The weather forecast predicted the worst, however Sunday turned out to be quite pleasant, and an absence of any of the forecast rain meant that by days end, the track was fully dry for Round One of the Auckland Motorcycle Club Summer Series at Hampton Downs.
With the exception of the Junior categories, racer numbers were slightly down – possibly the forecast had kept a few away, or maybe there was some truth to the talk that a number of racers were saving their
machinery for the forthcoming Motul 6 Hour, coming up in two weeks.
Either way, it was a steady start to the Series, and the action came as soon as the start lights went out.
Defending class champion Ray Clee dominated Formula One, taking three victories on the RCM Suzuki SX-R1000, to head Ben Rosendaal who was having his first outing in the premier category, aboard a Kawasaki ZX10R.
Nathanael Diprose has returned to Formula Two after a season away – sharing the spoils with Aaron Hassan; and Aderino Sugiarto flying the flag for Honda.
The best racing of the day came in Formula Three; Gavin Veltmeyer and Nathan Jane setting up a tantalising season ahead as they went all-out over three races. A fall for Veltmeyer on the final lap of Race Three made the difference there.
No less than five entries took the grid in the 125cc GP class, with Rod Gibson taking the honours, and running with Veltmeyer and Jane at times. As always tends to happen – it looks like the Intermediate category will have a fair share of the action this summer.
Nathanael Diprose continued his stranglehold in the Hyosung Cup, with Justin Reid topping 250 Pro Lite, and Michael Cross securing Pro Twin 650.
Other highlights included Alistair Wilton giving his TZ750 Yamaha a run in Post Classic when the track dried out, and the return of Paul Pavletich – also in Post Classic, aboard a FZ Yamaha.
Round Two for the AMCC Club Series will be held on 6th November, on the newly completed Club Circuit at Hampton Downs.
Points – Senior: FORMULA ONE
75 Ray Clee
56 Toby Summers
52 Ben Rosendaal
Points – Senior: FORMULA TWO
70 Aaron Hassan
67 Nathanael Diprose
52 Aderino Sugiarto
Points – Senior: SUPERSTOCK 1000
75 Geoffrey Prisk
Points – Intermediate: FORMULA THREE
70 Nathan Jane
58 Gavin Veltmeyer
52 Nick Olson
Points – Intermediate: PRO TWIN 650
75 Michael Cross
40 Jon-Michael Tauri
Points – Junior: LIGHTWEIGHT PRODUCTION
65 Alistair Wilton
50 Blair Lambarth
Points – Junior: 250 PRO LITE
57 Justin Reid
50 Rob Gibson
40 Michael Patchett
Points – CARL COX MOTORSPORT HYOSUNG CUP:
151 Nathanael Diprose
134 Gavin Veltmeyer
114 Michael Patchett
114 Justin Reid
Points – PRE 82 SENIOR
75 Russell Barker
20 Alistair Wilton
20 Brian Deadman
Points – PRE 89 F1
75 Paul Pavletich
Points – PRE 89 F2
25 Nick Brown
Points – PRE 89 F3
75 Steve Collingwood
Points – 125ccGP
75 Rod Gibson
52 Matt Reichenbach
40 Chris Malcolm
40 Brian Hardaker
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