Australians Gareth Jones and Robbie Bugden held the upper hand in the second round of the national Superbike championship series at Timaru yesterday.
They shared the two race wins between them, with Jones succeeding in the second race when double points were available.
Jones, Bugden, Hamilton's Andrew Stroud
and New Plymouth's Hayden Fitzgerald settled into a tight freight train in the latter race, with positions changing each lap.
By the middle of the race Jones had made it to the front and held on despite tricky weather conditions to seal his first New Zealand championship race win.
"I needed that," Jones said.
"The pressure has been on since the start of last season to take a win and now I have done it."
Series leader Bugden was more than happy with his win and second placing.
"It is a long series and we are only at round two," he said.
Bugden now has 95 championship points, ahead of Stroud on 76, Jones 70 and Fitzgerald 45.
Jones, 21, also excelled in the 600 Sports Production class where he posted two wins.
The minor classes continued to be dominated by the series leaders in each class.
Palmerston North's Glen Williams picked up two wins and a second in Formula Three, as did Dunedin's Tim McArthur in the 125cc grand prix class.
Tauranga's Sam Love took three wins in the Pro-Twins, while in the sidecars reigning champion Wanganui's Steve Bron came out on top, with two wins and a third.
The third round of the series is next weekend at Ruapuna near Christchurch.
- NZPA
