No pain for Payne on Boxing Day

Mechanical problems kept Ashley Payne from a good Suzuki Series, but they were behind him when he starred on his home course on Monday.

Whanganui's Ashley Payne got to run his home Cemetery Circuit the way he wished he could have run the entire Suzuki Series after a strong day in the Formula 3 class on Boxing Day.

Competing on his Suzuki GSX-R450, Payne was 15th in overall points coming into the third round after a series of disappointments.

Stewart Payne said his son's bike seized during practice at Taupo, and then at Manfeild he came third in Race 1 before having another mechanical failure for the second race.

"So going into Whanganui he had raced only one of four races."

Wanting some justice for his efforts, Payne got pole position with the fastest qualifying time in Formula 3 on Monday.

He would come third in Race 1 and then win Race 2 to take 46 points for the day, ahead of Pukerua Bay's Glen Skachill (45) and Taumarunui's Leigh Tidman (44).

"The win by Ashley was the only win over Glen Skachill for the 12 races he competed in during the Suzuki Series," said Stewart Payne.

"Another local boy that does well on the streets of Whanganui, having won back in 2012 in the Formula 2 600cc class."

Skachill claimed the overall F3/sport bike and Post Classic, Pre-89, senior titles.