Full grids and some great battles were the features at Round One of the Auckland Motorcycle Club Summer Series for 2015-16 last Sunday.
The weather was mostly overcast, with some patches of light drizzle at times which caught a few riders out. But y-and-large the day passed without incident, and the programme was easily completed by the experienced Auckland Motorcycle Club officials and crew.
Beginning with the Senior category – combining Formula One and Two – the entry was very healthy. In the field – Shaun Harris and Andrew Stroud, while amongst the AMCC regulars, Toby Summers stepped up to Formula One on a GSX-R1000 Suzuki, while Travis Moan looks extremely comfortable on the ZX-10R Kawasaki.
These two would dominate the Senior category on the day – however Summers DNF in Race Three meant Moan would take out the day. Daniel Mettam scooped Formula Two, sharing the wins with Shane Richardson and Aaron Hassan.
In Intermediate – combining Formula Three and Pro Twin 650 – all eyes were on Gavin Veltmeyer and Daniel Mettam; Veltmeyer on his familiar Suzuki GVR645, while Mettam has a Suzuki GSX-R450 with which to harass the Intermediate competitors over the summer.
There was little between them – with less than a second the difference in every race finish. Indeed, Race One saw a gap of just .03 seconds – with all three races going to Mettam. Not far behind was Jacob Stroud, riding fearlessly on the 450 Yamaha. It’s going to be another titanic season in Intermediate.
The Junior category saw the first outings for both the 300 Kawasaki, and the 390 KTM in the new Lightweight production class. Veltmeyer was on triple-duty – riding F3, Lightweight Production and Hyosung Cup. His KTM didn’t quite have the legs for William Ford on the Kawasaki.
In 250 Production, Nathanael Diprose took three wins, ahead of the close Campbell Grayling, Avalon Biddle, and Jacob Stroud – who was also riding in three classes.
Hyosung Cup had a full grid of 36 riders, and it was Nathanael Diprose who cleared away to win both races by margins of several seconds. Almost unheard of in Cup competition, there was nonetheless a number of entertaining battles further down the field – between the GT250R’s and the XR4’s.
Clubman’s and Post Classic’s rounded out the programme, with Phil Duxbury (GSXR1100) taking all three Post Classic races after being scuttled at the hairpin in the first Senior race. Paul Russell (GSXR1100) and Paul Webb (FZR 1000) also saw a lot of the podium in Post Classic Senior. Whilst in Clubman, Des Berghan and Paul Garrett took out Clubman Junior and Clubman Senior respectively.
There is a short turn-around to Round Two of the Auckland Motorcycle Club Summer Series, with racing across all classes resuming on Saturday 31 October, at Hampton Downs.
The 2015-2016 Series is organised and promoted by the Auckland Motorcycle Club, who acknowledge the valuable support of Red Baron Motorcycles, Motomail, Jimz Motorcycle Ride Experience, and Hyosung New Zealand.
POINTS – SENIOR: OVERALL
Travis Moan 67.5
Daniel Mettam 65
Toby Summers 57.5
Shane Richardson 57.5
Points – Senior: FORMULA ONE
Travis Moan 67.5
Toby Summers 57.5
Andrew Stroud 45.5
Points – Senior: FORMULA TWO
Daniel Mettam 65
Shane Richardson 57.5
Connor London 41.5
POINTS – INTERMEDIATE: OVERALL
Daniel Mettam 75
Ben Rosendaal 70
Michael Cross 61
Points – Intermediate: FORMULA THREE
Daniel Mettam 75
Gavin Veltmeyer 60
Jacob Stroud 45
Points – Intermediate: PRO TWIN 650
Ben Rosendaal 70
Michael Cross 61
Michael Robinson 52
POINTS – JUNIOR: OVERALL
William Ford 75
Nathanael Diprose 75
Gavin Veltmeyer 60
Points – Junior: LIGHTWEIGHT PRODUCTION
William Ford 75
Gavin Veltmeyer 60
Dylan Byrne 48
Points – Junior: 250 PRODUCTION
Nathanael Diprose 75
Campbell Grayling 53
Avalon Biddle 45
POINTS – HYOSUNG CUP:
Nathanael Diprose 152
Jacob Stroud 128
Joshua Head 109
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