Motorsport: Early bird catches $14k bike

Mike Winks (left), Suzuki NZ motorcycle rep, hands winning early bird ticket holder Alastair Kidd the keys to a new GSR 750. Photo/Supplied

Wanganui plumber Alastair Kidd is the latest to be added to the Cemetery Circuit honours board list after his early bird ticket to the Boxing Day motorcycle meeting came up trumps.

Organisers of the final round of the Suzuki Series on the Cemetery Circuit offered an incentive for those buying discounted early bird tickets, with a nationwide draw to win a new $14,5000 GSR 750 Suzuki road bike.

And after the last race on Boxing Day, English racer and documentary maker Guy Martin drew a name out of the barrel and Kidd's ticket rolled out the winner.

"I'd had a few (tipples) during the day, so when my name was called it took me a few minutes to get my head round it, but once I clicked I had a few more," an elated Kidd said yesterday.

"I gave up (riding) bikes about 20 years ago, but was just starting to get back into it. In fact, I've only just bought an SV 650 (Suzuki) on Trade Me a few weeks back and now I've won this."

Kidd was left in a quandary after being handed the keys to the new machine yesterday by Suzuki New Zealand motorcycle rep Mike Wink.

Martin and his father Ian, famous for their deeds in TT races on the infamous Isle of Man road circuit, autographed the fuel tank of the prizewinning bike, but even that could not sway Kidd in favour of keeping his new smooth ride.

"It's (the GSR 750) an awesome machine, but might be a bit much for me. I think I might have to stick with my SV at this stage and sell the GSR," Kidd said.

Meanwhile, Suzuki Series organiser Allan Willacy said this season's Boxing Day Cemetery Circuit meeting was shaping up as one of the better ones on record in recent times, with the early bird ticket promotion playing a large part.

"It will be a few more days or so before we know the full story, but it was a very successful day, where everything went smoothly.

"The early bird ticket promotion doubled our online income this year and it was so fitting that the major prize went to a Wanganui fan," Willacy said.