Round 1 Race Report

Race day: SEP 17, 2023

We are underway! Season 13 burst into life on Sunday with 51 Cup competitors split quite evenly between the two classes. This will be a season of mixing experienced Cup Campaigners and new racers itching to test themselves on their 250’s or Ninja 400’s. There has been a huge increase in Ninja Cup entry’s which has meant a reshuffle of the prizemoney breakdown now the top ten in each class receive cash winnings and of course our top 3 women.

Qualifying

The day dawned overcast and windy and that didn’t change all day. The wets stayed in the van which was great. Practice was uneventful for most and those who cross entered got two sessions to post a Cup grid slot and also a Junior class position. The Ninja front row was headed by current Ninja Cup Champion Bill’s Fuller on Grazie Vale now proudly running #1. 1.7 seconds back and in P2 was Sean White who was enjoying some set up changes to his Ninja. P3 was 1 Hour Champion Nathan Finlay a further 0.6 back and the front row was rounded out by Blain Pairama making his Ninja debut from the Hyosungs last season. Our highest qualifying newcomer was Tim Gray in P7 with a 1:20.126.

The Hyosung’s grid looked like a carry over from last season with Benny Cook taking pole with a 1:22.907 closely followed by Oli Pykett in P2, a returning Jesse Stroud in P3 and an excellent showing by first year Cup racer, from the Naki, Elijah Daken in P4. Unfortunately, we lost Ben Mayo to the weeds on lap 2 of qualy and with his arm in a sling was then moved to a supporting role for dad Robert for the day.

Some interesting fun facts about our grid this year.

· 4 father/son Teams competing

· Our first grandmother competing

· 50 years between our youngest and most experienced riders

· 5 riders entered from Taranaki

· 2 Stroud boys raced on Sunday

Race 1

The Hyosung racing was excellent with Benny and Oli going at it until lap 4 when Ben made a small error and Oli was able to gap him to take a win. Jesse was a solid 3rd on a bike which needed some horsepower and even Jesse’s extreme skills could make up for the lack of it. Scotty Findlay headed home Hadleigh for P4 and our first placed new rider was Elijah Daken with a fine P6. A highlight of this race was Oli Pykett joining a very exclusive club of riders who have done 1:21 lap on a Hyosung 250.

*Oli,Jesse and Benny – Philip Kaverman snap*

Our current Ninja Cup Champion was in no mood for mucking around! Bills was gone on lap 1 and each lap stretched her lead by over a second to take the win. Second place was where the fight was. Michael Robinson, Nathan Finlay and Sean White had a great battle to finish in that order covered by 0.1. A fantastic P5 for newcomer Tim Gray ahead of Nick Trigger and the Andrew’s (Ansell and Boldero). Another first year rider Sam Greenhalgh home in P9 from Mike Cross in a battle group for P10 with Blair Skelton and Bryan Kidd. Great to have Megs Kemp back from injury last season and taking on the 400’s, coming home P13.

Race 2

Two laps into the Hyosung Le Mans start the red flags came out after a mechanical issue led to some bikes going down at turn 3. No injuries but the race was restarted with a grid start minus a few top runners including Benny Cook. Again, Oli took a commanding win over Scotty Findlay and Hadleigh. John Williams had an awesome ride to 4th place ahead of Elijah, James Murdie and Bretty Butler. A great showing from our youngest competitor Cadel Finlay in P8, our most senior competitor Rory Garvey in P9 and newcomer Mike McKain in P10.

*Billee, Blain and Nathan leading the Ninja field – Philip Kaverman snap*

The Ninja Le Mans start produced some great racing mid pack, but it was Nathan Finlay getting the jump on Billee off the running race. By turn 4 though Bill’s was in front and stretched her lead to over 9 seconds by the flag, setting a best lap of 1:15.361 on Grazie Vale. Nathan fended off a hard charging Sean White to go P2 by .263 then it was Michael Robinson, Blain and new racer Tim Gray from Nick Trigger. Andy Ansell came home a fine P8 with first time

Cup racer Britten Somerville in P9. Unfortunately, Heidi Trigger had a small excursion but was all ok and would be ready for Race 3.

Race 3

The Hyosung pack was a little depleted by Race 3 with a few broken bikes and Ben Mayo with his arm in a sling. Oli carried his scintillating form by taking P1 by 11 seconds from Benny. One of the biggest Hyosung wins for a long time. The podium was completed by Scotty Findlay who edged out a great ride by John Williams who battled hard with Hadleigh, James Murdie and Elijah. Cadel Finlay was not far of this fight also with a great P9 on his X4R. Shaun Parker went well on Simon Beards loaned GT250R after his bike encountered some issues.

*Ninja Le Mans start – Philip Kaverman snap*

What would be the last race of the day after a few too many stoppages to get 4 rounds in was a cracker – for 2nd and 3rd that is. Bill’s just powered away into the distance from turn 1, lap 1 to win by 11 seconds and post a 1:15.419 with ease. Billee has certainly carried over the form she showed to win the Ninja Cup at Taupo in March. The fighting for 2nd, 3rd and 4th was so good. Sean, Michael Robinson and Blain were going at it full gas! That was the order over the stripe also with only 0.177 covering the 3 of them. Another great ride from Tim Gray for P5 with Nick Trigger P6 and this time the Battle of the Andrew’s went to Boldero over Ansell. New Cup racers Britten Somerville and Sam Greenhalgh and Blair Skelton slotted in behind Andy Ansell with only 1.40 covering the 5 of them.

*Benny, Jesse, Oli and Hadleigh, turn 1 fighting – ASP snap*

Summary

Round 1, season 13 is now in the books. Some takeaways for me was the amazing results of our new Cup racers, Elijah Daken, Mike McKain, Cadel Finlay, Rico Belcort, Corey Pook, Tim Wigram, Andrew Simpson, Robert Mayo, Joe Stroud, Tim Gray, Gordon Finlay, Britten Somerville, Sam Greenhalgh, Alex Le Comte, Jayme Martin, Heidi Trigger, Graeme Le Comte, and Terry Gates.

The dominance of Billee and Oli was impressive, the number of Ninja 400’s is very exciting, but the best thing was our barby, beers and social time prizegiving which we squeezed in at the end of the day topped off with a beautiful carrot cake slices made by Tracy for Billee’s and my birthdays. So good to see so many stay back and enjoy this time.

Thanks to everyone who made this such a great start to our season, the volunteers, officials, marshal’s, racers and support crews. Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors, was great to see Jessie and Rodney O’Connor of Eurobike Wholesale stop by also. Lets do it all again on October 15.