Motor Sport
Road racing revs into gear at Teretonga Park Raceway this Sunday.
The Southland Motorcycle Club (SMCC) kicks off its road racing season with round one of the Southland Cup.
SMCC vice-president Bill Moffatt was eager to see a solid field of entries.
“We’d love to see the pits brimming with motorbikes,” he said.
“As a sport we are aiming to deliver exciting opportunities for riders to experience the thrill of road racing. It’s not just about the elite, these events are designed to ensure there’s a class on offer for all abilities.
“This is a fantastic chance to get the motorbike out of the garage after winter hibernation and have some fun.”
Classes on offer include superbikes, supersport, superlite/pro twin, development, post classic and super motard.
Two Have-a-Go classes will cater for those new to the racing scene, including first-timers.
“This is Burt Munro country and there’s a real passion for motorcycles down here. Instead of just riding on the road, this is a chance to add a different experience and even open the throttle up a bit in a safe and supportive environment,” Moffatt said.
“It’s a pretty addictive sport and we’d love to see the ranks continue to grow.”
Entries are now open online at www.southlandmotorcycleclub.org.nz and must be received prior to the event due to Covid-19 alert level two restrictions.
Local competitors have every reason to be enthusiastic about the racing season ahead. The club has joined forces with Motorcycling Canterbury to host the three-round Southern Race Series, formerly known as the South Island Cup.
A premier event which will showcase a trio of elite South Island circuits, riders will contest the opening event at Levels Raceway in Timaru on September 19. Round two will be staged at Teretonga on November 14 with the final showdown scheduled for Christchurch’s Ruapuna Raceway on April 4.
“We have three of the best race tracks in New Zealand here in the south and this series incorporates each of them,” Moffatt said.
“Add that to the calibre of riders based in the South Island, including two current New Zealand champions in superbike rider Alastair Hoogenboezem (Christchurch), and 150 SuperSport rider Cormac Buchanan (Invercargill), and we’re expecting some epic battles.”