Could Geoff Booth become the first Hawke's Bay rider to win a national motorcycle road-racing title in more than 16 years?
It's looking that way because not even a recent injury has slowed the Dannevirke rider.
Three years ago, Motorcycling New Zealand introduced the "Pro-Twins" class which allowed twin-cylinder 650cc road legal
bikes to compete in a fairly low-cost class.
Booth entered the first season of the exciting new category in 2008 and has been one of the leading stars since.
After being bridesmaid in '08 and '09, Booth now has his sights set on taking the championship after winning five from nine races in the South Island during January.
"I'm tired of having the No 2 on my bike - I think it's time for a change" he said, after leaving round one with a small points lead.
The last race of the day for all classes was the NZGP, a prestigious title for any rider.
After scoring two second placings in the first two heats, Booth went on to capture the NZGP title in pouring rain.
Two strong wins over rival James Hoogenboezem at the fast Invercargill circuit in sunny conditions the next weekend boosted his points lead, even though Hoogenboezem took the third and final race.
"James is my biggest rival this year," Booth said of the 19-year-old Hoogenboezem.
Next was Booth's favourite, the Levels Circuit. His speed was so fast around the tight Timaru track that he was getting held up by the much faster Formula Three bikes, with which the Pro-Twins bikes ran in the same race. After finishing fourth overall in the first two heats, (first Pro-Twin home), Booth was determined to beat experienced veteran Formula three rider Terry Fitzgerald for third overall.
"I got by Terry on the first corner of the third lap, but got on the gas just a fraction too early out of the sweeper," the 25-year-old bike mechanic said. He was thrown off his Suzuki SV650, landing heavily on his back - resulting in a rush trip to hospital, with a fractured vertebrae.
He was released that night and told to rest once back home in Hawke's Bay. With a couple of weeks of taking it easy ahead, he is already planning his return for round four at Manfield on February 27-28.
"I will go down on the Thursday and have a loosen-up before Sunday," he said.
Winning the championship is his main priority now - because he doesn't want to be the bridesmaid anymore.
