The New Zealand Suzuki Tri-Series Road Racing Championship will incorporate a new Suzuki GIXXER Cup class when it kicks-off at the Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park, near Taupo, on December 10th.The three-round series has already attracted more than 20 riders, who will race the Suzuki Gixxer GSX150F machine in a single-platform series that has been very successful for the past three seasons in India due to its exciting a close racing.
Entries have been received from all areas of New Zealand, including Jesse Stroud, son of nine-time former New Zealand Superbike Champion Andrew Stroud.
Following the opening round, the Suzuki Series takes riders to Manfeild, on the outskirts of Feilding, for round two on December 17th, before its traditional Boxing Day finale on Whanganui’s streets on December 26th.
The Suzuki Series will feature all its traditional categories, from Superbikes through to Formula Three and sidecars, but there’s a great deal of interest now focussed on the GIXXER Cup, where young riders will go into battle on identical Suzuki bikes.
GIXXER Cup riders across the country have already been out at various track days and training sessions, gaining valuable bike time and experience with their machines.
Several top Kiwi riders from the past and present have offered their advice and coaching to the young GIXXER Cup riders, including Brian Bernard, Gary Stirling and Jared Love.
There are still several GSX150F bikes that have not yet been allocated to riders, each of them fully-prepared and ready to go, so there is still a good opportunity for potential competitors to enter the competition.
Reserved for riders aged between 14 and 21-years-old, the GIXXER Cup – with the tagline “Growing Future Champions” – is a production racing class that will provide a springboard towards a successful racing future at higher levels.
While the GIXXER Cup grade of competition will kick-off at the pre-nationals Suzuki Tri-Series, the class will also be a feature of the four-round 2018 New Zealand Superbike Championships that follow, beginning at Mike Pero Motorsport Park, Christchurch, on January 6-7th, with rounds to follow at Timaru, Hampton Downs and Taupo.
Wellington’s Victoria Motorcycle Club is also evaluating a winter series class for the GIXXERS, to provide a further opportunity for these riders to keep their competitive spirits alive during what is usually the ‘off season’ for road racing.
