Andrew Stroud turns back clock

ANDY McGECHAN

FAST LANE: Seven-time former champion Andrew Stroud is possibly as fast now as at any time in his career.

Relevant offers

Motorsport

HRT say new car will not test until March Coton brings Hamilton closer to 'happy bubble' Kiwi teens racing for top at NZ Grand Prix Nissan to join V8 Supercars from next year Darryll King on target to keep motocross crown Mixed bag first up for Vettel and Alonso Hayden Paddon steps up to new rally level Nissan to join V8 Supercars in 2013 Hayden Paddon buckled up for Sweden rally Bruno Senna follows late uncle Ayrton into F1

This could be Andrew Stroud's year.

The Suzuki rider from Hamilton won the opening round of this year's New Zealand Superbike championships at Ruapuna Park yesterday, signalling that he means to take back the superbike crown he last held in 2006.

For the past three seasons it has been Australian Robbie Bugden who has stolen the coveted Kiwi title, and Bugden was hoping to make it four in a row this year. It certainly looked a possibility when the Suzuki rider from Brisbane won the first of two superbike races yesterday – albeit less than a second ahead of Christchurch Suzuki rider James Smith – and Stroud crossed the line a disappointing fourth.

But the 42-year-old Stroud, a seven-time former champion, is possibly as fast now as at any time in his career and the balance of power swung convincingly in the Waikato man's favour when he ran off to an impressive victory in the next outing, winning the race by a whopping 15.9 seconds.

That race win also gave Stroud the New Zealand Superbike GP title.

Bugden got stuck in traffic and his bid to break free ended in disaster as he crashed his bike on the opening lap. Bugden was unable to finish the race and those lost points may prove costly for the defending champion as the five-round series progresses, with round two at Invercargill's Teretonga circuit next weekend.

"I struggled a bit in the first race and it took me a while to work out how much traction I could find on the wet surface," Stroud said.

"It all turned back in my favour in race two though. There were still wet patches on the track but the new Pirelli tyres are brilliant and I was able to go hard straight away."

Fellow Hamilton rider Sloan Frost (Suzuki) finished 3-2 to take second overall for the day, while Smith's 2-4 placings gave him the third step on the superbike podium.

One of very few riders to tackle two classes this season, Smith had his work cut out to keep sight of Hamilton's Nick Cole in the 600cc sports production class.

Kawasaki-mounted Cole won both 600cc races by a comfortable margin, with Smith runner-up both times.

In the 125GP class, Christchurch rider Alastair Hoogenboezem won all three races and gained a 19-point buffer over defending champion Tim McArthur, of Dunedin.

Wanganui sidecar pairing Stephen Bron and Dennis Simonsen also took three wins. They have a 15-point gap over Canterbury pair Dave Annan and Warwicks Demmocks.

- © Fairfax NZ News