Stauffer wins Wanganui Superbike street fight
Australian superbike racer Dan Stauffer proved himself a top street-fighter as he dominated the annual Boxing Day races on Wanganui’s Cemetery Circuit.
There is nothing in Australia like Wanganui’s tight, bumpy street circuit – through the cemetery near the city centre – but the fired-up Yamaha rider won all three of his races including the prestigious Robert Holden Memorial feature event.
In that race the Australian amazed the fans by forcing his way past nine-times New Zealand superbike champion Andrew Stroud on the inside going into the esses, through a gap that had not appeared wide enough for a bike to come through.
Long-time Wanganui fans could not remember seeing such a move at that point on the circuit.
“I really put my head down,” Stauffer said. “It was fantastic. It’s a huge race.”
Hamilton’s rising star Nick Cole finished second for Kawasaki after following Stauffer’s example passing Stroud late in the race.
Cole said a new type of brake pad was enabling him to brake later than usual going into the corners, helping him to pass his rivals.
Stroud finished third on his Suzuki but had the satisfaction of wining the Suzuki Tri-Series, of which Wanganui was the final round, with finishes of third and second in the first two superbike races.
Cole also scored a second and a third in these races, and he finished second in the Tri-Series.
Stroud had encountered problems with his suspension and brakes early in the day, but fine-tuning improved the bike to the point where he was able to lead the opening laps of the feature race. Stauffer admitted that the tussles with Stroud had been “bloody hard work”.
The two 600cc Supersport races saw tough battles between Suzuki riders Glen Skachill of Wellington and Dennis Charlett of Christchurch, each scoring a win and a second.
Skachill won this category in the Tri-Series, with Charlett second.
Suzuki Tri-Series round three, Wanganui Cemetery Circuit
F1 Superbike
Dan Stauffer (Australia) Yamaha 1;
Nick Cole (Hamilton) Kawasaki 2;
Andrew Stroud (Hamilton) Suzuki 3;
Hayden Fitzgerald (New Plymouth) Honda 4;
Ray Clee (Kumeu) Suzuki 5.
Race two:
Stauffer 1;
Stroud 2;
Cole 3;
Clee 4;
Ryan Hampton (Christchurch) Honda 5.
Series winner: Stroud
Robert Holden Memorial feature race:
Stauffer 1;
Cole 2;
Stroud 3;
Clee 4;
Scott Moir (Taupo) Honda 5.
F2 Supersport:
Race one:
Glen Skachill (Wellington) Suzuki 1;
Dennis Charlett (Christchurch) Suzuki 2;
Karl Morgan (Auckland) Suzuki) 3.
Race two:
Charlett 1;
Skachill 2;
Morgan 3.
Series winner: Skachill.