SUZUKI BACK ON CIRCUIT IN NEW ZEALAND

The 2020 Suzuki International Series is ready to start at the Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park in Taupo this weekend, December 6th.

Manfeild Circuit Chris Amon, in Feilding, follows as host venue a week later, on December 13th, before the series heads across to Whanganui’s world-renowned street race on Boxing Day, December 26th.

Leading riders expected to challenge for the top honours in this summer series include Taupo’s two-time former Suzuki International Series Champion and current National Superbike #2 Scott Moir, Glen Eden’s former national 600cc and Superbike Champion Daniel Mettam, Wellington’s two-time former national Superbike Champion Sloan Frost, Whanganui firebrand Jayden Carrick, Auckland’s Dave Sharp, powerhouse Whakatane brothers Mitch and Damon Rees, ever-consistent Al Hoogenboezem from Christchurch, plus Whanganui’s multi-talented Richie Dibben and Te Awamutu’s Dave Hall.

Series promoter and organiser Allan ‘Flea’ Willacy said: “It’s almost unbelievable, but entry numbers are up on last year.

“We are in an enviable position in New Zealand, considering what’s been happening around the COVID-19 pandemic, with spectators able to travel and watch these events up close and personal here in New Zealand. So let’s show the rest of the world how we get behind our motorsport, put on your sun hat, slap on the sun-block and come and watch the best motorcycle racing that New Zealand has to offer.”

Whanganui History:

The Christmas rush may be over by Boxing Day, but nobody in Whanganui will be showing any signs of slowing down when riders take over the city streets once again.

Motorcyclists are expected to hare down Ridgway Street, along Wilson Street, into Taupo Quay and Heads Road, before looping around Guyton Street and back into Ridgway again, all of it at eye-watering speeds, often in excess of 200 kmph.

There are very few places in the world where this can happen and this year, again, Whanganui is being transformed to host the traditional Suzuki International Series finale, a full day of racing around the city’s famous Cemetery Circuit.

For more than half a century the barriers have been put up for this world-renowned motorcycle ‘street fight’ with straw bales positioned and spectator fencing laid out along the gutters of Whanganui’s public streets.

Starting in 1951, it’s likely to be another scorcher this coming Boxing Day, both in terms of the sun beating down and of bike riders trying to beat each other to the chequered flag.

NZ GIXXER Cup:

The crowd-favourite GIXXER Cup class, reserved for riders on identical 150cc Suzuki GSX150F model bikes, is in the programme again this year, again with the rider age-limit restriction lifted. This means individuals such as Christchurch’s multi-time national champion Dennis Charlett and Glen Eden’s former national 600cc and Superbike champion Daniel Mettam are also lining up to give talented youngsters such as Whanganui’s Cameron Goldfinch and former Whanganui teen but now Christchurch-based Caleb Gilmore something to really think about.

First created by Suzuki New Zealand in December 2017 with the aim of providing a starting place and a pathway towards growing future champions, the GIXXER Cup class was slotted into the Suzuki International Series programme and it proved to be a runaway success.

Now celebrating its fourth season, the GIXXER Cup series has well and truly established itself as the premier competition for road-racing novices.

ISLE OF MAN GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS CANCELLATION OF 2021 ISLE OF MAN TT RACES

The Isle of Man Government today confirmed the cancellation of the 2021 TT Races. The next TT Races will now take place in 2022, from Saturday 28th May to Saturday 11th June.

Laurence Skelly, MHK, Minister, Department for Enterprise, Isle of Man Government, said:

‘We do not underestimate the disappointment that this decision will cause to many people. However, we are making an early and logical decision to provide certainty and clarity to race fans and everyone else involved in our event. The TT relies on thousands of volunteers and officials across a wide range of organisations and we could not move responsibly towards operating to that date and commit to welcoming tens of thousands of people to the Island in June, despite the progress towards a vaccination programme globally and on the Island.’

‘We evaluated all possible options including moving the TT to a date later in the year but there are complexities and risks, including scaling up of certain infrastructure and critical delivery elements of the TT, as well as existing resident and visitor travel in late August, which would cause further disruption to thousands of people.’

‘We remain hopeful that the Classic TT and Manx Grand Prix can take place later in the year and we look forward to welcoming visitors to our Island again.’

Paul Phillips, TT Business Development Manager, Isle of Man Government Department for Enterprise added:

‘Everyone involved with the TT is of course disappointed that the event has been cancelled in 2021, but it’s a decision that has been made as early as possible so that everyone who is impacted can plan accordingly. I am sorry for all the fans, riders, teams and volunteers who will miss another year on the Island, but we as a team will be working hard to make sure that we come back with an even better event in 2022.’

He continued:

‘We are very grateful for the continued support and loyalty shown by all our partners, as well as the event’s fans worldwide, which is a testament to the passion that people have for the event.’

The Department will continue to work with its partners towards delivering the 2021 Classic TT and Manx Grand Prix, which are scheduled to run from Saturday 21st August to Friday 3rd September. A final decision on whether those events will take place will be made in Spring 2021.

In order to help answer as many questions as possible regarding the cancellation of the 2021 Isle of Man TT Races a specific FAQ section has added to the official website
https://www.iomttraces.com/news/other/tt-2021-cancellation-faqs

TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES AND PTR RACING TO PARTNER IN BRITISH SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP

In 2021 the British Supersport championship will see Triumph Motorcycles, a
legendary British brand, return to the racing scene with an official factory-supported
team in collaboration with Performance Technical Racing.

The Triumph – PTR racing team will be the result of a partnership between the
Hinckley-based brand and the racing team led by Simon Buckmaster, which claims a
glorious past in numerous competitions, such as the World Supersport
Championship and the Isle of Man TT.

Triumph Motorcycles will be officially supporting PTR by developing the bike used in
the upcoming British Supersport championship season, which will be derived directly
from the Street Triple RS and its 765 Triple engine, which has proven outstanding
performance and reliability in the last two editions of the Moto2 World Championship.
The main objective of such project is not only to mark the return of a legendary
British brand in the paddock of the world’s most relevant national motorcycle
championship – British Superbikes – but also to achieve immediate results as well as
develop the team and the machine that will compete in the Supersport World
Championship from 2022.

Steve Sargent – Triumph Motorcycles Chief Product Officer

“Triumph has a long and very successful history in Supersport racing with the
Daytona 675 and our experience of racing in Supersport ultimately led to the
development of the Moto2 engine which has been so successful for the last 2 years.
Supersport has always been an important championship which has developed riders
who have gone on to race at the highest level in WSBK and MotoGP. We are
therefore extremely pleased that MSVR, Dorna and the FIM are working to take the
Supersport category forward and to encourage manufacturers like Triumph to come
back into the class. We have joined with PTR racing on this journey and they will
bring a wealth of experience to run our factory supported team. We look forward to a
successful 2021.”

Simon Buckmaster – PTR Team Manager

“As things developed towards the end of this year, we were happy to be able to
reach an agreement with Triumph to become the Official Triumph Team. I’m really
excited about this project, it’s a fantastic opportunity and to be working in
collaboration with MSVR, Dorna and the FIM to update the rules for BSS & WSS is a
real opportunity to do something for the good of motorcycle sport and I can honestly
say I am proud to be a part of that.

“We can’t wait to get started, we are working together with Triumph to get the 765
Street Triple RS ready for the start of the 2021 season, to develop it through the
season and to establish the eligibility for both series and other series in the world
going forward. From that point of view, I would say this is the best thing that has
ever happened to PTR and to me personally. As a young lad I started racing on a
Triumph Bonneville so for me it is almost like going back to my roots.

“We are currently talking to riders and we hope to be able to bring on some young
British talent and achieve our aims of winning British Supersport in year one and
challenge for the World title in World Supersport the year after”

Stuart Higgs – BSB Series Director

“MSVR as the promoter of the Quattro Group British Supersport Championship,
which is the principle support category to BSB, are one of the driving forces behind
the reset and redefinition of the tremendously important Supersport category. This
development which will pilot in the UK in 2021 before, hopefully adoption at
international level, will immediately open up the possibility for manufacturers to
reengage. It is of significance that Triumph, with proven success in the intermediate
production derived class can now return, and we are very excited about the prospect
of this across the British circuits in 2021”

Jeffrey Buis and MTM Kawasaki extend cooperation for 2021

World champion Jeffrey Buis stays with MTM Kawasaki in the World Supersport 300 class in the 2021 season. The team will also start a Supersport 600 project with the 18-year-old Dutchman. Buis will train with a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R to prepare for a step to the World Supersport category in the future.

Jeffrey Buis made his World Supersport 300 debut with MTM Kawasaki in 2019. A good rookie year was followed by the absolute breakthrough of the young rider from the Netherlands in 2020. Buis became world champion with four victories and eight podium finishes on the Kawasaki Ninja 400. MTM Kawasaki and Buis extend this strong cooperation with the aim to successfully defend the WorldSSP300 title in 2021.

In addition, Buis is going to ride frequently on a Kawasaki ZX-6R in 2021. MTM Kawasaki will start this project in order to prepare the talented rider for a possible switch to the World Supersport class in 2022.

Jeffrey Buis: “I’m very happy to announce that I will also join MTM Kawasaki next year. The team feels like home and we have shown that we can achieve great results together. We have a double goal for 2021. We’re going to fight for the WorldSSP300 title and we’re also going to do a lot of testing with the Kawasaki ZX-6R. I’m really looking forward to it!”

Ludo Van der Veken (MTM Kawasaki team owner): “Jeffrey has made great progress with us in recent years with the world title as a great reward. “Never change a winning team” and that’s why we’re proud to announce that Jeffrey will ride for MTM Kawasaki again next year. I’m also looking forward to start the Supersport project together, so Jeffrey can prepare for a step to this class in the future. But for next year the most important thing is that we will do everything we can to defend the Supersport 300 world title in style.”