Andrew Stroud's weather instincts served him well. Photo / Greg Bowker
Shrewd weather forecasting helped Andrew Stroud add yet another motorcycle title to his huge collection as he claimed the Suzuki International Tri-Series at Taupo yesterday.
The seven-times New Zealand Superbike Champion from Hamilton started the final round of the series equal on points with Feilding racer Craig Shirriffs, but two
victories on his Brother Suzuki clinched the series.
Race one started in tricky conditions - a slightly damp track with the threat of more rain. Stroud chose to start on slick tyres and his feel for the weather proved correct as the rain stayed away for most of the race.
"Then it started spitting again and that made it quite greasy, so I had to slow down," he said.
Shirriffs elected to fit his Honda with wet weather tyres, which proved so unsuitable that he retired from the race.
In race two, Stroud made a great start and opened a gap while Shirriffs ran behind Hamilton Suzuki rider Sloan Frost, who had finished second in the first heat. Later Shirriffs passed Frost and started catching Stroud.
Stroud said he now felt well prepared for the National Championships, starting at Christchurch next month.
He has won races at all three rounds of the Tri-Series, set lap records at Manfeild and Taupo, and won the Robert Holden Memorial feature race at Wanganui.
Rising young Wellington rider Glen Skachill won the Formula 2 series and New Plymouth veteran Terry Fitzgerald the Formula 3 category, on Suzukis. Italian Supermoto rider Davide Gozzini (T.M.) won his series, although compatriot Ivan Lazzarini (Honda) took the final race. Wanganui team Adam Unsworth and Stuart Dawe took the sidecar series.
- NZPA
