Round 4 Race Report
Race day: March 4/5, 2023 - Motofest
Motofest is one of the premier events on the road racing calendar for New Zealand and the Cup is very proud to be a support class. Being Round 5 of NZSBK and celebrating the 2 stroke era it attracted a good crowd and some fantastic racing. We had 46 entries which made up 30% of the total and being on the International circuit layout it was a new challenge for many of our Cup racers. We also welcomed some new competitors to the Cup. Michael Robinson on his Ninja 400, James Murdie and Henry Fisher on their GT250R’s.
Practice/Qualy for Ninja Cup:
The Good. 13 Ninjas line up and the weather was great.
The bad. We got 3 laps in an 8-minute session.
The Results. Nathan Finlay goes pole with a 1:56.540. Tyler King, Michael Robinson and Alex Butson make up the front row.
Practice/Qualy for Hyosung Cup:
The Good. 33 Hyosung’s take to the track.
The Bad. We got 3 laps in an 8-minute session.
The Results. Jesse poled by 6 seconds with a 2:01.062. Simon Beard, Scotty Findlay and Esmond Williams round out the front row. Simon and Scotty post identical times.
Tam making an amazing outside pass through turn 1. ASP Snap.
Ninja Cup Race 1.
The very Good. Its dry!
The unfortunate. Nathan and Tyler go down on lap 3 at the Porsche dipper, both unhurt.
The Great Ride. Billee comes through from P5 to win by 3.5 seconds from Alex.
The second great ride. Michael Robinson on Ninja debut gets on the podium with a fine 3rd place.
The closest finish. Andrew Boldero pips Blair Skelton by 0.021 for 8th. Justin pips Mike Cross by 0.121 for 5th.
Lets Race! Snap thanks to Philip Kaverman.
Ninja Cup Race 2.
The Not Too Bad. The track is dampish.
The Bad. Chris, Tyler and Jason Visser find the weeds. All unhurt.
The Sad. Justin “no seat, broken collarbone “ Reid calls it a day.
The Great Ride (again). Billee comes through to P2
The Celebrations. Alex, Billee, and Bryan Kidd make up the podium.
The Congratulations. Bryan Kidd. First ever Cup podium.
Hyosung Cup Race 2.
The Bad. Its very wet.
The Super Impressive. Nick “pulled it” Trigger leads for most of the race to finish 2nd by 0.249
The Well Deserved. In his 6th Cup season Esmond Williams wins his first Cup race.
The Best Battle. The Stroud boys. 0.086 between them. Jesse kicks Jacobs butt. ☺
The Girls. Tam is on fire and goes P9. Catherine is flying to P13, Kendal goes safe to P19, Becki is cautious and goes P24. Megs is in the weeds, unhurt.
The bad. We lose Lozza, Megs, Shaun parker and Tyler to the Gravel Gods. All ok.
The Celebration. Esmond, Nick and Oli Pykett make up the podium.
Bill’s in a battle with Tyler. ASP Snap
Hyosung Cup Race 1.
The Totally Amazing. Jesse smashes his own lap record on the X4R. Leaves 2:00.945 on the table. WOW!
The closest finish. Benny beats Esmond, Vaughan Maine and Oli Pykett home for second. 0.069 covers 3rd-5th.
The Ridiculous. Jesse is the only Hyosung not lapped by Billee.
The Girls. Kendal comes home 1st (7th outright), Catherine 21st, Becki 27th.
The Bad: We lose Tam and Megs on lap 5 to a serious accident and both these awesome riders are in the Ambo and both being treated for concussion and Megs with fractures also. Both are moved to Waikato hospital for further treatment before being discharged late Saturday night.
The Hyosungs being cranked! ASP Snap.
Ninja Cup Race 2. Le Mans Start.
The Great Ride (again). Billee brings it and goes P1 by 0.082 from Tyler. Fastest lap of 1.53:480
The Close one. Alex and Nathan are fighting for 3rd and only 0.113 separates them with Alex getting the nod.
The Andrews Race. Andrew Ansell beats Andrew Bolero
The Tallest Riders Race. Blair Skelton beats home Bryan Kidd by 0.412 for 7th.
Hyosung Cup Race 2. Le Mans Start.
The Bad. We lose Vaughan on the 2nd warm up lap due to a mechanical which throws him off and is badly concussed. Red flag and a delay while he is stabilised and transferred to hospital.
The Super Impressive. Jesse lays down a nearly unbelievable result winning by 23.9 seconds.
The Close. Oli Pykett pips Benny by 0.026 for second.
The Best Battle. Lots of them.
The Girls. Kendal goes P7 outright, Catherine P20 and Becki P25
The bad. We lose Riley Fowles and Henry Fisher, riders ok.
Lets Go!!! Snap by Mad Love Media
Ninja Cup Race 3.
The close. Tyler returns the favour and pips Billee by just 0.032 for the win.
The Finlay factor. Nathan beats Alex home for 3rd by 0.584
The Andrews. Boldero beats Ansell for 9th.
The return to the Cup. Sean White is back and battled Justin for 6th, losing out by just 0.272
Hyosung Cup. Race 3
The totally amazing. Jesse wins again by 2.0971 and is riding better than ever.
The podium. Jesse, Benny and Oli.
The close. Kendal rides superbly to beat Blain Pairama by 0.016 for 6th.
The Girls. Kendal P6, Catherine P19, Becki P22.
The good. The first 15 Hyosung’s weren’t lapped by the Ninjas.
Alex laying his Ninja 400 into turn 1 chased by Nathan. Image by MjSi
Round Winners:
WIL Sport Women’s Cup – 1st Kendal Dunlop, 2nd Catherine Wood, Becki Newbury 3rd.
Carl Cox Motorsport Hyosung Cup – 1st Jesse Stroud, 2nd Benny Cook, 3rd Oliver Pykett
Carl Cox Motorsport Hyosung Cup Fastest Lap – Jesse Stroud – Lap record 2:00.945
Carl Cox Motorsport Ninja Cup – 1st Billee Fuller, 2nd Alex Butson, 3rd Michael Robinson
Carl Cox Motorsport Ninja Cup Fastest Lap – Tyler King 1:52.256
Cup History Created. Bill’s Fuller became the first woman ever to with a Cup Round Outright!
Billee Fuller makes history. The first woman to win a Cup Round outright.
Special thanks to all the Club volunteers and marshals who ran the day and the medics who looked after our fallen riders.