Manukau’s Toby Summers (Carl Cox Motorsport Kawasaki ZX6R), the points leader in the Supersport 600 class after the weekend’s racing near Timaru. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com

JANUARY 14, 2019: It’s a resounding Kawasaki 1-2 at the top of the 600cc class after round two of the 2019 New Zealand Superbike Championships, near Timaru, at the weekend.

Rangiora’s Avalon Biddle took her Kawasaki ZX6R to qualify fastest at in the Supersport 600 class at the opening round of the 2019 New Zealand Superbike Championships at Ruapuna, on the outskirts of Christchurch, a week ago and that ended up being enough for her to officially take the round win.

That’s because no actual racing was possible for the 600cc competitors at Ruapuna after a serious crash and then a massive oil spill on the track – from an unrelated sidecars race – had ruined any chance of the 600cc bike riders being able to complete any races at that event.

However, the series organisers made up for that by installing an extra race in the programme for the 600cc class at round two of the series at Timaru at the weekend.

So, not unsurprisingly, there were a large bunch of Supersport 600 riders raring to get into action at Timaru’s Levels International Raceway on Saturday and Sunday.

They didn’t waste any time in getting revved up and into handlebar-bashing action at Levels, with Manukau’s Toby Summers (Carl Cox Motorsport Kawasaki ZX6R) – the race leader when the 600cc class action was halted at Ruapuna – quickly establishing himself as the man to beat.

Kawasaki rider Summers was the most dominant individual in this class at Timaru, winning three of the four Supersport 600 races.

He crashed out of his other race, but still had enough points to top the podium.

Second in the standings in this class after round two is Rangiora’s Avalon Biddle, the MTF Finance Spectrum Motorcycles Kawasaki star who showed that consistency counts for plenty, her 3-4-2-3 score-card for the weekend placing her second overall for the series thus far.

Tapanui’s Seth Devereux is a close third in the standings after Timaru.
Devereux crashed out of race one but then followed that with 2-1-2 results.

“I’m riding well at the moment and feeling confident,” said 45-year-old father-of-two Summers.

“These South Island tracks seem to suit my aggressive style. Hampton Downs coming up is not my favourite track, but I’m still looking forward to the races there.

“The Kawasaki performed brilliantly and I feel strong for the rest of the series.”

Other class leaders after the weekend’s event are Taupo’s Scott Moir (Superbikes class); Palmerston North’s Jacob Stroud (Supersport 300 class); Papamoa’s Leon Jacobs (250 Production class); Jacob Stroud and Chris Huddleston first equal (in Superlites); Christchurch’s Andrew McLaughlin (650 Pro Twins, provisional only); Australia’s Yanni Shaw (125 GP); Hamilton’s Jesse Stroud (GIXXER Cup, provisional only); Christchurch’s Dennis Charlett and Will Clim (sidecars).

After round three at Hampton Downs in March, the nationals continue on in the Manawatu on March 30-31, before wrapping up at Taupo on April 5-7.

Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com