Stroud chasing elusive title

MOTORCYCLING: National Superbike championship leader Andrew Stroud is generally regarded as the best rider we have, he's won just about everything he can ? but he's never won a Superbike for Formula One class on the Cemetery Circuit at Wanganui.
Stroud says that's something he wants to rectify today. He was last in Wanganui at the 2001 event, finishing third behind local Brian Bernard and Tony Rees.
"Since then I haven't been able to get down there because of either family commitments or the fact the meeting wasn't part of the arrangements with my sponsors," Stroud said.
But early this year Stroud was able to have a crack at the Paeroa Street Races because the Britten Memorial was cancelled in Christchurch ? and he discovered what he had been missing.
"I quite enjoyed Paeroa ? and won two out of three Superbike races, so I'll have a go at Wanganui. I've never won a Formula One class at Wanganui ? although I have won the odd race over the years. So I'll do my best.
"I quite like the tighter tracks and I quite like Wanganui," Stroud said. But he does admit his new Suzuki will have a lot of its potential untapped around the tight course.
"In 2001 I was at threequarter throttle at the end of the main straight still trying to keep the front wheel on the ground ? and I've got quite a bit more horsepower now than I did then. So I might be down to half throttle by the end of the straight!"
Nonetheless Stroud sees the key to Wanganui as being continually aggressive, really muscling the bike around. His bike is capable of around 320kph, and believes he will still get over 200kph at Wanganui.
One of his major opponents will be fellow Hamilton rider Jared Love, who took a Robert Holden Memorial heat last year - who believes that his success in one of the formula one races last year could translate into even more this time around, even though his Honda has found the Suzukis a handful so far in the national Superbike road championship .
"The Suzukis have lifted it ? it's a tough nationals. But my bike's good on the streets ? they're a totally different thing. It evens the horsepower out and it comes down to the rider, pretty much," Love said.
And how is he feeling after coming back last year from injury?
"I enjoy the streets. I come from a moto cross background, so it's a bit like moto cross or super cross. It's just out of the blocks and go as hard as you can?
"And you just don't look at the buildings or the curves, or the haybales. I believe I can do it again