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Round Four of the six round 1999 Suzuki Road Race Series saw changing fortunes in line with the weather. Despite a brilliant weather forecast the 120 competitors only had the first round in dry conditions. Then light showers swept the Manfeild circuit enough for the event to be declared \"wet\" for the rest of the day, necessitating changes to only treaded tyres.
Ross Peden from Tauranga took first race advantage in the Streetstock 150, fending off challenges all the way from Tauranga veteran Robbie Dean, both riding Suzuki RG150.
Series leader in this class, Russell Stuart, now changed to a Kawasaki KR150 was taking time to settle & called it a day when the rain started falling, not suiting the tyres he fitted.
Robbie Dean smiled all the way to the bank when it started raining, winning the last two races, and taking over the lead in the class.
The 125GP/250 Production Combined Aprilia class saw series leader Ray Wilson pegged back twice by Palmerstonian Regan Griffiths, having his first ride on a later model of the same bike he started the series on a Honda RS125. Griffiths won two of the three races to climb to 3rd place overall in this class, while Ray Wilson from Bulls heads \"no relation\" OB Wilson from Auckland all on Hondas, then followed by a bevy of 250 \"Proddy\" headed by Bike Mart\'s Todd Sutherland, riding a Suzuki RGV250.
The Sport Production classes saw the time machine Suzuki TL1000 of Brian Bernard from Wanganui win the two wet races, but Rotorua\'s Daniel Coughey riding his Yamaha R1, was \"walking on water\", when he won the first race, & placed second in the other two Open Class races.
The 600cc class saw a change of fortunes. Corey Oxenham (Kawasaki ZX6R) from Papamoa won the first race, only to \"drop the plot\" in the first \"A\" Grade race, and take no further part in the day. Warren Turner from Palmerston North riding his Phil Turnbull Motorcycles Yamaha R6, was in great form, winning the other two 600 class races, and nearly beating Brian Bernard on the larger bike as well. Turner now leads the 600 cc Sports Production class by 31 points from Oxenham, and the always improving New Lynn revitalised veteran, Glen Williams (Kawasaki ZX6R). Williams also lies second over all in the RK Chain A Grade class.
Wrestling his big Harley Davidson around Manfeild in the wet was just another challenge to Craig Gollop. Despite a fall or two he came up smiling 3rd, 12th & 2nd places to take over the lead in the Pirelli Dragon Evo Tyres \"C Grade class. Jared Hartstone from Tauranga Plumbing & Hardware riding his first season with a diminutive Honda RS125 keeps on picking up good placing\'s to be 2nd overall in the series. Palmerston North\'s Russell Watson swept up the class with 3 wins in this class on his Kawasaki ZXR400.
The 1999 Suzuki Road Race Series is supported by Suzuki, Shoei Helmets, RK Takasago Chain, Shinko Tyres, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda, Kiwi Motorcycle Rider, Pirelli Tyres, Aprilia Motorcycles, Bike Mart, Red Baron Motorcycles, Motor Cycle Trader & News.
More information & full results available from Tim Gibbes, Box 1132, Palmerston North
Phone & Fax (06) 353 0750. Mobile (025) 422 662. E-mail : timgibbes@clear.net.nz
