qualifying, setting cautious but positive times alongside team-mate James Smith #77 who competed there for only his second time. Race one saw both riders showing promise against the established street circuit specialists, but plans for a series win by Bugden slipped away as the field lined up on the grid for the second race.

The first start of race two saw an accident at turn one that sent the field back to the pits while the track was cleared, and as the remaining riders got underway for a second time later that afternoon, a cannonball charge into turn one by another rider toppled Bugden, sending him slamming into the gutter on the edge of the track and off to hospital with a broken tibia and fibia.

Surgery for Robbie’s leg injury has gone well, and the Suzuki star will now spend time with specialists in Australia before heading back to New Zealand for first round of the New Zealand Superbike Championship in late January, where his Championship strategy will focus on points over race wins.

The Triple R Superbike team remains positive despite the setback, and the spotlight now shifts to Christchurch rider James Smith, newly promoted to the Production Superbike field after a lack of numbers saw him withdraw from the Superstock class.

A lack of horsepower when riding against full Superbike machines has seen James finishing down the order at past meetings despite some impressive riding, so the increase in grunt from his higher spec. Suzuki GSX-R1000 should see James fulfilling the potential we’ve seen during the Suzuki International Tri Series and make him a real contender for the Superbike Championship title.

James says “I’m really looking forward to the Championship; I’m more than ready fitness-wise and have no doubt that I can win!”

The Triple R team and all of Robbie’s supporters wish him the best during his recovery, and we can now look forward to seeing the team in action at round one of the New Zealand Superbike Championship at Levels Raceway in Timaru on the 29th and 30th of January 2011.

Suzuki International Tri Series - round 3 (Cemetery Circuit) results:

Qualifying:
Robbie Bugden - 8th, Best lap - 51.384
James Smith - 7th, Best lap - 51.250

Race one:
Robbie Bugden - 6th, Best lap - 50.585
James Smith - 7th, Best lap - 50.632

Race two:
Robbie Bugden - Did not start, Best lap - N/A
James Smith - 6th,  Best lap - 51.235

Report by Andrew Bright/Triple R Superbike.