Andrew Stroud shows why he's No 1

JOHN HAWKINS/Southland Times

STROUD MOMENT: Andrew Stroud doing a victory lap after winnining the Formula 1 and 2 Wyndham Street Race durring the Burt Munro Challenge.

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He came, he saw, he conquered.

Iconic New Zealand rider Andrew Stroud illustrated over the weekend why he is the king of Kiwi motorcycling with some breathtaking riding during the four-day-long Burt Munro Challenge.

Stroud might have been competing in his first Burt Munro Challenge but that proved no barrier for the seven-time New Zealand champion, who dominated the Formula One class.

Yesterday, he claimed the Wyndham Street Race Formula One title on board his Suzuki GSR 1000, which followed on from victory at the Teretonga Sprint Races on Saturday. Stroud also broke the lap record at Wyndham yesterday with a 37.56-second effort on the 1.2km course during round two.

His class also shone through on Thursday when he managed to end up third overall in the Bluff Hill Climb, despite only arriving halfway through the event after driving down from Queenstown.

Stroud's famous pink and blue Britten bike made an appearance at Teretonga and Wyndham over the weekend with Stroud riding it during a lunch-hour demonstration run at both events.

The New Zealand motorcycling great was revered by children and adults alike during the whole four days of the Challenge with the public eager to get an autograph or photo alongside Stroud and the Britten.

Southland Motorcycle Club president Dave Morris said it was an honour to have Stroud in Southland over the weekend.

"Andrew Stroud is the biggest name in New Zealand motorcycling and he has been for a long time ... He's so approachable and mild mannered."

He was hopeful Stroud would be able to return next year.

The Challenge served as good preparation for Stroud, who will be back racing during the Suzuki Tri-Series next month, before again competing in the New Zealand Superbike Championships – which begin in January.

Nicholas Cole was the standout Formula Two performer over the weekend, with the Hamilton rider winning both titles at Wyndham and Teretonga.

Other overall winners at the Wyndham Street Race yesterday included Ashburton's Bryan Hill in the Formula Three, and Dunedin's Kane Bray in the BEARS. Gavin Veltmeyer won both Super Motard 1 trophies at Wyndham and Teretonga, with Brett Scammell the Super Motard 450 champion at the Wyndham Street Race yesterday.

In the older bike categories, Christchurch's Kevin Orr was the champion in the pre-89 section with local rider Chris McMeeken the overall pre-82 champion.

The Burt Munro Challenge Trophy awarded for overall contribution went to New Plymouth's Mitch Rowe, who participated in every event except the Speedway Spectactular over the weekend.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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