CCMS Cup - Round 3 Race Report. — Carl Cox Motorsport Cup

CCMS Cup Points Table

It could be easier to qualify on pole in a Moto GP than try and organize a race series in New Zealand this summer, although maybe not, haha. It has certainly tested my resolve to some extent though, but we got it done. Many thanks to the AMCC Buckets who welcomed us to join them on May 1 on the tricky HD Club Circuit to enable our third and final round for 2022. We had 29 Hyosung’s and 9 Ninjas entered plus the “Team Stroud” 10 unregistered Hyosung riders attend. Jacobs’s riders tipped the scales for circuit capacity and available transponders so we moved them into their own race and allowed the Points Cup racers to compete as they had done for the titles.

Ninja Cup point leader Caleb “Gilly” Gilmore flew in to compete with his broken foot and to our great surprise the 2021 Ninja Champion Chris Smith arrived in the pits to also defend his title. Alex and Simon were squaring off for the Hyosung title with only 1 point separating them and Kendal needed to beat Tam to retain her Women’s Cup title. So the scene was set for 3 frantic races to decide our Cup Champions on a fine and warm autumn day.

Featured moments:

Qualifying

Hyosung Cup

Simon Beard poles it for a bonus point
Kendal is P2 from “The Buttman”
Ben Mayo Rounds out the front row

Women’s Cup

Kendal Dunlop goes P1 for the girls from Catherine, Becki, Megan, Olivia and Tam

Ninja Cup

Chris Smith fresh from a Taupo commute nails P1
Caleb takes P2
Justin Reid is P3
Sean White rounds out the front row with 0.4 covering them

Race 1

Hyosung Cup

Alex Butson gets the jump and into P1
Simon lays down some quick laps to close within 0.6 at the flag
Race stopped at lap 10 when Olivia goes down at turn 1. Ambo needed and race declared. Olivia is ok but stayed a night in hospital for checks. Sending her the Cups best wishes.
Scotty Findlay rounds out the podium.
Best battle. Hadleigh Thompson, Rory Garvey and Nick Trigger for 9th.

Women’s Cup

Kendal is P1
Catherine Wood makes a welcome return for P2
Becki Newberry brings her GT250R home P3

Ninja Cup

To enable 3 rounds for each class after a 90 minute delay the “Stroud Team” are started off the back of the Ninja Cup. This made for some scary moments for the Ninja riders and resulted in Chris nearly going down.

The lead changes many times with nothing between Chris and Caleb before that moment.
Caleb finishes P1 followed by Chris 0.1 back who sets fastest lap
Justin comes home P3 2.7 behind
Sean is P4

*Caleb leads Justin and Chris – Kawasaki Ninja 400’s*

Race 2

Hyosung Cup

Races shortened due to replacement Ambo wait
Le Mans start now 10 laps
Ben Mayo gets the start
Alex gets past Ben first lap and is off and away!
Simon chases hard for 2nd
Ben podiums with a 3rd
Kiwibike Insurance Team battle hard for 4th. It’s Esmond from Kendal.
Scotty Findlay has mechanical issue forcing him out.

Women’s Cup

Kendal again P1
Catherine P2
Becki P3 from Megan P4
Tam feeling the effects of a fall a week ago comes home P5

Ninja Cup

Le Mans start, 9 laps.
Caleb goes P1 from Justin and Chris 3rd who sets fastest lap on a trashed rear tyre.
Sean has a lonely ride to 4th
Blair Skelton owns 5th place in the Cup
The Andrews (Boldero and Ansell) go toe to toe for 6th