Motor Sport
When Invercargill’s John Crawford put his leg over his Suzuki GSXR 600 to compete in the 2019 Burt Munro Challenge, you could forgive him if he was looking a little weary.
After all, he had just completed three rounds of a North Island Tri-Series event, followed by two of a National Superbike Championship – and with three more to go.
However, after riding away with three second placings out of three events in the Burt Munro Challenge in Invercargill, it appears John is taking the busy 2018-2019 racing season all in his stride.
The Invercargill rider competed in the Teretonga Sprints, Bluff Hill Climb, and Invercargill Street Races – all with a blistering pace that saw him achieve personal bests.
He lost his 2018 Bluff Hill Champion title by mere milliseconds to Whanganui’s Richie Dibben but achieved his best lap time at Teretonga with a 1:02:843 – all before taking the second overall position from a field of over 20 riders.
He then went on to battle it out for the top spot in the Invercargill Street Race on the last day of the event, before finally taking second place.
“It’s been such a rewarding experience being part of the Burt Munro Challenge,” he says.
“It’s an exceptionally well-run event, and I enjoy being a part of it year after year, riding among some of the country’s best.”
With another successful Burt Munro Challenge ticked off his list, John looks forward to completing the final rounds of the 2019 NZ Superbike Challenge before taking a well-deserved break.